Low-Fat Dog Treats

Low Fat Dog Treats for Healthy Snacking

A new study from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed that each year 1 in 14 dogs are recorded as overweight by their vets.

Worryingly, not every dog will receive attention for this problem. The study also found that some breeds are especially prone to weight gain, including Pugs, Beagles, Golden Retrievers and English Springer Spaniels. Owners of these breeds must to be especially vigilant to protect their dogs from gaining excessive weight.

Overweight dogs have shorter life spans, reduced quality of life and higher risk of conditions including arthritis, breathing problems, heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer.

To help with weight loss you can feed healthy low fat dog treats and chews such as cows ears but don’t forget to speak to your vet if you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s diet, particularly when it comes to allergies.

Looking at the ingredients in dog treats is essential. Often companies will fill a food with unhealthy ingredients for better flavour. Ideally, a healthy treat should have a great taste and comprise solely natural flavours and ingredients, be grain free, easily digestible with high quality proteins and no added sugar to help maintain a healthy weight.

Examples of some low fat dog treats

Raw vegetables like carrots are deliciously crunchy low calorie treats for dogs. These low fat treats are a good source of nutrient rich fibre and are suitable to support healthy digestion in dogs. Carrots have a lower calorie content as well as low fat and can provide a great healthy treat if your pet has to lose weight. Fruits such as apple slices and berries are high in glucose and calories yet are very healthy. Green beans are also excellent as a nutritious low fat treat as are sweet potatoes.

Keep their diet in check while training

Texture

When training it can be easy to over-feed your dog so stick to low calorie dog treats.

Long lasting chews are great for keeping your pooch entertained, and for their dental health – helping to keep their teeth clean and strong, however, when training, it’s better to use soft chews to stop the sessions being slowed too much.

Ingredients

As with snacks when not training, training treats should be tasty, high in protein and full of nutrients and vitamins.

Size

For training, break the treats into smaller pieces for speedy delivery.

Overall diet

Healthy dog treats, alongside a complete and balanced diet will result in a happy and healthy pup as well as less trips to the vet.