Veterinarians get asked this question all the time, “Which treat is best to give my pet?” As a veterinarian who has formulated many diets and treats for dogs and cats, I can tell you that if chosen correctly, treats can supplement your pet’s health as well as be very beneficial to their overall well-being.
Not to mention the training that often accompanies treating, or the mental stimulation of an interactive game.
Because every pet is an individual with their own personality and preferences, some treats may be accepted readily whereas some pets require a little trial and error before you find the treats they love. With pet individuality in mind, let’s explore what sorts of treats are ideal for dogs – treats that are pretty good, treats to avoid, best treats for puppies, and best treats for senior dogs.
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Topics:
Dogs,
What are Good Training Treats for Dogs,
Dog Treats,
Safe dog treats,
Dog Nutrition
Want to include your dog in the Thanksgiving feast? Make a Thanksgiving-themed stuffed KONG to give them during dinner (or while guests arrive). Not only is this a fun treat for them, it's a healthier way to include them in the festivities than to sneak them table scraps. Stuffed KONGs are a wonderful training tool to create positive associations with safe spaces, crates, visiting company, and other hustle and bustle.
Watch Cathy and Marissa in this Facebook Live to see 4 easy Thanksgiving stuffed KONG recipes:
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Topics:
Dog Safety,
pet safety tips,
pet safety,
Dog,
Pancreatitis,
Blog,
Dog Treats,
Dog Tips,
Safe pet treats,
Safe dog treats,
Pet Hazards at Thanksgiving,
Turkey,
Stuffing,
Thanksgiving Safety
If you’re looking for a high-value treat, a handy way to sneak some pills into your pooch, or something to stuff into an interactive feeder, you can’t do much better than peanut butter. Not only is peanut butter a great snack to place in interactive feeders for dogs, but the sight of a dog vigorously smacking their chops never gets old.
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Topics:
Emergencies,
Dog Health,
Calories,
Diabetes,
Blog,
Dog Treats,
Safe pet treats,
Safe dog treats,
Peanut butter,
Diet
There are dangers, regardless of whether they are raw or cooked bones, big or small.
It's a myth that raw bones are OK but cooked aren't
Are there dogs who chew and/or eat bones without incident? Of course. BUT there are also plenty of dogs, who do so with incident, including plenty who had previously done so without. In fact, there were so many reported illnesses and deaths due to "bone treats" in 2017 that the FDA issued a warning to pet owners.
What kinds of problems do we vets see with dogs chewing or eating bones?
Plenty. This type of dog emergency is painful, distressing, and costly. Some are even fatal. Here’s a sample of the bone-chewing/eating problems commonly seen by vets and experienced by dog owners:
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Topics:
Dog Safety,
pet safety tips,
pet safety,
Dog Emergency,
holiday pet safety tips,
Dog,
Blog,
Dog Treats,
Dog Tips,
Bowel Perforation,
Digestive obstruction,
Christmas pet hazards,
Are bones safe for dogs,
Safe pet treats,
Safe dog treats,
Pet Hazards at Thanksgiving,
Thanksgiving Safety,
Broken teeth,
Digestive irritation,
Deer antlers,
Cooked bones,
Digestive tract perforation,
Raw bones,
Pet emergency,
Pork bones
Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday and a great time to join together with friends and family - be they two legged or four (or even three, lest we forget about our "tripawd" dogs and cats). But as you’re preparing your Thanksgiving plans, it’s important to be aware of the common pet hazards associated with this day of friends, family, feasting, fun, and football. If you’re not, you could end up spending your Thanksgiving in the animal emergency room.
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Topics:
Dog Safety,
Cat Safety,
pet safety tips,
pet safety,
Grape and Raisin Toxicity in Dogs,
Are Raisins Safe for Dogs,
Cats,
Dog,
Pancreatitis,
Blog,
Dog Treats,
Dog Tips,
Bowel Perforation,
Gastroenteritis,
Onions,
Are bones safe for dogs,
Safe pet treats,
Yeast,
Safe dog treats,
Pet Hazards at Thanksgiving,
Turkey,
Stuffing,
Thanksgiving Safety
Please do not ask emergency or other specific medical questions about your pets in the blog comments. As an online informational resource, Preventive Vet is unable to and does not provide specific medical advice or counseling. A thorough physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinary-patient-client relationship is required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet is having an emergency or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic medical conditions, please contact or visit your veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.
Please share your experiences and stories, your opinions and feedback about this blog, or what you've learned that you'd like to share with others.