Should You Give Your Pet Treats?

All pet owners love giving their cat or dog treats. I think it's safe to say that most, if not all, cats and dogs love getting the treats as well. I know mine do, because when the treats come out they act as if they haven't had anything to eat for weeks. There's certainly nothing wrong with giving your cat or dog treats, but there are some things you should keep in mind when doing so.

Read labels and choose wisely, because all cat and dog treats are not created equal. Many of the commercial treats available are laden with sugar, fat, fillers, artificial ingredients, chemical preservatives and other icky things that pets just don't need. Besides being potentially harmful for your pet, many of these things simply supply empty calories with no nutritional benefit, and can contribute to a pet's weight gain.

The most important thing you can do is to study the ingredient labels carefully. You're probably already doing this for your own food choices, and the same rules apply to cat treats and dog treats. If the label sounds more like a science experiment than food, it's not a good choice for your pet. Instead, choose natural treats that are low in fat and contain no corn, wheat, gluten, BHA/BHT, hormones, byproducts, antibiotics, artificial coloring, sugars (corn syrup, molasses, fructose, etc.), salt and rice protein concentrate.

When it comes to pet treat labels, simpler and shorter is always better. There are cat treats and dog treats that are comprised of meat and nothing else. One of my favorites (and my cats' too) is Halo's LIV-A-LITTLES® freeze-dried chicken breast treats. This high-protein, low-carb snack comes in small pieces that you can give as a between-meal treat, or crumble it over their food for a delicious flavor enhancer. The Only Natural Pet Store is a great resource for high quality pet treats. You can order online or request a mail-order catalog. Only Natural Pet HealthTreats Poultry Crispies for dogs and cats are meat-only treats with either chicken or cage-free turkey, and mixed tocopherols (a natural preservative). That's it!

Kitty Kaviar is an excellent cat treat comprised of 100% wild caught bonito fish flakes, dried and carved paper thin. It's just one ingredient, with no additives, preservatives or by-products. I've also found bonito fish flakes in the Japanese section of my local food co-op - it's the same thing without the cat label (because it's marketed to humans), and it's a lot cheaper.

Choose "functional pet treats" with health benefits. Many cat and dog treats have antioxidants, vitamins and other ingredients specifically designed to improve your pet's health. Examples of functional pet treats are: Happy Hips for dogs and cats, formulated with glucosamine and Chondroitin to help maintain healthy joints; treats with skin and coat conditioners; Vitality treats with flaxseed and vitamins to maintain healthy eyes, skin and coat; Breathies cat treats with mint and parsley for fresh breath; Greenies for dental health; Veggie Life Sweet Potato Chews, which are high in Beta Carotene, Vitamins B6, C, A and E.

Go natural. Many fruits and vegetables make good, natural alternatives to commercial pet treats. My cats will eat green beans, corn and peas. Most dogs will too, and they may also like apples, carrots and peanut butter. Before doling out people food as treats, consult with your vet and read up on foods pets should not eat, because some fruits and veggies can be toxic to them (e.g., onions, grapes and raisins). There are also healthy dog treats made from vegetables and little else, like Veggie Life Vitality Sweet Potato (sweet potato, flaxseed, vitamin E and vitamin A) and Vitality Chicken & Apple (apple, chicken breast, flaxseed, vitamin E and vitamin A).

I've been giving my cats raw chicken necks as treats for many years. In addition to providing them with an easily assimilated, natural form of calcium, the chicken necks massage their gums and keep their teeth squeaky clean. Turkey necks are too big for cats, but many dog owners feed them as pet treats. Dogs and cats have very strong jaws and teeth which enables them to crush and chew these raw meaty treats. I feed only chicken necks from a supplier I trust to provide premium quality meat (I have to special order the necks), and make sure to follow the strict guidelines for handling raw meat. If you have concerns about feeding raw meat to your pet, do some research on the subject and speak to your vet about it.

Count calories, because calories count! People often joke about pudgy pooches and fat cats, but overweight pets are not funny, because excess weight can cause a wide variety of serious health problems. Obesity can make a pet's life miserable, and can even kill them. To avoid over-treating your pet, ask your vet how much to feed your dog or cat each day, and make sure no more than 10% of the calories are from treats.

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