How Many Treats per Day Can My Dog Have? | Pooch & Mutt (2024)

FAQs

How Many Treats per Day Can My Dog Have? | Pooch & Mutt? ›

With a recommended calorie intake of around 275-500 calories a day, and using the 90:10 basis for food vs treats, that amounts to about 20 treats per day.

Dog treats should only be used as rewards for good behavior and make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories. So, for example, if you have a small dog that needs 400 calories a day, and the treats you give them are 20 calories each, then they can have two of them per day.

When that little fluff ball of yours begins to look like a rolly -polly ball then it's really time to eliminate or cut back on the treats. Giving your dog too many snacks is definitely the way to put unhealthy weight on your dog that it does not need. Weight issues often lead to additional health issues.

The 10% Rule of Dog Treats

Treats should make up no more than about 10% of your dog's daily calories. For example, if your dog needs 400 calories per day (check out the resting rate calorie counter below), they should have no more than 40 calories from treats, with the other 360 coming from their normal food.

It's usually fine to feed your dog calming treats every day - but always be aware of how many calming doggy treats you distribute to your jumpy pooch on the daily.

The key thing to remember is in the name - 'treats' - meaning something that should be offered on occasion and usually in reward for good behaviour. On the whole, most vets recommend 10% of a dog's daily calorie intake can come from treats.

As a dog owner, you know that your special furry friend needs a daily balanced diet to grow up big and strong. Well, that can only be achieved by eating real, nutritious food! Treats are yummy and they are fine to give to Fido occasionally, but they should never make up most of his meal.

Candy, gum, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods are sweetened with xylitol. It can cause your dog's blood sugar to drop and can also cause liver failure. Early symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and coordination problems. Eventually, your dog may have seizures.

Cheese can be given as an occasional treat in moderation, alongside a healthy diet. If your dog manages to eat a whole block or other large amount of cheese, they may vomit. Keep an eye on them, and call your vet for advice if they become unwell.

In short, the answer is yes, dogs can eat bread safely in moderation, as long as it's fully baked and doesn't contain toxic ingredients like raisins, garlic, seeds or chocolate. Unfortunately, it's not going to provide them with any nutritional benefits, so it's not something we advise feeding your dog.

Can too many dog treats cause diarrhea? ›

Yes, dog treats can cause diarrhoea, usually caused by either giving them too many treats or feeding poor quality treats. Over-consuming treats: It's recommended that treat consumption should not exceed 10% of your dog's everyday diet.

Kradle is Dr. Hammond's top choice for calming dog treats. "It incorporates natural ingredients such as passionflower and L-tryptophan [an amino acid], which have been shown to have calming effects on dogs," she said. The brand's soft Bliss Bars are in a dog-pleasing peanut butter-bacon flavor.

It's important not to overfeed treats, as it can easily be done. This is really important for fussy dogs too, as they may be less likely to eat their staple diet at meal time. Treats shouldn't be a replacement for a complete meal, and of course too many treats can contribute to weight gain.

Relaxing bedtime treats

It is possible to help hyperactive dogs before bedtime by feeding them the right treats, although it may sound wrong and against the rule of three hours prior to bed, just a couple of treats can be enough to help hyperactive dogs relax.

Overfeeding

Dog treats are not designed to be nutritionally complete, which is why they have recommended feeding amounts according to the size of your dog. If you feed them too much, it can upset their stomach quickly and cause diarrhea.

Sugar can cause peaks in dog's blood sugar which can cause hyperactive behaviour. Although none of DotDot DogFood's Grain Free recipes contain added sugar, many treats and human food “tit-bits” do.

Dogs can have liver treats daily but in small quantities. Liver is nutrient-dense and overfeeding may lead to an overdose of certain nutrients such as vitamin A. Limiting the intake by offering them only a few times per week or mixing them with other healthy treat options is best.

Feed 1-5 biscuits per day as part of your dog's regular diet. Allow 1 biscuit per 3-4 lbs of your dog's body weight. Small treat size, for dogs between 6-25 pounds.