Snacks vs Treats vs Food - How to Get the Calorie Combo Right.
(photo credit: ValeriyPH / shutterstock.com)
Do you know what the optimal calorie intake is for the size of dog you live with? Most pet parents don’t, so here’s a snapshot. Keep in mind, that this is a general estimate that doesn’t take into account your dog’s activity level, whether they have been neutered or spayed, their breed, or their age.
The average caloric requirement for dogs to not only maintain their weight but remain healthy breaks down as follows: for dogs under 20 pounds, it’s around 320-480 calories per day. That increases to 640-800 calories daily for dogs between 20 and 50 pounds. Larger breeds, closer to 70 pounds can consume between 960 and 1120 calories while dogs over 70 pounds will require 1100 to 1350 calories every day to maintain their weight and health.
Whether your dog has a set meal period or you’ve opted for free-feeding (meaning he can graze throughout the day as hunger strikes), adding treats and snacks to his diet will inevitably happen, right? The difference is a snack is something healthy and substantial to tide him through between meals. For a human, it could be hummus and carrot sticks or an apple and cheese. You know, tasty and protein-rich to fill you up for a couple of hours. It’s the same with dogs. Particularly if he’s heavily active and needs an energy boost.
But then there are the treats which, just like they sound, are mini-indulgences that we all look forward to from time to time and can be prone to overdoing.
Now, when you worked out the optimal caloric intake for your dog, your first thought may have been that this opens the door for a heck of a lot of those little treats he loves to scarf down.
But keep the lid on that goodie jar! Let’s apply the 10% rule that veterinarians from across the land have espoused to their clients for years. It states that treats should never make up more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake.
That instantly reduces treat consumption for mini mutts to under 50 calories. For larger dogs, less than 135 calories should be attributed to their daily treats.
For context, a one-inch cube of cheddar cheese has around 69 calories. Well beyond what a smaller pooch is allowed to consume in a given day. And, if you toss your larger pooch a couple of cubes at a time, more than what he should be given as well. See how that math works?
Now, there’s nothing wrong with a special indulgence from time to time but check your packaging before you sprinkle an entire handful of goodies in front of him or continue to reward his automatic give-a-paw routine with something edible. And particularly for those training their pets with regular-sized treats, you need to invest in the specially sized mini options created for those times when multiple rewards are important.
Back to checking your packaging. We’re all guilty of picking up something that looks tasty and will be easy to dole out whenever the mood hits. But how often do we check the recommended portion size or distribution?
For something like this seriously yummy, long-lasting peanut butter flavored Busy Bone from Purina, each stick comes in at a whopping 342 calories. A serious wake-up call for those of us who might have planned to offer up one per day. Hence, the manufacturer recommends this option as a weekly treat. Similarly, the Greenies daily dental treat for dogs between 25 and 50 pounds, comes in at 86 calories per piece or just over 10% of the vet-approved maximum. So maybe better as an every-other-day reward.
Now, if you tend to reach for his treats throughout the day, it may be time to look for low-cal options that won’t break the 10% bank. Why not try carrot sticks or cauliflower – both are high in nutrients and fibre yet low in calories. He gets the crunch and sense of feeling full, without the carbs and calories.
If he’s not ready for vegetables, something like this crunchy Charlee Bear mini treat with turkey liver and cranberries or this protein-rich duck jerky from Solimo may be enough to satisfy your dog’s need for a reward and your habit of providing a tasty tidbit every time your pooch does something cute. Hey, we all do it!
And before you start working out how to use his calorie allotment for treats and snacks, add up what he’s already consuming through his two square meals a day. If sharing treats and little indulgences throughout the day is as important to you as it is to me, you need to know when to cut back, opt for smaller portions, or source something tasty that’s lower in calories. In the end, what he’s looking for is the acknowledgement that he’s been a good boy. And aren’t they all?
Sharing space with three seriously judgy Schnoodles and 2 felines who prefers to be left alone. #LivingMyBestLife
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