Module 7

Snacks and Treats

Estimated Time: 20 minutes

This module will focus on the following snack topics:

• What Treats to Feed Your Pet
• When to Provide Treats
• How to Provide Treats
• Where to Buy Treats

7.0 Introduction

You will learn in pet psychology that treats and snacks can be used for training.

However, you will also learn that providing a food treat each time you receive a proper response from your pet, would teach your pet to be food motivated. Snacks and treats for your pets can be a healthy option, but need to be given in moderation. You obviously want your pet to be healthy and remain with you throughout their normal life expectancy, so what treats you feed your pet and how you feed these treats is going to matter.

7.1 What Treats to Feed Your Pet

There are various types of treats and snacks you can provide for your pet. This section will discuss treats based on species.

Dogs

Dog treat categories include: biscuits, bakery, bones, rawhide, chewy treats, dental treats, jerky, and training treats.

You can also break the treats down by type: ball, bite-size, bone, flat, ring, etc. 

If there are health considerations, you can examine treats by bone development, brain development, cardiac state, dental care, digestive care, and other health related categories. Nutritional options such as gluten free, grain free, limited ingredient, natural, and organic, are also options.

When you select a treat, you want to do it based on the ingredients, consistency, processing, and whether it is a soft or hard chew.

Ingredients will determine if the treat is healthy enough to be given to your pet. Many treats, like regular food, have by-products and other less than healthy ingredients like sugars, fillers, preservatives, and chemicals.

If your dog has tooth decay or gingivitis you will want to feed dental treats and/or soft chews.

Soft chews are something your dog can chew with ease, without worry of breaking a tooth, making a tooth fall out, or causing undue comfort. Your dog loves treats and is less likely to ignore the treat when presented with it. It means your dog will eat the treat even if their teeth or gums are hurting. You may also want to check out the user ratings for foods. User ratings help you determine what other pet owners are feeding their pets and whether there are certain brands that are less likely to produce health problems.

Cats

Cat treats are found in different categories than dogs: catnip, grass, crunchy treats, dental treats, jerky, soft treats.

There are still some of the same health consideration categories, including dental care, general health, hairball control, hypoallergenic, skin and coat, and other medical considerations.

Most treats are bite size, soft chew, spray, or paste.

For nutritional content you can choose from gluten free, grain free, natural or organic.

As with dogs, you want to pay particular attention to the ingredients found in the treats.

There are quite a few treats that are cheap, but full of by-products that a cat may be sensitive to.

The best option, when you do not know what to get your pet, is to go with a dental treat. Dental treats are designed to prevent plaque build-up and ensure healthy mouths. They can also take care of your pet’s bad breath. So, if you are ever unsure about the best type of treat, go for the one that will at least provide dental health.

Snacks and Anxiety Treats

Snacks are different from treats.

A snack implies you are providing more food to your cat as a special option.

Snacks, like treats, should not be given daily unless there is a health reason for giving them.

Perhaps you have added a bit more to their dry food bowl at the end of the night, or you have decided to  feed wet food as a snack on top of their dry food allotment. No matter how you decide to give snacks, you want to make certain you either reduce the other food they eat or you do not provide the snack each day. It should be a special type of snack, such as a different flavor of the same brand or a special holiday treat. Your pet will appreciate the variety.

Sometimes, dogs or cats develop anxiety issues. You can help your pet relieve their anxiety by providing a calming treat, paste, or spray.

Sprays are good to place in areas they show their anxiety, such as around the front door in a busy apartment building, near furniture they tend to scratch, or other places that seem to cause rising anxiety.

Pastes are designed to be placed on their  food or the paws of your animals. Pastes are licked because your pet does not like to feel that foreign matter on their paw. However, it can also be a little hard to get onto your pet’s paw.

Anxiety treats or chew treats are usually the best because you can feed the exact amount needed, as well as help reduce your pet’s anxiety.

You do need to provide a proper amount of treats as noted on the package. Some cats and dogs may also become extremely excited with those treats before they actually calm down because they are receiving a special treat.

7.2 When to Provide Treats

You might be wondering if it is best to provide a treat at the end of the night or first thing in the morning. If you are not training your pet, then consider giving a treat first thing in the morning. A morning treat is better than right before bed because most treats stimulate your pet.

The special treat may not have energy ingredients that cause your pet to become hyper, but it may be the endorphins that are released due to happiness that cause your pet to become hyper after a treat. If you are around throughout the day, it is okay to provide treats at different times of the day.

A good routine is to feed your pet their meal, and then an hour later, give your pet a dental treat. You have ensured they have a proper meal and are now giving a treat to ensure their teeth get a little cleaning.

