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Treat Pet's Health To Minimal Snacks

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By KRISTEN LEVINE, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 17, 2007

Most people enjoy giving their pets special treats. That's particularly true during the holiday season, when we humans tend to over-treat ourselves.

Not long ago, a piece of beef or turkey from the dinner table constituted a dog or cat treat. Today, dogs and cats don't have to content themselves with people foods.

Grocery and pet supply stores offer dozens of treats designed to resemble bacon and sausage. Doggy ice cream is sold in the frozen food aisle and tantalizing cookies at the gourmet pet bakery.

But too much of a good thing - or a poorly chosen thing - can mean trouble. Treats cause illness, obstruction and, eventually, obesity.

Overindulgence is the most dangerous problem associated with pet treats.

From 25 percent to 40 percent of American household pets are overweight or obese, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance. The trend is leading to a twin trend of obesity-related pet illnesses and increased veterinary costs.

Just like human obesity, complications can lead to arthritis, diabetes, orthopedic ailments and heart disease. Heart-related claims have risen more than 47 percent in the past two years, VPI reports. Claims for diabetes and joint/back issues have increased steadily.

There are basically two reasons why giving pets too many treats can contribute to obesity.

First, we rarely stop to think about proportion size before we offer a treat. If you're a 150-pound man who makes a light snack of two or three cookies, what should your 15-pound pooch get? He's 10 percent of your size, so he should get about 10 percent of what you consider a light snack.

Second, many pet treats are packed with calories. Extra sugar and fats make them taste good but add considerable calories.

The average dog biscuit has approximately 70 calories. A small dog or cat may burn only 400 to 700 calories a day. A few treats every day can easily make up nearly half of the total calories they need.

Feeding pets people food can also pose problems. The best leftovers are high in fat and calories but low in nutrition value for your pet. Too many scraps can cause mildly upset stomach or painful pancreatitis.

Cooked poultry bones can puncture your pet's stomach or intestines.

Veterinarians warn that these foods are potentially toxic, even fatal, to dogs: alcohol; avocados; chocolate; macadamia nuts; fatty, moldy or spoiled foods; onions; grapes and raisins; salt; and yeast dough.

And then there are the social problems. Feeding from the table just a couple of times can teach your pet to lurk under or around the table at dining time, which can be particularly annoying when you have company.

Eliminate these problems by placing your pet in another room while you dine, or design a family policy to never feed pets from the table.

TREAT TIPS

Follow these tips to treat your pet right:

•Choose treats made for your type of pet. Specialty stores offer formulations for all kinds of animals. Consult your veterinarian if your pet has food allergies or special dietary needs.

•Don't offer treats before mealtime.

•Look for snacks that benefit your pet's overall well-being. They may include cat treats that prevent hairballs, treats that clean teeth or treats with added vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. An arthritic pet can benefit from treats with glucosamine added.

•Fresh veggies are good snacks for pocket pets such as gerbils, hamsters and guinea pigs. Always consult with your veterinarian first to make sure the foods are acceptable. (Bet you didn't know lettuce can give rabbits diarrhea!)

•Ask your veterinarian how many calories your pet needs per day. Then add up the calories your pet's food provides. Never let treats exceed daily caloric needs.

•A good rule of thumb: Don't let treats equal more than 10 percent of a pet's daily diet.

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