Healthy Treats That You Can Give Your Dog
Dogs love treats. It puts them in a good mood and can also be a great way to start training your pups. But as dog owners, it’s very important to make sure that you give them healthy and tasty treats. There are many commercial treats out there with ingredients that are very harmful to your dog, and paw-parents should avoid feeding them to their pets at all costs.
So, what treats can you give your dog?
There are tons of healthy treats you can give your pet that they’ll surely love, and some of them might already be in your kitchen! In this list, we go through a couple of healthy treats you can give your dog to keep them active, healthy, and happy!
Healthy Treats for Dogs
Instead of going to the pet store and buying processed, unhealthy treats, why not feed them food already in your kitchen? The following are healthy and tasty treats for dogs that will surely have your pup wagging its tail!
Apples
You know the saying, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples are filled with nutrients and fibers that can keep a dog’s body running healthy. However, most dogs might find a whole apple a bit too large for them. That’s why we recommend chopping up the apples into smaller chunks you can give throughout the day. With that in mind, make sure not to feed your dogs the seeds or core of the apple.
Carrots
Carrots have a compound called beta carotene, which is very healthy for dogs and humans. On top of that, it’s loaded with tons of other nutrients and fibers. When feeding your dogs carrots, make sure to cut them up into the appropriate size. If you cut them too large, your dog might have a hard time chewing them, while cutting them too small can also make it hard to chew.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a great treat for dogs, but you have to cook them first. The best way to do this is to boil them until they are soft. While it might not seem that convenient to cook your dog’s treats, you can store cooked sweet potatoes in the fridge for a very long time. Make sure to only feed them plain and cooked sweet potatoes as treats.
Squash & Pumpkin
Many dogs out there love cooked squash and pumpkin. You can either boil or roast the pumpkin in the oven and store it in the refrigerator for weeks! You can even give your dogs pumpkin puree as that is easier to eat and digest. With that said, make sure the puree doesn’t have added ingredients that can be bad for your dogs.
You may be wondering, can dogs eat pumpkin and pumpkin seeds? The answer is yes, but if you plan on feeding them seeds, it’s best to peel, roast, and grind them, which may be too much work for some people.
Broccoli
Broccoli is an excellent treat choice for pups. Like all cruciferous vegetables, they are loaded with healthy compounds and minerals. You can give them to your dog raw, steamed, or cooked in any way. Just make sure that it is unseasoned.
What Kind of Treats Should I Give My Dog?
Different dogs enjoy different treats. When choosing treats for your dog, it’s important to consider their own tastes and preferences.
Ideally, it’s best to get dog treats that are easy to chew. You don’t want your pet damaging their teeth because the treat is too hard for them. So, it’s best to stick to fruits and vegetables when giving them treats.
Regardless of your choice, make sure that your dog enjoys the treat and that it’s beneficial to their health. When feeding them fruits, try not to overfeed them as fruits have a high sugar content, which isn’t ideal for dogs.
So, now that you’ve learned about some natural and healthy treats for your dog, it’s time to hit the kitchen and see if you have any of them in stock!