There’s a pretty special day coming up for our furry friends: it’s National Treat Your Pet Day! Fido and Fluffy are very enthusiastic about treats, and who can blame them? We love snacks, too! While giving your dog or cat a treat isn’t rocket science, there are some things to consider. A London, ON vet lists some of them below.

Benefits

Treats are important for more than just purrs and tail wags. They can really help with winning a new pet’s trust and building that special bond. Plus, they’re a great way to brighten up your furry buddy’s day and make them feel loved and safe. They’re also wonderful training aids for dogs. (Cats, of course, usually train us.)

Store-Bought Snacks

When it comes to store-bought snacks, we really recommend reading the labels. Avoid products that contain a lot of fillers, such as wheat and corn syrup. Ideally, treats should contain mostly meat, fish, or poultry, along with healthy fruits and veggies, such as spinach, peas, or carrots. Just pick snacks that are the right size for your pet!

Tricks For Treats

One great thing about Fido is the fact that he deliberately strives to please his humans. Have your pooch do a trick for his snack! This can be a great confidence booster for a shy dog. Of course, when you’re working on training, you’ll want to use small portions. Otherwise, you could end up overfeeding your canine pal!

Homemade Goodies

If you like cooking, you can try your hand at making your pet’s goodies. There are plenty of recipes online to experiment with. The main thing is to just make sure that you are only using safe ingredients. These are mostly the same for dogs and cats. Most types of plain, cooked meat, fish, or poultry are fine, though you’ll need to remove skin, bones, or fat. You can also offer certain fruits and veggies, such as spinach, peas, bananas, apple slices, and blueberries. Ask your vet for recommendations

Unsafe Treats

Many popular people foods are toxic to pets. That list includes garlic, onions, scallions, and chives; grapes, currants, and raisins; meat on the bone; avocado; any fruit with pips or seeds; chocolate; alcohol; and raw dough. Ask your vet for more information.

Please contact us, your London, ON pet clinic, for more information on your pet’s dietary needs. We’re here to help!