It is no surprise to anyone that a dog’s diet directly affects their health, making it a top priority for a dog owner. What you choose to feed your dog will make an abundance of difference in their health, happiness, and overall physical capabilities.
Selecting quality snack foods for a dog may seem like a challenge as there are countless commercial brands out there that claim to be superior to others.
However, feeding them high quality and nutritious snacks is of utmost importance, and that can be achieved at home itself. One dog can differ from another in terms of dietary requirements and preferences. Keeping that in mind, you can choose to give all or only those snack items that suit your dog’s health and well-being.
Healthy and Nutritious Snacks for Dogs
Although commercial dog biscuits are convenient to offer, taking a little bit of effort with home cooked or prepared snacks will go a long way. Here is a list of healthy snacks that works wonders for dogs.
Vegetables
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Green beans
- Sweet potato
- Peas
- Celery
- Spinach
- Alfalfa
- Cauliflower
- Zucchini
- Lettuce
- Cabbage
- Cucumber
- Asparagus
- Bell peppers
Fruits
- Apples (minus the seeds)
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Apricots
- Pumpkin
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Pears (minus the seeds)
- Squash
- Mango
- Watermelon (minus the seeds)
Apart from giving them raw or cooked (preferably steamed) fruits and vegetables, you can also offer them meat-based treats such as beef and chicken jerky, or any kind of lean meat (without bones and fat) like chicken, pork, fish, or turkey.
Also, peanut butter, unsalted pretzel, low-fat cheese, almonds, unsalted popcorn, brown rice, frozen yogurt, and cooked eggs make for a wonderful treat. Don’t be afraid to mix it up every day so that your pet gets a well-rounded and wholesome snack to munch on.
Although, keep one thing in mind. Any of these snacks in moderation is what we want to focus on. Offering too many snacks throughout the day can mean your dog losing their appetite and not wanting to eat the meal prepared.
Foods to Avoid
There are a few foods that can be healthy for us, but not so much for dogs. Here are some food items to keep away from your dog.
- Grapes or raisins
- Avocado
- Onions
- Tomatoes
- Chives
- Rhubarb leaves
- Chocolate
- Macadamia nuts
- Bread dough
- Yeast
- Garlic
- Mushrooms
- Raw eggs
- Raw meat
- Walnuts
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Plums
- Meat scraps (cooked bones)
- Caffeine
Of course, if you have never given any of the snacks to your dog before, chances are they may not eat it immediately. But, keep offering it to them so that they get used to it.
Look for physical evidence in terms of how suitable these treats are for your dog. If they have adequate energy throughout the day and are in good physical health, you can continue providing these snacks.
On the other hand, if they have diarrhea, skin issues, excess shedding, loss of appetite, or loss of weight, you need to stop giving the snacks immediately and visit a veterinarian for a proper consultation.