There are many ways to express your love for your four-legged friend, but most pet parents usually 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 concerned about your dog’s well-being or just looking for healthier alternatives, we’ve prepared a list of delicious and healthy options you can include in their regular diet.
Delicious Snacks Your Pet Will Surely Love
It may appear tempting to sneak some table scraps into your puppy’s diet, especially when you see their beautiful, pleading eyes or if you want to reward them for something good they have done. However, you might have 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 collected below.
1. Pumpkin
This bright-orange veggie is delicious for canines and packed with essential vitamins to enhance your pet’s digestion, keep their skin and coat healthy, and settle an upset stomach. Serve this cooked and mashed, and don’t add salt when feeding it to your pet.
2. Peanut Butter Popsicles
If warm months are causing your pet 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 a half of mashed banana and water to balance the consistency. Freeze the mixture on popsicle molds or wax paper and give it to your dog once frozen.
Never feed your canine salted or sweetened peanut butter with artificial sweeteners, as xylitol can be extremely poisonous. If your pet exhibits negative reactions and alarming symptoms after consuming peanut butter, take them to a nearby vet diagnostic lab to determine their condition and address your situation immediately.
3. Carrots
Carrots are crunchy, delicious, low-calorie treats your dog 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 there isn’t sufficient evidence to support this claim.
It is still crucial to be up-to-date with your pet’s vaccinations and parasite preventative treatments to guarantee their protection from life-threatening diseases and parasites. You may visit websites like https://www.echoparkvethospital.com/site/veterinary-services-echo-park/cat-dog-vaccinations-parasite-prevention for detailed information on the importance of preventive care for pets.
4. Apples
An apple a day might not keep the vet 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. Furthermore, 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 included bonus.
However, this does not mean your pet won’t need professional dental care. It’s important to regularly take them to professionals specializing in cat dental care to ensure their oral health is always in optimum condition and prevent any unwanted systemic diseases.
5. Green Peas
Fresh or frozen, green peas make delicious, low-calorie treats for canines rich in flavonols and antioxidant nutrients that support cardiovascular health. You can hand feed this to your pet as training treats or add some to their food.
Final Thoughts
Although your pet might probably appreciate it if you give them endless bites of these delicious and healthy foods, 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 unsure how much of those treats are healthy or unhealthy for your dog’s well-being.
