Snacks To Share With Your Dog

  Posted on December 15, 2015  by Joy of Living  No comments

Hey! It’s Bolt, the Yorkie-Poo guest blogger, tag teaming it today with the Spirit of Jessie, who has come back from Doggie Heaven to wish you the best of holidays and to help me pen this blog post today.

With the holidays on the scene, that usually translates to plenty of opportunities to indulge in all sorts of goodies. We know you love your treats and sometimes just can’t resist all the cookies, cakes, pies and candies that seem to dominate the food groups at this time of year. However, you have to be careful how much you eat, as not everything that goes into your mouth will be healthy.  Further, if you have snacks, chances are your dog will give you those pouty looks, encouraging you to share.  What’s okay for YOU to eat, however, is not always good (or safe!) for us.  So, if you want to share in a few treats and snacks with your dog, here are a few suggestions from realfarmacy.com

• Eggs – These will give your dog a bit of protein and are also a great source of easily digestible riboflavin and selenium. Just scramble a bit up and serve away!  Be careful not to add any spice to them!
• Cheese and cottage cheese – As long as your dog is not lactose intolerant, these make great snack choices for him.  Opt for the low or reduced fat varieties, however, and don’t over feed.  Many cheeses are high in fat.  Cottage cheese is a great source of protein and calcium.
• Oatmeal – Treat your dog to some delicious soluble fiber, which is great for older dogs that suffer from bowel irregularity problems. And for dogs that have a wheat allergy, grain is a great alternative.  However, make sure you cook the oatmeal before you serve it to your dog.
• Pasta – Made of flour, water and sometimes eggs, pasta is safe for dogs, but we suggest you lean towards whole grain pasta. Avoid pairing the past with the commercial pasta sauce, though, as its acidic base, which also contains lots of sugar and salt, can upset your dog’s stomach. Further, if your dog has a wheat allergy, it’s best to leave pasta off the menu.
• Popcorn – Opt for air popped without butter and salt. This low calorie treat contains potassium and bone-building minerals. So, settle in for popcorn and a movie with your dog. Have fun!
• Baby carrots – These are low in calories and high in fiber and are great for your dog’s teeth.
• Rice/Brown rice – Consider feeding this to your dog when he has tummy troubles and needs a bland meal. Brown rice is typically higher in protein and fiber and lower in fat compared to white rice. However, white or instant rice is easily digestible and makes for an excellent energy source, which is perfect for feeding to an older dog.

Well, we could go on and on with this list, but these are a few ideas of perfect treats and snacks to share with your dog.  Again, be careful not to overfeed any of the snacks above. Occasionally feeding “people feed” is ok, but be careful not to make it a habit. Besides, I am getting hungry and suddenly feel the urge to raid the fridge! I do like my groceries!