Giving Fido Dog Biscuits

Does your dog like treats? It’s probably safe to say that the answer to that one is a resounding yes. Although our canine companions all have different personalities and preferences, they all love treats! Snacks are a great way to get Fido’s cute tail going. They’re also very useful for bonding and training. However, there are some things to consider here. A local Lakewood, CO vet offers some tips in this article.

How Do I Choose Safe Dog Treats?

Fido’s treats should contain only wholesome, nutritious ingredients. it’s a good idea to read the label. avoid things with long lists of ingredients that sound like chemical experiments. Meat, fish, and poultry should appear first and most frequently on the label.

only give Fido things that are the right size for him. Your pup could choke or damage his teeth on something made for a larger or smaller pooch!

You may also want to keep an eye out for recalls. While this doesn’t happen very often, there are times when bad batches make their way through. You can follow updates on the AVMA site here or the FDA site here. Another option is to set up Google alerts to be notified of recalls.

When Was The Dog Biscuit Invented?

Dogs have been a part of our lives for thousands of years. Some studies suggest Fido has been standing faithfully by our side for 30,000 years! If that figure is correct, he’s probably been begging for scraps for 29,999 years, 11 months, and 29 days. No matter what the actual number is, it’s safe to say that we’ve been feeding Fido table scraps for a very long time, perhaps as far back as  the Roman Empire!

Marcus Terentius Varro, a Roman poet, mentions feeding Fido meat, bones, and milk-soaked barley in his ‘Farm Topics’ manual. That brings us to an old Latin saying, which is attribute to Virgil: “Nec tibi cura canum fuerit postrema; sed una Veloces Spartae catulos, acremque Molossum, Pasce sero pingui.” That translates to “Do not let the care of dogs be last; but the swift Spartan hounds, and fierce Mastiff, Feed the whey.”

Fido’s snacks are also mentioned in a medieval text by Gaston III, the Count of Foix. He wrote about doggy diets in a 14th-century French manual, noting that he fed his greyhounds bran bread and hunted.

Fast forward a few hundred years, to the early 1800s. A businessman named James Spratt developed the first modern dog biscuit.  His was made with wheat meals, vegetables, beetroot, and beef blood. Different versions and products followed shortly after, and our canines enjoyed trying them all. Fido’s cookies were given that iconic bone shape in 1907 by chemist Carleton Ellis. That marked the official birth of the milk bone, which Man’s Best Buddy still enjoys today.

Are Treats Necessary For Dogs?

treats aren’t exactly a must as far as Fido’s physical health, but they are definitely beneficial to his overall happiness and well-being. They’re great for training, bonding, and just brightening up your pet’s day. Also, they give Fido a sense of routine, which is essential, too. Your dog may also come to expect a treat if he does a cute trick. That’s not a bad thing!

The main concern is to not go overboard. Keeping your pet’s treats at a maximum of five percent of their daily caloric intake is the key. That may require some resolve on your part, and some training on Fido’s. Man’s Best Friend is very, very good at begging, and knows exactly how to ply us with that soulful stare. Consult your Lakewood, CO veterinarian for more specific advice.

Is It Safe To Give My Dog Rawhide?

Dogs love rawhide, but it can also be very dangerous for them, especially if they chew vigorously. Rawhide can break off into sharp pieces, which are choking hazards. Rawhide can also cause serious internal problems if eaten.

Can I Give My Dog People food?

Fido has been enjoying table scraps for millennia. Our menus include many safe options for him, such as plain meat, fish, and poultry, without skin, bones, or fat. Eggs are also a nutritious choice. Our canine buddies can also consume an array of fruits and vegetables like apples, sweet potatoes, spinach, peas, carrots, and broccoli. However, always research any food before giving it to your pet. Not everything is safe! Additionally, please remember that feeding table scraps may not exactly promote proper pet etiquette. incorporate healthy ingredients into your pet’s regular doggy diet instead.

What Foods Are Dangerous To Dogs? 

Never give your canine friend garlic, onions, scallions, chives, pitted fruit, avocado, alcohol, chocolate, grapes, raisins, or foods containing xylitol, salt, sugar, or fat. Avoid anything with seeds and pip, as well as meat on the bone. Raw dough and yeast are also unsafe. For more information, consult your Lakewood, CO veterinarian.

Should I Make Homemade Dog Treats?

You definitely can! homemade treats are a great option for dogs with allergies or dietary restrictions. Another advantage is that you will know exactly what your pup is eating.

For most treats, you’ll want to start with a base. You can use chopped or minced meat, sodium-free broth, fat-free yogurt, liver powder, ripe bananas, peanut butter without xylitol, pumpkin puree, eggs, whole-wheat flour, wheat germ oil, and sodium-free broth.

Fido’s snacks can be customized with bacon bits, shredded cheese, kibble, or safe fruits and vegetables like peas, green beans, or spinach.

If you really like cooking, you may want to get a dog treat maker. This is similar to a waffle maker or panini press, but has a bone-shaped pocket for batter. This can help distinguish pet treats from people treats, which may be helpful. You can also give Fido’s buddies these treats as gifts.

You might like these recipes:

• Mix beef, whole-wheat flour, eggs, and cheese in a food processor. Then, pour the mix into a brownie pan. About 20 minutes at 350 should do it.
• Combine pumpkin puree and peanut butter with two large eggs and some whole-wheat flour. Bake at 400F for 15 minutes.
• Mix peanut butter and fat-free yogurt with mashed bananas, pumpkin puree, or sweet potatoes. Cook at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Voila! 
• Add bacon bits, shredded meat or cheese, or bits of kibble to a basic biscuit batter, which you can make by combining eggs, whole-wheat flour, and olive oil or wheat germ oil. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Add cheese, bacon bits, whole-wheat flour, and sodium-free chicken broth to plain shredded or canned chicken. Bake for 15 minutes at 350F.

These are just a few of the things you can make for your canine pal. You can find many more great recipes online. You can also make your own, or mix and match. Just make sure you only use safe ingredients. Always read labels! If you use peanut butter, make sure it does not contain xylitol. If you use baby food, make sure it does not contain garlic, onion, avocados, or any other harmful ingredients.

Contact your local Lakewood, CO veterinary clinic if you have questions about feeding your dog biscuits.