There are numerous ways to express your love for your four-legged companion, but most pet parents often prefer 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 options, we’ve prepared a list of delicious and healthy options you can incorporate into their diet.
Delicious Snacks You Can Feed Your Pet
It may appear tempting to sneak some table scraps into your pup’s diet, especially when you see their beautiful, begging eyes or if you want to reward them for something good they have done. However, you might need to avoid doing so, as you may only put their life at risk.
Instead of doing something risky, consider the five healthy dog treat ideas we’ve enumerated below.
1. Green Peas
Fresh or frozen, green peas make tasty, 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.
2. Apples
An apple a day might not keep the veterinarian away, and whole apples would also be too much for dogs. However, apples can be just as healthy for pets as for humans. They are a great 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, so it’s an added bonus.
However, this doesn’t mean your pet won’t need professional dental care. It’s essential to take them to veterinary dentists regularly to make sure their oral health is always in optimal condition and prevent any unwanted systemic diseases. Although dental cavities don’t often occur in dogs, they can be very painful and often call for tooth extraction. When this happens, you’ll have to take your pet to a cat surgeon to perform the operation.
3. Carrots
Carrots are crunchy, tasty, low-calorie snacks 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, coat, skin, and reproductive system. Coarsely chopped carrots also allegedly treat tapeworm infestations, but insufficient evidence supports this claim.
It is still essential to be up-to-date with your pet’s vaccinations and parasite preventative treatments to ensure their protection from life-threatening diseases and parasites. If you’re looking for facilities to have your pet vaccinated, you may search for “dog vaccinations near me” to see specific results.
4. Peanut Butter Popsicles
If warm months are causing your pet to feel overheated, this cool treat will help them. 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 dog salted or sweetened peanut butter with artificial sweeteners, as xylitol can be highly toxic. If your pet shows negative reactions and alarming signs after consuming peanut butter, take them to a nearby vet diagnostic lab to determine their condition and address your situation right away.
5. Pumpkin
This bright-orange veggie is delicious for canines and loaded with essential vitamins to enhance your pet’s digestion, keep their skin and coat 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 might probably appreciate it if you give them unlimited bites of these tasty and healthy foods, practicing moderation in treat-giving is necessary. 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’re uncertain how much of those treats are healthy or unhealthy for your dog’s well-being.
