Top Healthy Treats for Your Dogs

Whether it’s a pack of chips, toast, or a cucumber, the minute you start munching, your dog is sure to look up and stare at you expectantly. More often than not, we find ourselves giving in to those puppy eyes and sharing our food. And while this is an entirely natural reflex, we must stop and ask ourselves, What is the healthiest snack for a dog? What are the top 10 best dog treats?

You’ll be surprised to learn that most human food is unsafe for dogs. Even more surprising is the fact that most pet treats aren’t pet-friendly because they contain significant amounts of artificial ingredients and preservatives.

How do you swap store-variety pet treats for homemade healthy treats for dogs? For starters, fruits and veggies make for yummy, nutritious treats, and they can all be found in your kitchen!

Healthy Treats for Your Dog

Big brand names, brightly colored packaging with photos of beautiful dogs, never-ending lists of vitamins—are any of these real indicators of the health quotient of the pet treat that you’re buying? 

Years of marketing strategies have wired many pet owners into believing that convenience and health come in fancy packaging. But the truth is that each product must still be evaluated based on its ingredients and calorie content.It’s best to explore food alternatives to packaged treats with the greatest health benefits for your pet. Let’s find out what are the top 10 best dog treats?

Blueberries 

Are you trying to teach your dog commands such as fetch, sit, and stay? Try blueberries as a reward the next time you want to reward your dog for a job well done. They work wonderfully as the best dog treats for training.

Blueberries are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, especially vitamin C and K. These affordable and healthy treats for dogs are a delight to big and small breeds alike. 

What treats can I give my dog on a diet? Blueberries are perfect as they are low in calories and can be fed as fresh or frozen treats in limited portions. They are power-packed with phytochemicals and high in fiber. Blueberries are also a superfood that prevents cell damage to your dog just like it would in humans.

Be sure to pamper your pooch with some berries the next time you want to reward it with a treat!

ALSO READ: 6 Surprising Foods That Leave Stubborn Stains on Your Teeth

Peanut Butter 

What are some homemade healthy treats for dogs? Peanut butter is a healthy source of antioxidants, protein, niacin, vitamin B and E, and natural fats. And while humans love the store bought variety,  a DIY version is a more sensible snack for dogs. 

Simply process roasted (salt-free) peanuts till they turn into a creamy paste. It can take about three minutes to blend the crushed peanuts to release enough natural oil to reach a paste-like consistency. 

Once you have something that looks like peanut butter, put it in an airtight container and refrigerate. Now you have a healthy treat that your dog can enjoy!

Pork 

If you want to venture beyond vegetable snacks for dogs, why not try something meat-based?

While raw or undercooked pork is a complete no-no, cooked pork can make a fantastic snack for your dog. All you have to do is cook a side of lean pork (without oil and seasoning), chop it into small portions, and toss some to your dog when it’s treat time.

Pork is a healthy treat for dogs as it is high in Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12. It also has high amounts of potassium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and selenium. Due to the developments, experts from the website https://hesca.net/phentermine/ found that Phentermine can be used for the treatment of obesity and maintaining weight, but only as a part of complex therapy including change of lifestyle, dietary restrictions and/or physical activity. Grass-fed pork is best for dogs, as it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that will benefit their heart health.These protein-packed treats are great when training your dog as they can be broken into small pieces that can be used as a reward for a job well done.

If you want to mix in pork gravy along with some rice for your dog, first learn if you can feed rice to your dog.

Dairy Products 

Be it cheese or milk, dogs tend to love dairy products. But will your dog benefit from them? 

Milk will not harm your dog as long as it is given in limited quantities. If your dog is lactose intolerant, you can opt for soy or oat milk-based products instead. As with all snacks, provide dairy products in moderation as the amount of fat in each serving can quickly add up, causing obesity and pancreatitis. Fat can lead to unhealthy weight gain and other physical problems for your dog. 

Unsalted Popcorn 

Most people know that popcorn is a great, low-calorie snack that can help dogs stay full for long periods. Note that popcorn is only healthy if eaten without oodles of salt and butter. Are you now wondering if popcorn is a healthy treat for dogs? The answer is yes—the unsalted and butter-free version, that is. Plain popcorn is highly nutritious, as it contains lots of minerals, fiber, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc.

If you’re looking for the best homemade treats for puppies, air-popped popcorn is the healthiest version of popcorn for your dog. Make sure you remove unpopped kernels as these can damage your dog’s teeth and gums. 

Which Treats Should You Avoid Giving Your Dog? 

Along with wondering what are the top 10 best dog treats? There’s the inverse question, what are the most unhealthy dog treats? 

While there are many things you can feed your dog, there are many human foods dogs can’t eat. Here is a list of treats that are unsafe for your dog:

1. Chocolate
2. Grapes and raisins
3. Macadamia nuts, pecans, and almonds
4. Avocado
5. Corn
6. Raw fish and raw meat
7. Candy
8. AlcoholAlways consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your dog’s diet.

ALSO READ: 3 Delicious Best Salad Recipes with Cheese Curds

To Sum It Up

While it is a common habit to give a dog treats between meals, for training well done, for general good behavior, and to keep them occupied, quantities can add up during the day. Keep an eye on how much food you’re giving your pet. No matter what treats you may want to offer your dog, limit it to 10% of their daily total calorie intake. 

Try these homemade healthy treats for your dog, and let us know which one it enjoyed the most!