Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day

February 23rd is International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day! Man’s Best Friend certainly does love a good treat. Treats are actually quite beneficial. They make great training aids, help people bond with their pups, and just get Fido’s cute tail going. However, there are some things to keep in mind when giving your canine buddy his snacks. A Burlington, ON vet discusses dog biscuits below.

Most dogs will eat, well, pretty much anything. Fido will be thrilled with any treats you bring home. That said, it’s not a bad idea to get into the habit of reading labels. Choose products that list meat, fish, or poultry first and most frequently. Avoid ones with long lists of ingredients that read like chemical experiments.

If you like cooking, you can make Fido’s treats. There are some benefits here. For one thing, you can customize your furry friend’s snacks to suit his tastes and/or specific needs. You’ll also know exactly what your pooch is eating. You can find lots of great recipes online. Just stick to safe ingredients.

One great things about dogs is the fact that they really do want to please their humans. Have Fido ‘earn’ his snack by obeying a simple command or performing a trick. This will also help reinforce your pup’s training and help him feel like he earned something.

Begging is a pretty common habit among our canine patients. Many dogs have their humans more or less wrapped around their paws. However, begging is bad petiquette. It can also be dangerous, as Fido may convince someone to offer him foods that aren’t safe for him. Don’t encourage bad manners!

Speaking of unsafe foods, it’s important to know what Fido can and can’t eat. Some foods that are dangerous to dogs include garlic, onions, scallions, and chives; nuts; mushrooms; grapes, currants, and raisins; pitted fruits, especially avocado; alcohol; chocolate; caffeine; meat on the bone; raw dough or meat; and anything that includes xylitol.

You may want to keep an eye on recall alerts. You can do that at the AVMA site here or the FDA site here . Or, set up an email alert. As the saying says, better safe than sorry!

As your Burlington, ON vet clinic, we are dedicated to offering great veterinary care. Please feel free to contact us anytime!