Dental treats can be provided on a daily basis.

Sometimes you might not want your pet to get used to their treats like it is a routine along with their meal. You may decide to provide treats only four times a week. How often you provide treats for your pet may also vary depending on your pet's health and weight.

7.3 How to Provide Treats

Treats tend to be great for training, but you do not want your pet to get used to being given treats.

There are certain times that are better for treat giving:

• Treats are great for after grooming
• Treats help you train your pet
• A dental treat at least once a day is wise for overall mouth health
• Treats at random can be fun and surprising for your pet

Treats to help you train your pet should only be given once in a while. You also want to reward your pet for good behavior during training by petting them or giving verbal kudos.

Treats after grooming, are a great way to reward your pet, particularly if your pet is not happy to be groomed. Many dogs and cats like being brushed, but they are less happy to have their teeth brushed or their nails clipped. You might need to start by giving your pet a treat after each paw has undergone nail-clipping procedures. You can then change to feeding four treats after all four paws are clipped. Eventually, you can stop giving treats all together each time you clip their nails. You might vary it with treats and a meal.

The amount of treats you give during these different situations is dependent on the manufacturer's feeding suggestions. Each treat bag or box will tell you the amount you should feed on a daily basis. Read the instructions and make certain to adhere to the amount.

Play and Treats

Treats can be given in more ways than one.

Handing the treat over is acceptable when training, finishing with grooming, or because you just feel like giving out a treat, but there are also play options.

If you have a dog or cat that is not very active, you can increase their activity and expended energy by using play and treat devices. More and more companies are starting to provide play and treat contraptions that allow your pet to get a treat as long as they are smart enough to figure out how it works.

These devices will have one hole that is large enough for a treat to fall through when the toy is oriented in a specific way. For example, there is a bobble type treat that rolls around. It is weighted at the bottom, so a cat can knock it over with a paw and it will roll and stand up again. Only when the toy is knocked on the appropriate side will the treat fall out.

Additionally, some treat devices have rope treats, like the bobble treat. The rope treat fits in the top into two holes. This allows the cat to pull the toy around as they try to chew through the rope.

The idea of these treats is that your pet has to work to get to the treat inside. They need to expend energy, which could help your pet lose weight or tire your pet out. It is great for a cat or a dog that has a lot of energy, but not a lot of room to run or be outside. Of course, some pets are a little smarter than others. They can sit there and get plenty of treats to fall out of the contraption in a matter of minutes.

No matter the type of play and treat toy you provide, you should monitor the use to ensure your pet is not getting too many treats in one go.

Also, you can set the play toy out empty or let it become empty. Your pet is still  likely to play with the empty device throughout the day or week because they smell the treats. They will find there are no treats, but at least they played for a few minutes.

For your cat, catnip and grass can be a treat. Grass is great for your cat’s teeth, as well as upset stomachs. Grass should not be something that is readily available each day, though. It should be something you provide as a way to encourage your cat to play a little. Most cats love to go outside and chew on grass. When they see grass, they often get off the floor, chair, or other place they are resting, chew for a bit and then get moving whether it is in play or for grooming.

Catnip is more for play time. It will certainly get your cats to go wacky, and wild, if they are sensitive to it. Some cats may not be able to smell it or will be unaffected by it. If your cat is sensitive, they will start to play, run around, chase their tail, and generally look like they have just had a drug administered.

You do not want to leave catnip around every day. It should be something you place in a toy or provide for a few minutes to let them have some fun, and then store it elsewhere.

7.4 Where to Buy Treats

Treats can usually be found in the same locations that you buy your pet food.

Again, you have a variety of types of treats, which means some stores will have fewer brands and price ranges versus others. When you buy treats you want to consider what is available at the stores near you. Treats are also meant as a little extra for your cat or dog.

When you are not feeding treats regularly, you may decide that cheap treats are okay for your pet. However, by compromising quality, you may experience unintended consequences.

You also want to be aware of the use by date. Treats will have a use by date and should not be given after this date. It may influence the amount of treats you provide or the frequency with which you hand out treats.

Cats can’t taste “sweetness” because their taste receptors don’t have the proteins that make sweet receptors on the tongue. Dogs have sweet taste receptors on their tongues, but far fewer than humans have.

Source: pethealth101.com

Module 7 Summary

Pet treats and snacks are foods to provide in addition to your regular feedings.

The types of treats you provide your pet are based on preference as well as health or behavioral issues you might want to correct.

When and how you feed your pet is up to you and the feeding instructions provided by the manufacturers.

You may decide that calming treats, sprays, or pastes are necessary versus play and treat combinations.

As always, motivate your pet to be healthy by providing treats that will help.