Good dog treats should include plenty of protein and must be free of additives like extra salt and sugar. To know what is best for your dog, you should first consult your vet. While at it, you also need to take into consideration the tastes of the dog. Pick treats that are part of the favorite foods for your dog. A balanced choice of treats should have a variety of flavors and textures, which will easily be appealing to even a picky pooch. –We encourage giving your dog the treats regularly. Feeding calming dog treats to your pup is important within their diet. They can help with many health shortcomings, and with energy, too!

Here are some suggestions for single-ingredient treats you should consider that are healthy.

Cabbage

Cabbage belongs to the cruciferous vegetable family and is a good choice that helps in fighting cancer. You can prepare a treat for your dog by steaming the cabbage. This is one of the best grain free dog treats that you could feed your dog, but while doing so you should ensure you don’t offer a lot of it. Serve small bits to avoid upsetting the pet’s stomach. Too much of it will lead to the gas problem and this is not one of the things you want your dog to experience while you are trying to keep it healthy.

Frozen sardines

Your dog also needs some protein and omegas. Sardines offer the best source for these nutrients and due to the small size, your dog can feed them whole. You can make a crunchy, chilly treat by storing a bag of sardines in the freezer. The dog will not resist this treat mainly because it’s tasty, and on top of this you will ensure the pet has consumed the right nutrients. However, like any other treats, you should not serve in plenty. It would be good if you can serve the sardines with something else like the cabbage mentioned above.

Pumpkin

This is an orange veggie that comes packed with beta-carotene, carotenoids, zinc, fiber, alpha-carotene, potassium, and vitamin A. You can buy canned pumpkins, but the most recommended way is to cook fresh ones. Pumpkins are good for the overall health of your dog and could help the animal to lose weight. It has high fiber content and this means it can help to decrease the dinner portion of your dog. Pumpkin helps with diarrhea and bulks up stool to prevent constipation. It can also be served along with other homemade dog treats.

Cauliflower

Like cabbage, cauliflower is a cancer-fighting vegetable. It can be fed like broccoli and some dogs love it. However, sometimes you have to be a bit creative to convince the pet into taking the treat. It can be fed raw and to convince the dog you could chop it so it appears like feta. Sprinkle small bits over food to allow the dog to consume the vegetable. Remember that cauliflower can cause gas if consumed in excess, so you got to be careful while feeding your dog. Only provide small portions to prevent problems with digestion.

Carrots

Carrots are a delicious choice for your dog that you can serve with food. You can feed your dog raw carrots, but sometimes if there is a show of resistance it’s advisable to try out when cooked and mashed into the dog’s dinner. This creates a sweet and healthy treat that the dog will consume comfortably. You could also freeze some carrots to create a chilly sweet treat. When chilly, the carrots help in cleaning your dog’s teeth.

Dehydrated apricots

Apricots provide a sweet and healthy treat that is perfect for indulging your dog with a sweet tooth. Dehydrated apricots offer all the essential nutrients you will find in hydrated apricots, with the difference being only the lack of water. While feeding them to your dog, be careful to provide bits to prevent tummy upset.

Things you should know about dog treats

Treats should make only up to 10% of a dog’s diet. The fact that you can feed your dog on treats does not mean this should replace the normal diet of the pet. Treats are supposed to make a minority of the pet’s food intake. To use treats frequently, you should begin by reducing the dog’s meal portions to create a balance for the added calories. This is the perfect way to feed your dog when you are offering training. What you need to observe is that you don’t take away the enjoyment and nutritional reward expected from the food.

Like humans, pets can suffer food allergies. Protein has been observed as the most common cause of food allergy in dogs. One study revealed that beef contributed the most allergy problems in dogs, closely followed by dairy. You need to observe for signs of allergy, which could range from dry skin to stomach upset. If you have to feed your dog protein treats, make sure to consider the source first. Limited ingredient protein sources are the perfect choice to prevent potential sensitivities.

What to avoid

Dog treats should also be easy on the teeth of your dog. Don’t include anything that is hard like hooves, bones, or antlers. This is important as many dogs have suffered fractured teeth from eating treats that are too hard. Stick to the rule of thumb: if after pushing your thumbnail into the treat a mark is left, that is safe for your dog. If that does not happen, it means the treat is too hard to be fed to your dog. The pet will not safely chew it. Also avoid packed treats that have too many ingredients because it can be challenging to isolate the minerals you want your dog to benefit from.

Treating your dog well begins with offering the right diet. A balanced diet will keep your pet healthy and prevent health problems that arise from consuming the wrong foods. One of the suggestions you should try to keep your dog happy is to provide healthy treats. There is a wide variety of foods you could choose that contain beneficial ingredients. Vegetables and fruits make good treats, but before you offer any of these to your dog, make sure to understand whether the food will trigger allergic reactions.