Dogs are able to bring so much joy to their owners. In addition, adopting a dog helps people feel less lonely and reduces anxiety. That’s why it’s important to take good care of your pet and ensure that they are healthy. To do this, pay close attention to your pet’s diet. In this article, Letsgetpet will give you all the tips you need to choose the ideal treats for your dog.
Which criteria should I take into account when choosing treats for my dog?
There are several criteria to take into account when trying to choose the ideal treats for your pet.
The composition of the treats
To begin with, the first criteria that you should focus on is the composition of the treats you are interested in giving to your dog. It’s important to pay close attention to this to ensure that your furry friend stays healthy and happy. While there is a plethora of dog treats available on the market, not all of them contain healthy ingredients. Because of this, you should always read the composition on the packaging before making a purchase.
When choosing a treat for your pet, look for products that contain nutrients that allow you to balance your dog’s diet. We suggest opting for treats that are low in fat, sugar, and salt. Also, prioritize those that are rich in nutrients such as vitamins that your dog needs. All of these efforts will not be made in vain.
Choose treats according to your dog’s condition and characteristics
Before buying treats for your dog, you need to take into account your dog’s age, physical condition, medical antecedents, and breed. It’s also important to take into account whether they are sterilized or not. This is because spayed and neutered dogs generally take on more weight than those who have not been spayed or neutered. If your pet has been sterilized, you’ll need to choose treats that do not contain a lot of calories. This will help prevent your dog from becoming obese.
Additionally, you need to make sure that the treats you choose are a suitable size for your dog. This is especially important when it comes to bones. For example, a bone that is to fat or large can damage or break your dog’s teeth when they are chewing them. Similarly, if they are too small, your pet can accidentally swallow it. If this happens, the bones can hurt their internal organs such as their stomach, their oral mucosa, or their intestine.
If your pet is on a special diet, we recommend asking a vet for advice. It’s also a good idea to vary the type of treats you give your dog to avoid habituation. This is because your dog may lose interest as they get used to them.
Which treats should I avoid?
It’s best to avoid giving your dog table scraps as a treat. Foods that are made for human consumption can be damaging for your pet’s health. Whether it be leftover meat or sweets, it is important to refrain from giving these types of foods because it can unbalance their diet and even be damaging to their health. Your dog can start to vomit or have diarrhea after ingesting these types of foods.
In addition, foods that we prepare for ourselves can often contain spices, which can cause wounds in your pet’s stomach and cause you to need to go urgently to the vet. Another particular case is that of treats that contain chocolate. These sweets can seriously damage your pet’s health. The cocoa used to make chocolate contains theobromine and this substance is highly toxic for dogs. It can cause intoxication that can be fatal for your pet.
You need to imperatively avoid treats that contain this and opt for ones that are more suitable for dogs. There are also rabbit or pig bones that can cause lesions in the mouth and in the intestines of your dog if they are too pointy. It’s important to be aware of this.
This Letsgetpet article might interest you: Understanding the nutritional needs of dogs
Why should I give treats to my dog?
There are many reasons to give treats to your dog in addition to their regular diet. For example, it can be done in an effort to reach certain health objectives.
For your dog’s happiness
Treats are a real treat for dogs. They love them because they’re appetizing, and they’re a nice change from the kibble they eat every day. They are, therefore, delighted every time they’re given one. As their owner, you can give your dog a treat every now and then. This helps to strengthen the bond between the both of you. When you give your dog treats, they will become more attached to you because they won’t forget the happiness you bring them.
To train them with positive reinforcement
Owners also give treats to their dogs to train them. Given that pets really appreciate these treats, you can use them to encourage good behavior and habits. This consists of give your dog treats as a reward when they obey your orders.
There are, however, other ways to reach this objective. Dogs are very receptive to petting and kind words. You can, therefore, use them as a reward every time they obey you. If you opt for positive reinforcement training with treats, you need to be careful to not give too much. They need to understand that to receive treats, they need to deserve them.
For your dog’s well-being
You can give treats to your dog in an effort to ensure their good health and well-being. There are treats that can be used as a nutritional supplement for your pet. They can bring vitamins or other nutrients that they need that are not found in their diet.
There are some of them that allow you to improve your dog’s dental hygiene. These are low-starch treats. They give your dog the opportunity to chew and remove tartar from their teeth. In addition, some of these can make it easier for your dog to take medication.
How do I give treats to my dog?
If you’re going to give your dog treats, you need to make sure to balance them with their daily food intake, so that the daily calorie intake is respected. Excessive intake can be detrimental to your pet’s health. Therefore, pay close attention to the amount of kibble and treats you feed your pet in a day. It’s important to not overdo it.