Are you overindulging your pet with treats?
Many pet parents give these extras as rewards . To express their affection, for their dogs or cats without considering the calorie content in each treat. These snacks might be a contributing factor to why more than half of pets in the U.S.’re overweight.
If you want to make choices when giving your friend treats follow some recommendations to prevent adding excessive calories to their diet.
Control Treat Portions
Similar to how cookies lack nutrients for a diet pet treats do not offer sufficient nutrition for dogs or cats to constitute a significant portion of their meals. This is because these products do not contain the rounded nutrition found in the type of pet food you feed them at meal times.
Pets should not consume, than 10% of their calories from treats. This includes leftovers or food used for administering medication as these items are not formulated for a dogs or cats diet.
Your veterinarian can advise you on the number of calories your pet requires each day and you can calculate what 10% of that amount equates to.
To find out the calorie content of treats check the packaging. If there are no calories listed it’s best to avoid purchasing that treat.
How Often to Give Treats
When it comes to giving treats some individuals use them for training their pets or, as a way to reinforce behavior. Others use treats as a means of expressing affection or strengthening their connection with the animal.
There isn’t a guideline on how you should offer treats but its generally recommended to limit them to 10% of your pets daily caloric intake. Some owners opt for giving one biscuit per day while others prefer offering amounts of kibble throughout the day usually one or two pieces at a time.
It’s completely acceptable not to provide any treats. Remember that cats and dogs respond well to alternative rewards and displays of affection, such as spending playtime or offering words of praise.
Regarding table scraps if you enjoy sharing food from your plate with your pets keep in mind that failing to consider these additional calories can lead to weight gain, in your pet. To manage this risk keep the portions from the table around the size of your pinky fingernail. So that each bite doesn’t contain an amount of calories.
Table Scraps
Sometimes when you share your meal leftovers, with your pet they might start begging for more because they associate food with rewards. If you give in to their begging and offer them food they’ll see it as a response. Continue to beg.
If you find it hard to resist their pleading eyes or cries consider placing your pet in another room during mealtime. Alternatively you can feed them their meal at the time, as yours to make them feel included.
It’s okay to share some food with your pet long as you’re mindful of portion sizes. However remember that dogs and cats should never consume
- chocolate
- onions
- garlic
- raisins
- grapes.