Treats and Chews for Dogs

PETS · GLOBAL

Treats and Chews for Dogs

The ten percent rule, what is safe, dental claims and choking risks

Treats are where most careful feeding plans quietly fall apart, particularly in households where several people feed the dog.

The ten percent rule

Treats should stay within about ten percent of daily calories, with the rest coming from complete food. That is a small amount, and a few dental chews can use most of it.

Check the calories on the packet, since some chews contain more than a meal. Reduce the dinner accordingly rather than adding on top.

Use the daily food

For training, weigh out part of the day's kibble and use it as rewards. It costs nothing, avoids extra calories and works perfectly well for most dogs.

Foods that are dangerous

Chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, macadamia nuts, and anything containing xylitol, which is in some peanut butters and sugar-free products and is severely toxic to dogs.

Cooked bones splinter and must never be given. Contact a vet immediately if a dog eats any of these rather than waiting for symptoms.

Choking and obstruction

Rawhide, hooves, antlers and very hard chews are associated with fractured teeth and intestinal obstruction. Supervise every chew, and take it away once it is small enough to swallow.

A chew should flex slightly under a thumbnail. If it would hurt to be hit on the knee with it, it can break a tooth.

Dental claims

Some dental chews have evidence behind them, and none replaces brushing. Daily brushing with a dog toothpaste is what actually prevents dental disease, which is extremely common and painful.

Storage and hygiene

Keep treats sealed and dry, since many are high in fat and go rancid. Wash hands after handling anything raw or dried, particularly chews made from animal parts.

Households with young children or anyone immunocompromised should be particularly careful with dried natural chews, which can carry bacteria.

Weight

Excess weight shortens dogs' lives measurably and accelerates joint problems. You should be able to feel the ribs easily without pressing hard, and see a waist from above.

Puppies and older dogs

Puppies need softer chews suited to developing teeth, and hard chews can damage them. Older dogs frequently have dental disease that makes hard treats painful, which tends to show as dropping food or chewing on one side rather than as obvious pain.

Check treats are appropriate for the life stage rather than assuming any dog can have any chew.

Allergies and elimination diets

Treats count. A single flavoured chew invalidates a food trial, so check the protein in everything.

Introduce any new treat gradually, and speak to a vet before changing anything for a dog with a diagnosed condition.

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