There are many ways to express your love for your four-legged friend, but many pet parents usually favor giving snacks. Unfortunately, there are many dog treats out there with high fat and artificial preservatives, which can only harm your pet’s health.
So if you’re worried about your dog’s well-being or just searching for healthier alternatives, we’ve created a list of healthy and delicious options you can add to their regular diet.
Delicious Snacks You Can Feed Your Dog
It might appear tempting to sneak some table scraps into your puppy’s diet, especially when you see their beautiful, begging eyes or if you want to reward them for something good they’ve done. However, you might need to avoid doing so, as you might only put their life at risk.
Instead of doing something risky, consider the five healthy dog treat ideas we’ve enumerated below.
1. Apples
An apple a day might not keep the vet away, and whole apples would also be too much for canines. However, apples can be just as healthy for pets as for humans. They are a good source of vitamins A and C and dietary fiber. Moreover, they also help keep your dog’s teeth clean and freshen their breath since apples have sufficient water content to wash away the sugar from the mouth. The apple skins can also act like a toothbrush, which is an added benefit.
However, this does not mean your pet won’t need professional dental care. It’s essential to take them to vet dentists regularly to ensure their oral health is in optimal condition and prevent any unwanted systemic diseases. Although dental cavities seldom happen in dogs, they can be very painful and often require tooth extraction. When this happens, you’ll have to take your pet to a veterinary surgeon to perform the operation.
2. Green Peas
Fresh or frozen, green peas make delicious, low-calorie treats for dogs rich in flavonols and antioxidant nutrients that support cardiovascular health. You can hand feed this to your dog as training treats or add some to their food.
3. Carrots
Carrots are crunchy, tasty, low-calorie treats your pet will surely love. This root vegetable is an abundant source of beta-carotene for dogs, which helps enhance their immune responses and is good for the eyes, skin, coat, and reproductive system. Coarsely chopped carrots also allegedly treat tapeworm infestations, but there is not enough proof to support this claim.
It’s still essential to be up-to-date with your dog’s pet vaccinations and preventative treatments to ensure their protection from life-threatening diseases and parasites.
4. Peanut Butter Popsicles
If warm months are causing your dog to feel overheated, this cool treat will help them relax. You can prepare this cold treat by mixing one cup of unsalted and unsweetened peanut butter with half of mashed banana and water to adjust the consistency. Freeze the mixture on popsicle molds or wax paper and give it to your dog once frozen.
Never feed your canine sweetened or salted peanut butter with artificial sweeteners, as xylitol can be extremely poisonous. If your pet exhibits negative reactions and alarming symptoms after eating peanut butter, take them to facilities offering excellent animal diagnostic services to determine their condition and address your situation immediately.
5. Pumpkin
This bright-orange treat is delicious for dogs and packed with essential vitamins that can improve your pet’s digestion, keep their coat and skin healthy, and settle an upset stomach. Serve this mashed and cooked, and don’t add salt when feeding it to your pet.
Final Thoughts
Although your pet may probably appreciate it if you give them countless bites of these delicious and healthy snacks, practicing moderation in treat-giving is essential. Always observe the 10% rule when feeding treats to your pet. 90% of their diet must consist of their regular food, and only 10% should be for their treats. Never hesitate to ask your veterinarian if you are uncertain how much of those treats are healthy or unhealthy for your dog’s well-being.
