Pet Health
07/20/2020
Canine Enrichment!
I am feeling guilty. I thought I was giving Rex a really good life. He has a loving home, regular…
Food treats are an effective reward for dogs in training. And after lots of hard work, your dog deserves a special treat. But you don’t want to give him unhealthy treats, especially when so many treats on the market are made with added fillers, preservatives, and unnatural ingredients that can make your dog very sick. You also don’t want to give your dog too many tasty treats. This could lead to digestive issues and obesity. A general recommendation is that treats should not make up more than 15% to 20% of your pet’s total diet.
When looking for healthy treats to reward your dog, pay attention to the ingredient list and avoid the following items:
- Artificial preservatives (i.e. BHA, calcium propionate, sodium nitrate)
- Artificial colors
- Products with excessive sugar or molasses
- Chemical humectants like propylene glycol (moisturizing agents used to keep treats moist and chewy)
Choose treats that are made with healthy all-natural ingredients including:
- Fruits and vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, cranberries, apples, and green beans
- Protein from fish and chicken that is free of added growth hormones or steroids
- Healthy fats including peanut butter made from 100% peanuts, salmon oil, and olive oil
After putting in hours working on his fitness, Bogart treated himself to some delicious and healthy snacks at Three Dog Bakery at Stony Point Fashion Park. Take a look! Keep following Bogart as he continues to train for the Richmond SPCA Dog Jog!