Tips For Choosing Dog Treats

Does your canine buddy get super excited at the thought of a treat? Does he come running whenever you go near his treat jar? Treats are definitely one of Fido’s favorite things. However, there are some things to keep in mind when offering your pet snacks. Here, a Fort Collins, CO discusses giving your dog treats.

Given the option, Fido would no doubt happily sample every single brand of doggy treats that is out there. That’s probably not feasible, so you’ll need to pick for him. Get into the habit of reading labels, and choose products that list ingredients you can actually identify. Meat, fish, and/or poultry should make up the bulk of the ingredients. Also, be sure to choose treats that are the right size for your dog.

If you like cooking, you can make Fido’s snacks. Just stick to foods that are safe for dogs. Plain, cooked meat, fish, or chicken are good options. You can also include things like cheese; eggs; bacon bits; peanut butter; sodium-free broth; plain yogurt; safe fruits and veggies, like pumpkin, peas, carrots, and bananas; and/or olive oil. Look online for recipes, or just make up your own.

Many dogs actually enjoy working for their snacks. Have Fido perform a command for his snack. Once he’s mastered basic obedience commands, teach him some cute tricks, like Roll Over or Shake Paw.

We can’t really talk about dog treats without discussing begging. Some of our canine patients have their humans wrapped right around their paws! If you absolutely can’t resist your pet’s sad eyes, offer him something healthy, like a carrot, instead of that meatball he’s drooling over.

Although treats are beneficial, you don’t want to overindulge your pup. Generally, they should only make up about 5 percent of his daily caloric intake. Sorry Fido, you can’t have all that bacon!

Although fortunately the odds of your dog ingesting tainted food or treats are slim, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. Monitor pet food recalls. You can do that through several websites, including the FDA site here and the AMVA site here . You can also set up email alerts.

Please contact us if we can ever be of assistance. As your local Fort Collins, CO vet clinic, we’re here to help!