Safe and Healthy Treats for your Dog

Many people are unsure what fruits, vegetables and meats are actually safe and which should be avoided. Unless you are feeding a home made diet that has been approved by a nutritionist I still recommend commercial dog food the primary basis of your pets diet. But there are some foods you can offer your pet as an additional treat that can also provide some great health benefits. There are also some ‘human’ foods which can be offered as a safe and enticing training treat, but can cause excess weight. So if you decide to offer your dog any of these food items, it should be in moderation and take the place of a commercial treat.

1. Canned Pumpkin

Canned pumpkin is a great way to add fiber to your dogs diet. For dogs with inconsistent bowel movements or issues with anal gland impaction this is something I recommend they try. As many dogs also have a sweet tooth they are also usually willing to try it. A large quantity is not required, and offering too much will likely cause bloating and loose stools. I recommend about 1 tablespoon per meal for the average dog 40 pounds or higher. For smaller dogs this quantity should be reduced by half.

A small amount of canned pumpkin should not be a large increase in total daily calories, but if your dog is on a strict diet take away about 5% of their kibble to balance out the pumpkin.

Despite what many of my clients have read online I don’t recommend canned pumpkin to treat diarrhea. It’s helpful for the mild cases where the dog goes between soft or overly hard poops. But true diarrhea is better treated by a very bland diet (such as boiled chicken breast and white rice only).

2. Carrots

Carrots are a low calorie treat that are also high in anti-oxidants making them a great food to feed your dog. The crunch of the carrot also makes them great for your dogs teeth without a risk of breaking any molars. Try feeding your dog a baby carrot in place of a milk-bone every day for a healthy alternative.

A large frozen carrot can also be offered as a cool treat in the summer or to teething puppy as a safe way to soothe those painful gums. Just be sure to cut off the end or take it away before it is swallowed as that could turn in to an  intestinal obstruction if swallowed by a small dog.

Also, I should mention that if you feed too many carrots, or any food that is orange, it will change the color of your pets poops. It’s not an issue if your dog isn’t developing diarrhea, but maybe cut back on the quantity if you are concerned.

3. Green Beans

Canned grean beans are one of my favorite tricks for promoting weight loss in my chunky patients. Assuming they will eat them. Sweet foods like fruits and carrots tend to be enjoyed by more dogs then the bland vegetables. But for the indiscriminant patient with a weight problem this is a great option. What I recommend is to cut back the amount of kibble being fed by 25-30% and then mixing in some low sodium green beans. The amount will depend on the size of the dog, but for the average 40-50 pound dog I would recommend adding in about 4 oz of green beans.

The beans will act like a filler making your dog feel more full, while the dramatic reduction in kibble will mean an overall decrease in calories. Owners hate seeing their dogs still hungry which is what will happen if you cut back the food alone. Many dogs who are overweight are simply fed way too much and are not going to starve with their kibble being cut back. But the green beans help reduce the amount of begging after you’ve just fed them, which in my experience helps with owner compliance.

4. Blueberries

High in vitamins and anti-oxidants blueberries are a super food for us and dogs. They are also low in calories so a small handful of blueberries should not affect your dogs weight. Like most fruits they do have a moderate amount of sugar so moderation is important. For a small dog I would not feed more then 3 or 4 blueberries per day. Foods high in sugar can cause issues such as tooth decay, diarrhea or weight gain in our patients. But a few blueberries daily if you have some you would like to share are a safe and healthy treat.

5. Apples and Bananas

I group these together because my recommendation is the same for both. Yes they are safe and healthier then many commercial dog treats, but they are too high in sugar to be given in large volumes.

I’ll give mine the last bite of banana if I’m having one or a slice or two from my apple. The apple may provide some dental cleaning benefits when they chew it. There are healthy vitamins and minerals in fruits, but the sugar is the biggest concern so just don’t go crazy when offerning them as a treat.

6. Chicken, Beef, Turkey

Any animal protein should be lean and unseasoned. Unless you have been instructed to feed a bland diet by your vet, or if you are making a home made diet, you do not need to feed much additional protein. A high quality commercial dog food has been studied and created to provide the ideal nutrition for your dog. Large amounts of additional protein can cause constipation or even elevated renal values.

Trying to feed a combination of some kibble mixed with mostly home made food is also not ideal. Unless it is based on a recipe from a veterinary nutritionist you run the risk of providing inappropriate quantities of nutrition.

But a small piece of unseasoned  baked chicken is a safe and tasty training treat. You can feed a small amount of lean ground beef or turkey as a special treat occasionally, but does not need to be a daily part of their diet.

I do often recommend my clients feed their dog either unseasoned chicken and white rice or lean ground beef and white rice as a bland diet for 4-5 days. For a short period of time, while the inflammation in their gut is healing, this is an easy to digest diet. Sometimes I’ll even make the chicken and rice myself if I have a very sick hospitalized patient who won’t eat our canned prescription diets, which is what I’m doing in this picture.

7. Sweet Potatoes

Just like carrots and pumpkin, sweet potato is high in vitamins and anti-oxidants, and a favorite food of dogs due to its sweet taste.  It’s a common ingredient in many dogs foods as we know it is safe and healthy. And this fall and winter they will be abundant in the grocery stores. Although marshmallow covered sweet potato casserole is inappropriate for your dog, definitely save some of those peeled and boiled pieces before they get covered in salt, spices and sugar.

Foods to Avoid

Things you should not be feeding your dog are things like your leftovers from dinner covered in spices or salt, or high fat proteins like ham or prime rib. These meals at best may cause mild diarrhea and at worst can result in pancreatitis. This is a painful and potentially life threatening inflammation of the pancreas.

Feeding leftovers or scraps from the table can also result in frustrating and inappropriate behaviors such as begging and stealing. My husband and I have never personally fed our dogs table scraps, but as many parents of toddlers know once you have kids it starts to happen anyway. Now our dogs circle the table like vultures waiting for food to fall. If I could go back in time I would keep them crated or outside during meal time so this behavior would have never started.

I also don’t recommend milk and yogurt for dogs. If you would like to feed your dog a probiotic there are excellent products such as Purina Forti Flora. The risk with yogurt and milk is many dogs and cats are lactose intolerant which will likely make diarrhea worse. Cheese should also be given in very small amounts, and typically I only recommend it as an easy way to hide pills if your dog needs to take medication.

There are also some foods which you should never feed as they are dangerous to dogs. Never feed your dog raisins, grapes, onions, garlic or chocolate. I wrote a post discussing common toxins in dogs and cats as well, and it discusses the risk of grapes/raisins and chocolate here. Avocado is also listed as toxic but generally it’s fine but may cause vomiting in some dogs. Definitely never feed the pit of an avocado because it will cause an obstruction. If you drop a piece of avocado and your dog grabs it, he’ll likely be fine. But to be safe don’t feed it regularly.

It can be fun to offer a fresh and healthy alternative to processed treats. I hope this post helps you with some ideas that are safe for your dog at home!