There’s nothing like the bonding experience of giving your dog a well-deserved treat, or two. Or three! You do it because you want them to feel your love and appreciation. Question is, can too many treats become unhealthy? We’ve got some handy hints so you can treat your dog while keeping them super healthy.
1. Look for calorie information
Experts recommend that calories from treats should equate to no more than 10% of your dog's daily allowance. The other 90% ideally comes from complete and balanced meals. However, in Australia dog treat labels are not required to list calorie information, which makes it difficult for you to keep track. Some brands do though, so keep an eye out for those. Calories per treat is ideal.
2. Learn about what ingredients to avoid
We analysed 120 brands for ingredients, things to avoid on-pack, as well as the good stuff you want to see when you’re shopping for dog treats.
THINGS TO AVOID
No calorie information
The lack of information makes it difficult for you to adjust your dog's meals to account for the calories you’re feeding as treats.
High-carb ingredients
Look for your usual suspects: starch, flour, wheat, even sugar - especially when they’re the first ingredient on the list.
Anything artificial
Artificial flavours, colours and sweeteners. Preservatives and ‘E’ numbers. You’ll be surprised at what you find when you go digging.
3. Know what to look for
By understanding what ingredients to prioritize you can make informed decisions that promote your dog's health and happiness.
THINGS YOU WANT TO SEE
Natural high-protein ingredients
Animal protein as the first ingredient and a protein percentage over 30% (as fed)..
Recognisable ingredients
If you know the ingredients and they come from whole foods, then you’re onto a good thing. A simple ingredient list is ideal.
Calories per treat
Just like our own ‘calories per serve’, this information is super important. It helps you weigh up exactly what you’re feeding.
4. Try these DIY healthy dog treats at home
Dog treats don’t have to come in a bag. They can come from your garden, your butcher, your pantry or your fridge.
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
Reach for non-starch fresh vegetables like carrot, celery and broccoli. Crunchy vegetables like sliced cucumber and zucchini. Fresh fruit, like sliced apple, banana, strawberries and blueberries. Or, if you feel like cooking, pumpkin and sweet potato. Not only are these treats low calorie, they’re super high in nutrients.
- High-protein snacks
Things like cooked chicken, salmon and eggs in small amounts make great treats for your dog. High quality proteins are an important part of the canine diet.