What is it about pet treats that can make even the most rebellious pet obey us in exchange for a bit of something that tastes so good they can barely contain themselves? It is an ingredient found in some of the most popular cat and dog treats. It is addictive, causes weight gain, and could ultimately shorten your pet’s lifespan and is commonly known as sugar.

Croquettes crack

Like humans, dogs and cats can develop a sweet tooth and crave sugary snacks, which are essentially junk food for pets. The sugar in some pet treats can create almost addictive cravings that have earned them the name ‘kibble’. Read the ingredient label on your pet’s favorite treats. If any of the following are listed as one of the first five ingredients on the label, your pet’s treats are doing them a lot more harm than good:

1. Corn syrup
2. Sugar
3. Fructose
4. Saccharose
5. Dextrose
6. Maltodextrin

Sugar-laden treats are a major culprit in the pet obesity epidemic, and can lead to excessive weight gain over time. An overweight pet can suffer from arthritis, diabetes, and high blood pressure, any of which can shorten his life and take a toll on his wallet due to more frequent vet visits.

Calories count too

Besides the high sugar content, another concern with pet treats is the calorie count per serving. Often not revealed on the packaging, most of us don’t know how many calories we are adding to our pets’ diet by feeding them treats. According to Marion Nestle, author of Feed your pet correctly, if the package of treats does not include calories, you should assumes 3-4 calories per gram, (that is, a 3 gram treat per serving would be 9 to 12 calories per serving). Treats should not represent more than 10% of your pet’s daily caloric needs to maintain his ideal weight. Some Rawhide Chews and Larger Greenies dental chews It can contain 100 calories or more, which may well exceed the recommended rule of 10%, depending on your dog’s size and caloric requirements.

A new marketing trick

Treats are big business for the pet industry and the latest marketing gimmick is treats that promote healthy benefits like healthier hips and joints. There is no government oversight or scientific basis for these claims. When Consumer Lab tested joint health supplements for dogs and cats, they found that a popular treat, Dogswell Happy Hips Glucosamine Chondroitin Chicken Breast, it contained only 6% of the declared glucosamine and only 15.9% of the declared chondroitin; amounts too insignificant to provide any claimed benefit.

Healthy choices

With 88% of dog owners and 68% of cat owners giving their pets treats according to the American Pet Products Association, we are not suggesting that pet parents eliminate this much-loved ritual. We suggest the following eight tips to ensure that your act of love promotes a healthy pet:

1. Read the ingredient label: Pet treats with sugar, corn syrup, fructose, sucrose, or dextrose in the first five ingredients should be avoided. A very common filler in pet food, maltodextrin, is another name to look for on the label. It has a high level of glucose, so it should be avoided if it is a main ingredient.
2. Opt for natural sweeteners: Choose treats with applesauce, molasses, or honey as a sweetening ingredient if you want to indulge your pet with a treat.
3. Try vegetable chews for dogs: Opt for all-natural plant-based dog chews made from sweet potatoes instead of animal-based rawhide chews. Some raw hides are high in calories and can be treated with chemicals and bleach.
4. Consider homemade or naturally moistened cat treats: Try giving your cat a small piece of cut chicken or fish as a treat. If you prefer to buy packaged treats, look for ones moistened with vegetable glycerin instead of a chemical humectant like propylene glycol.
5. Try fresh fruit and vegetable dog treats: Opt for low-calorie vegetables or fruits as a treat for your dog instead of packaged treats. Baby carrots, diced apples, and green beans are good choices.
6. Don’t trust treats with healthy claims: Discuss supplement options with your vet for your pet’s ailments rather than relying on treats that claim to provide the right nutrients to maintain a healthy heart or joints.
7. Use VOHC Approved Dental Chews: Establish a routine for practicing good dental hygiene on your pet and use Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) approved treats to clean your pet’s teeth.
8. Learn to read and understand pet food labels: Marion Nestlé’s book, Feed your pet well , published in 2010, is a great resource for pet owners who want to better understand pet food ingredients and nutrition while learning how to distinguish healthy pet foods with nutritious ingredients from unhealthy foods. for pets.

There are many good options available for pet treats and here are some of our favorites. They are low in sugar or calories, all natural, and generally easy to find in supermarkets and department stores if you don’t have a neighborhood pet boutique or pet supply store nearby.

Recommended treats for dogs:

1. Carnivore Crunch or Carnivore Kisses by Stella & Chewy’s
2. Charlie Bear Dog Treats from Charlie Bear Dog Products
3. Jerky Naturals and other Zukes dog treats
4. Halopets Liv-a-Littles Protein Treats for Dogs
5. Newman’s Own Premium Dog Treats from Newman’s Own Organics
6. Original Buddy Biscuits or Muttos by Cloud Star
7. Sam’s Yams Veggie Rawhide Sweet Potato Dog Chews from Front Porch Pets

Recommended cat treats:

• Zukes Natural Purrz
• Halopets Liv-a-Littles Protein Treats for Cats
• Wellness Pure Delights for Cats from WellPet LLC

The Best Treats to Avoid from the Association for the Prevention of Obesity in Pets Sugary treats for dogs:

• Beneful Snackin ‘Slice: Fourth Sugar Ingredient
• Canine CarryOuts Chew-lotta – Dextrose First Ingredient
• Canine Carryouts Dog Treats – Corn Syrup Second Ingredient
• Cesar Softies dog treats: sugar as the third ingredient
• Vanilla flavored sandwich cream dog biscuits exclusively for dogs: sugars first two ingredients
• Chewy Chicken Thighs with Milk Bone – Third Sugar Ingredient
• Milk Bone Essentials Plus Oral Care: third sugar ingredient
• Pedigree Jumbone: third ingredient in sugar
• Pedigree Jumbone Mini Snack Food for Small Dogs: Sugars 2 of the first 3 ingredients
• Pedigree Marrobone: third ingredient in sugar
• Pup-Peroni Lean Meat Recipe: Third Sugar Ingredient
• Purina Busy Chewnola – Maltodextrin Second Ingredient
• Science Diet Simple Essentials Treats Training Real Beef Adult Treats – Third Sugar Ingredient
• Snausages SnawSomes! Flavor of meat and chicken: sugars 3 of the first 4 ingredients
• Three Dog Bakery Lick ‘n Crunch – Third Dextrose Ingredient

Sugary treats for cats:

• Petrodex dental treats for cats: second ingredient of dextrose
• Meow Mix Moist Cat Treats – Corn Syrup Fourth Ingredient
• Pit’r Pat’s Fresh Breath Mint Flavored Cat Treats – Maltodextrin First Ingredient