Who doesn’t love treats! Especially your cuddle pooches, who can smell a treat from a mile away and come snuffling all the way to look at you with the most adorable face ever, all for a single piece of treat! The little hop that they make before you toss one into their mouths is a delightful experience in itself.
Always treating him for being a good boy or just because you want to show some extra love can also land your dear pet in trouble, especially when the treats you’re tossing aren’t healthy. No matter what your definition of a treat is, a reward, a dietary supplement or a snack, treats should be fed and chosen wisely. Selecting the right dog treats, the ones that are healthy and nutritious, is very important for your pet’s overall health.
Here’s a list of top 7 dog-treats that your dog will love to sink its teeth into. Plus, they are highly nutritious and will provide your canine friend with a well-balanced diet:
1. Beef Sticks & Bites
Naturally smoked beef sticks are every dog’s favorite. Your pet is absolutely going to love the aroma, texture, taste and the satisfaction of meat consumption that it gives. Plus, they offer great nutritional benefits and the ingredients are 100% healthy. The 6-7 inch beef stick usually contains beef, rice protein, spices, salt, sugar, and garlic powder and has nearly 20-25 calories. To cut down on your dog’s calories intake, you can consider ripping it off into pieces before treating him. They are great for dog training as your pooch would do anything for a smoky-flavored beef treat. They are usually available in sticks and bite sizes and are perfect for dogs of any size.
2. Dental Chews
To keep your pet’s mouth healthy, start treating him with dental chews. They are readily available at veterinary offices and are highly recommended by vets as an easy yet effective way to care for your canine’s dental and oral health. With dry kibbles, raw bones and dog toys, your pet may crave something that satisfies his snacking needs. Dental chews are great to pacify those cravings. The ones by Greenies are great for adult dogs as they are low in fat and nutritionally complete for grown-up dogs. However, it is important to carefully understand and follow the weight guidelines before flinging them into your dog’s mouth as each treat contains about 95 calories, which is a lot! You may also have to alter his diet in order to compensate for the increased calories consumed.
3. Low-calorie Treats
Low-calorie treats or mini treats are the best for your dog’s overall health. Because of their very small size, they usually contain less than 3 calories which is apt for bulky dogs who are on a weight management diet. They are available in various flavor varieties including chicken, duck, salmon, pork and rabbit etc. so there’s a treat for every dog and his distinctive tastes. Zuke’s mini naturals are perfect for low-calorie treats as they are full of whole food antioxidants which are highly beneficial for maintaining healthy skin, eyesight, immunity and metabolism of your dog.
4. Natural Soft Chewy Treats
A soft and chewy dog treat is very tempting to dogs of any size or age group, especially to senior dogs or dogs with oral health issues. They love to dig their teeth in them and chew till their heart’s content. You stay at ease too because they contain all-natural preservatives and are free from any artificial flavors or colors. It is important to make sure that you’re picking a natural one before picking a soft chewy treat otherwise you will end up with a pack of sticky gummy bears. Chewy treats usually don’t snap and crumble and are easy to split.
5. Crunchy Treats
Some dogs love that crunchy sound and texture of treats and are usually not very pleased with the soft and chewy ones. You can choose to give them crunchy treats that are readily available at pet stores and vet offices. These treats are usually made up of dried potatoes and potato protein with a hint of meat. The calorie count depends upon the brand that you choose and should be well-thought-out while buying. You should consider buying natural grain-free crunchy treats if your dog prefers a crispy one.
6. Dog Biscuits
For pooches that love biscuit-styled treats, dog biscuits are the best pick! They are easily available and offer a huge variety of flavors to choose from. Your dog will love the variety and they are comparatively low-priced than other treats. Dog biscuits are usually pet parent’s favorite too because of their high-nutritive qualities. A dog biscuit scrapes and cleans your dog’s teeth as he chews them taking care of his dental health. While choosing a dog biscuit, read the nutritional value carefully and choose the one that is made primarily with grains.
7. Fruitables
The best treat that you can buy, Fruitables come in a variety of flavors. You can choose from Crispy Bacon Apple, Pumpkin Apple, Pumpkin Blueberry, Pumpkin Banana, Pumpkin Cranberry and Sweet Potato Apple. The amazing aroma will attract your dog and the high nutritional value attached will make you happy. Per treat, fruitables have less than 9 calories which is apt for any size. However, the extra-crunchy texture may not suit the dogs with oral health issues.
It is extremely important for you to go through the nutritional values and weight guidelines given on these treats before picking one randomly from a supermarket or pet store. It is your responsibility to make sure you aren’t feeding your pooch treats with fillers and artificial additives. Such treats are packed with bare calories and can cause harm to your dog’s health. It is also important for you to understand your dog’s needs and preferences before buying a treat. Price shouldn’t influence your choice of treats. Something that costs you more but also provides a satisfaction of great quality should be bought over inexpensive and unpromising brands. It’s better to treat him less with quality treats than pampering him with extra calories and sugar. Even if it’s less- when you treat him, treat him well!
