Commentary
Recent statistics classify the majority of pets in the United States; about 56 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats, as overweight or obese <Link>. Our team has been outspoken about how treats are positioned, kcals in treats and addressing pet owner feeding and treating behavior <Link>. As we see new treats introduced, we routinely check on the kcals per treat noting the recommendations for one treat per day and the kcal concentration with respect to body condition (see chart).
While many single treats align with the recommended 10 percent of total kcals/treat for dogs with ideal body conditions they often exceed the kcal density for a dog that is nearing obese.”
Some treats, even good treats, used in the wrong way, can cause health problems or teach your dog bad habits. In the article linked below, Lindsay Tracy shares tips on ‘how to/how not to’ use dog treats including a) using treats in moderation and b) vigilance regarding ingredient safety.
Source: DogFoodAdvisor. Link.
INSIGHTS: So much success in animal health care is dependent on pet owner education. It is in the best interest of pets and pet owners for veterinary and retail teams to educate owners about overfeeding treats especially when dogs are overweight or obese.
To illustrate the challenges of managing kcals from treats in overweight dogs or from overuse of treats by pet owners we created the chart below using one of the top-rated dental dog bone/treats from Amazon. Daily kcal allowances were calculated using the Pet Nutrition Alliance tool for spayed/neutered dogs <Link>.
