Healthier Options? Treat Swap Ideas for your Super Pet!

Who doesn’t love a good treat? When our pets wag their tails and give us that adorable wide-eyed look, it’s almost impossible to resist handing them a treat. While treats are usually safe to feed our dogs and cats, many packaged treats are high in calories, sugar, or salt. These ingredients can be even more concerning when you’re taking care of a senior pet. 

If you’re looking for alternatives for pet treats, here are some healthier options! 

• Instead of jerky or bacon-flavored treats, try lean cooked chicken breast! 

Tip: Cut chicken breast into bite-sized pieces for easier chewing! 1-2 small cubes would be enough for a small dog and a handful would be fit for a larger breed. 

• Instead of dental chews, try frozen carrots! 

Tip: Dental chews are good for your pet’s teeth but are often high in calories. Frozen carrots can be an option with less calories. However, if you have a senior pet or a one that’s an aggressive chewer, cooked carrots may be a safer option for their teeth. 

• Instead of peanut butter, try plain pumpkin puree! 

Tip: Pumpkin is a great source of fiber and also lower in calories for pets who are watching their weight. Although if your pet really prefers peanut butter, some pet parents compromise by mixing 1 tablespoon of pumpkin with 1 teaspoon of peanut butter. 

• Instead of tuna, try sardines! 

Tip: Tuna is okay as a treat for cats but it’s also very high in mercury. A healthier choice could be sardines. However, make sure the sardines are packed in water, have no added salt or seasonings and make them an occasional treat. ½ to 1 small sardine once a week is already plenty! 

• Instead of cheese cubes, try small pieces of cooked turkey or chicken! 

Tip: Although we’ve often seen cats gulping down milk in cartoons and movies, most cats actually don’t tolerate lactose very well. Plain cooked chicken or turkey could be better alternatives instead of a cheesy treat.