Joseph Roetheli, PhD
Highlights:
Making dog treats can be a fun experience and an easy way to keep track of what goes into your dog’s belly.
Ensuring your dog’s treats are nutritionally balanced can be a challenge.
For treats that are nutritious and satisfying, try giving your dog one Yummy Combs treat daily.
Every time you give your dog a treat, you might wonder what’s inside of them and whether or not they’re getting a nutritious snack or the equivalent of junk food.
The good news is that you can find the answers by looking at the ingredient label on the bag of treats. The bad news is you might have a hard time understanding what you’re seeing and interpreting whether or not it’s actually nutritious for your dog.
If you’d like to give homemade dog treats a go, you can easily do so with whole foods found right in your kitchen and pantry. We’ll give you two recipes for dog treats you can make at home and also talk about the kind of nutrients your dog needs. Finally, we’ll discuss why giving your dog premade treats may be a better way to keep track of their diets and keep them satisfied.
Dogs need calories just like humans for energy and survival. Depending on your dog’s breed, age, and size, their caloric needs will vary. Your dog’s veterinarian is a good source of knowledge when it comes to understanding your dog’s dietary needs and what their caloric intake should be each day.
Dogs are carnivores, but that doesn’t mean your dog has to consume meat or animal products to meet their protein goals. Some breeds (not all) may meet their protein requirements by eating a combination of plant and animal foods.
Dogs also need an array of vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates, and fats. While some maximum amounts of these nutrients are known and established, some can vary. This is why you may find maximum and minimum amounts of vitamins and minerals on your dog’s kibble package.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) regulates dog food and treats. They determine how much crude protein your dog’s kibble should have. Dog food manufactured in the United States must follow these guidelines.
Just like human food, not all food choices are nutritious. Just because something meets legal requirements for safety and content does not mean it’s the perfect food for our bodies. Like humans, dogs are subject to lower-quality foods, preservatives, and “fillers” that offer empty calories and can lead to weight gain.
A good rule of thumb when choosing dog food is to select the highest quality dog food you can afford to give your dog. There are differing guidelines for wet and dry food and different options for dogs who need to be on a grain-free diet or who have dietary allergies.
Your dog’s veterinarian can determine if your dog needs special food. If not, you can purchase high-quality food for your dog’s size and age.
Once you’ve selected your dog’s food and the amount you’ll give them each day, you’ll need to reduce that amount by the amount of treats you offer them. Treats contain calories just like kibble, and if you are maxing out your dog’s daily caloric needs with kibble, there’s not much room for treats.
Reducing their kibble when you offer treats helps them maintain a healthy weight, but it’s also important for you to offer balanced, nutrient-dense treats to ensure your dog is meeting dietary requirements.
If you’d like to try DIY dog treats, you’ll need a few pantry staples and some fun cookie cutters. Here are two recipes that offer whole-food ingredients for your dog.
These treats only contain three ingredients and can be made quickly. The bonus? You can even share them with your dog!
Ingredients:
Process:
Storage:
These treats are a bit more labor-intensive but do have the added benefit of offering protein to your dog’s diet. If you are eliminating kibble in lieu of treats, adding protein is really important. Many dog treats are just that: treats that don’t offer much in terms of protein or nutrients. These treats contain chicken to help sustain your dog’s protein needs.
Ingredients:
Process:
Preheat oven to 325 F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Chop the parsley into fine bits. Combine 2 cups of rolled oats, bone broth, egg, applesauce, chopped parsley, and salt in a large bowl and mix well. Add ½ cup remaining oats into the mixture until well blended. Add ⅓ cup oat flour in small portions, mixing as you go. Once all oat flour has been added, knead the dough for a few minutes and allow it to rest for 2-3 minutes.
On a floured surface, roll out the dough and use desired doggy cookie cutter shapes to create dog biscuits. Bake treats at 325 for 25 minutes or until they are golden brown. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for a week or in the fridge for up to 10 days.
When making dog treats at home, there are some tips and tricks to help the process go smoothly.
If you don’t have the tie to make dog treats or you simply would prefer to trust the macro and micronutrient content to someone else, you’ve got Yummy Combs.
Yummy Combs® are nutritious treats designed to become a part of your dog’s daily diet. One Yummy Combs treat per day contains 44% chicken protein and 12 wellness ingredients for a complete and balanced treat that won’t leave your dog with any dietary gaps.
The unique design of Yummy Combs treats is wide, deterring gulping, which could become a choking hazard. The thin walls dissolve easily in your dog’s mouth, making it easy for them to chew and swallow small pieces. Proprietary Slick’M™ ingredients help Yummy Combs dissolve inside your dog’s stomach quickly, reducing the risk of blockages.
The best part about Yummy Combs is that they also help support your dog’s oral hygiene. Yummy Combs is the only treat scientifically proven to remove up to 25% of hardened tartar from your dog’s teeth.
This tartar could lead to gum disease, a condition 80% of dogs over age 3 have. This can lead to tooth decay and loss and even systemic illness and organ failure. Yummy Combs provides a delicious way to help keep your dog’s teeth clean while giving them a safe, delicious, and nutritious treat.
Sure, giving your dog homemade pumpkin dog treats at Halloween or holiday-shaped biscuits can be fun. But for everyday treats, trust the nutritious, simple ingredients found in Yummy Combs, and help support your dog’s overall nutrition and dental care.
Sources:
Nutrition – General Feeding Guidelines for Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals
AAFCO|Association of American Feed Control Officials
How to Choose the Best Dog Food|American Kennel Club.org
Easy Homemade Dog Treats • It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken
Oats, Applesauce and Chicken Dog Treat Recipe|Wiggleworthy.com
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Always feed the right treat size for your dog’s weight category. Always supervise your dog when feeding treats. This product is an adult only dog treat. Always provide ample fresh water for your dog.
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