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Treats for dogs consist of the essential nutrients, carbohydrates, proteins, and fat required for a dog’s growth. Moreover, in addition to being a dietary requirement, treats can be great when they are used for training your dog. They can act as rewards for their activities or gains they make, bringing about behavioural understanding too.
It’s important to understand that not all treats have the same purpose. There are different types, which can be classified by age, nutrition level, purpose, etc. Choosing the right treats can be a bit challenging, but it’s important you choose the right type for your dog’s health. If you are not sure which type is suitable for your dog then speak to your vet for advice.
Soft Treats
These are small, soft, and chewy treats that are a vital part of training. These come in various shapes, sizes, types, and have a pleasant taste and smell (for your dog at least!). They act as easy-to-eat rewards upon completion of a task. It’s important to choose the right treats according to requirements and breed type.
Crunchy treats
Crunchy treats come in different forms like biscuits, bars, cookies, etc. Though there are various crunchy treats available, it is important to choose the right size of a treat for your pup. These are go-to treats for some snacking time but always find the right brand to suit your dog’s needs.
Chewy treats
Chewy treats, as the name suggests, are meant for chewing. These treats are quite hard, and they come in different shapes and sizes. These are made of digestible material, but if swallowed as a whole, they can cause problems.
Hence, it’s essential to monitor your pet when handed a chewy treat. The nature of these treats helps with the dental care of the dogs. They can help to strengthen the bones and teeth. In certain cases, a special kind of chewy treat such as bully sticks for dogs is also recommended for oral hygiene maintenance; to avoid plaque buildup or any other gum-related conditions. Choosing the right size and hardness of the treats is quite important for the age and size of your dog too..
Comfort treats
These are treats that help to keep your pet engaged. If you are away from the house for a while for some reason, these treats can help keep your dog happy until you are back. Comfort treats can also be given to puppies at their teething stage to keep them away from gnawing on your shoes. Consult your vet to discuss the treat requirement for puppies before deciding – as adult dogs and puppies have different needs.
Freeze-dried and Jerky treats
These are quite a special treat rather than just a snack, being more comparable to human food. They regularly come in the form of poultry, liver, seafood flavours, chicken, and beef. These treats have quite a flavour and smell, which is attractive for dogs. These come in a variety of shapes and sizes and usually take some effort to eat, but dogs love them!
Special Diet Treats
Some dogs might require additional supplements or need to follow a strict diet due to allergic reactions or health conditions. In those conditions, special treats are given to the dogs. They are usually rich in nutrients and provide the required immunity and strength along with dog food.
Benefits of dog treats
It’s really important to include dog treats in the diet of your pet. The benefits involve mental stimulation, better digestion, improved chewing ability, strong immunity, good oral health and more. But it’s also important to choose the right treats too.
Choosing treats that don’t contain fillers or poor quality ingredients is something to bear in mind too. It’s important to understand the ingredients in them, the quality overall and the nutritional content, among other factors while choosing treats for your dog. Today, the choice of dog treats is quite innumerable.
Conclusion
Treats are important, but they are never the replacement for a healthy balanced diet. These are just supplements to boost up the nutritional, physical, and mental health of your pet. Whenever you are in doubt, it’s always best to consult your vet and understand your pet’s needs.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
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