Sometimes it’s nice to feed your pet with other alternative foods besides his or her pet food. We have listed some of our favorite healthy snacks for your pet.
Peanut Butter (all natural) is one of the best treats to give to dogs because it lasts so long! Peanut butter is packed full of protein, healthy fats, niacin, vitamin B and vitamin E. Unsalted peanut butter is the best, as too much salt is just as bad for dogs as it is for people. Make sure you check your peanut butter to make sure it doesn’t have additives such as sugar substitutes like Xylitol, which can be deadly for dogs. If your dog has a toy kong you can spread some peanut butter instead and freeze it. This offers the dog a nice lasting cool treat on a warm day.
Chicken can be fed to dogs in many different ways. Cooked chicken meat is a perfectly suitable snack or meal additive, but cooked bones should never be fed to dogs. Cooked bones splinter and can be dangerous, while raw bones are soft and chewy. With that being said, both raw chicken and raw chicken bones are perfectly healthy for dogs to eat.
Carrots are high in fiber and vitamin A. Carrots also are low in calories, so they make a great snack choice for your 4 legged friends. Chewing raw carrots is also beneficial for your dog’s teeth. If your dog is overweight, carrots are a great choice for treats.
Oats (usually in oatmeal form) are a tasty choice to include in your dog’s diet, and when eaten plain, are a low calorie food. They can reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure, can prevent artery clogging, and helps to boost a dog’s immune system. They have high levels of fiber, are low in fat, high in grain protein.
Brown Rice is high in fiber and a great source of manganese. Brown rice also offers a source for magnesium and selenium. The antioxidants brown rice contains promote weight loss and helps to stabilize blood sugar levels. Since your dog may not take to brown rice right away, you may want to try introducing them to a small amount of long grain white rice mixed into their food first.
Eggs are loaded with protein and a host of vitamins and minerals. Are raw eggs OK? Some say no, because of concerns of salmonella poisoning and a biotin deficiency caused by a substance in whites. Others say its fine, noting that salmonella is fairly rare in dogs and the yolks contain enough biotin to overcome any deficiency. If you’re worried, go ahead and cook the eggs to be on the safe side.
We hope these give you some ideas on safe alternatives to give your pet for an extra special – and healthy – snack!
