What treat(s) can I give to my dog?

Doctor, what treat(s) can I give to my dog?

Giving your dog a treat can be a helpful tool in their education and bring shared moments of pleasure. However, treats are still food and should be counted into your dog's daily allowance.

It is best to select treats specifically designed for your dog's size (small, medium, or large). Fresh foods, such as meat, yoghurt, fruits (excluding grapes), and raw carrots, can also be healthy options for your pet.

It is not advisable to give your dog leftover table food, especially during meals, as it may contain high levels of fat or sugar. This can lead to your dog developing a bad habit of begging and creating an unpleasant experience.

The European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) has established a «Code of Practice for Pet Food Labelling». It is essential to note that treats are meant to be given in addition to a main meal and not as a substitute. Look for the mandatory written statement on the packaging to determine if it is a "Complete food, " a well-balanced meal, or a "Complementary food" which should only be given as a treat.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: A dog treat is a complementary food that does not cover the animal's nutritional needs. Carefully check the packaging to which category the food belongs.

The treat contains proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals, either utilised for immediate requirements, stored when feasible or eliminated as waste through stools or urine. Therefore, the treat helps to fulfil the overall nutrient requirements.

To ensure safe consumption, the recommended amount is calculated based on the calorie density of the treat.

Treat is first an additional source of calories.

The energy in any food, treats included, is derived from proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. When there is an excess of this energy, it can be stored in adipose tissue as fat. Adult dogs must maintain an optimal weight. The balance between what they eat and the number of calories they burn daily determines their body weight, provided their activity level remains constant. Any extra energy consumed will lead to weight gain, causing an increase in fat mass.

The number of calories in treats varies depending on the type and quantity. It is generally advised to stay within 10% of the daily energy requirement from complementary food to maintain a balanced diet, whether it is a commercial, homemade, or a combination of both.

Roughly, most dry industrial treats provide as many calories as complete dry foods. So, for a dog whose recommendation in kibble would be 150g daily, 10% corresponds to 15g of dry treats. This is a small amount, especially when there are several education sessions or if several family members are involved in the dog’s activity. It is, therefore, necessary to quantify everything you feed your dog, such as preparing the number of treats for the day in advance and monitoring their body weight monthly for small dogs or quarterly for larger ones.

The package does not indicate energy density because its declaration is optional. Additionally, the weight of a treat is often not provided. In such cases, the best way to obtain this information is by checking the manufacturer or seller's website for available values. The caloric value can usually be found in the "composition" and "analytical components" section under the name "metabolisable energy" expressed in kcal/100g. To determine the weight of a treat, you may need to count the number of treats in a package or refer to the package labelling. You can also contact the consumer line if you need help obtaining this information.

For fresh food, the dog often likes fruits (do not give grapes in any form) or vegetables (e.g., raw carrots). For a healthy 5 kg dog, giving 1/2 apple a day is convenient.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: Treats are offered in limited quantities so as not to unbalance the ration and not lead to excess energy.

Treats and Claims

A claim refers to a statement made by the manufacturer regarding the qualities of their product. The regulations and guidelines for this are outlined in the "Pet Food Labelling Code of Practice," which can be found in the link provided at the start of this article on pages 41-53.

In short, several categories of claims exist about components and nutrients (e.g., rich in chicken, with parsley, contains vitamin C) or their content (e.g., high in omega-6) and are sometimes associated with animal health benefits. There are also negative claims that exclude certain ingredients like cereals or promote products as "natural". The product label contains much information regarding the attributes and potential benefits of the product, but it may take some time to understand it fully.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: There are several categories of allegations, and it is essential to get familiarised with them and choose your treat knowingly.

To ensure your family's and dog's safety, it is crucial to follow basic hygiene practices when preparing treats with raw meat or fish.

In conclusion, you can select fresh, organic, commercial, without cereals, or homemade treats. However, it is recommended that you speak with your veterinarian or consult a veterinary nutrition specialist to determine which treat is best suited for your dog.