What Human Treats are Good for Dogs?

Does your dog gaze longingly into your eyes as you scarf down a delicious treat of your own? It’s hard to resist their precious petition to share your snack, and sometimes you give in. But are you harming their gastrointestinal systems when doing so? Or should you feel free to enjoy a bite to eat together? These are the questions dog owners have, but it’s hard to find an answer that satisfies both your query and desire to share a culinary experience with your furry companion. Thankfully your search is over. Below is a breakdown of what you can share with your dog. 
 

Popular Types of Snacks That Dogs Can “Share” Together With Their Human Companions

From Your Bowl of Fruit and Refrigerator Crisper

Is your kitchen crisper and counter bowl full of delicious and nutritious snacks from your local produce department or farmer’s market? You know that you’re doing your body good with Mother Nature’s treats, but you wonder if your dog benefits all the same. When it comes to some popular produce-based foods they do. The following fruit & veggie goodies are packed with nutrients that are also beneficial for pups:

• Apples - Excellent source of Vitamin C, Fiber, Calcium, and Phosphorous.
• Bananas - Packed with Potassium, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Manganese, Biotin and Copper.
• Blueberries - Brimming with important antioxidants.
• Broccoli - High in fiber and Vitamin C.
• Cauliflower - Balanced vitamin and antioxidant profile.
• Carrot sticks - Rich in Beta-Carotene and Vitamin A.
• Strawberries - High in fiber along with other essential vitamins and minerals. 

From the Butcher

Some of you look at meat as more than an entree. You love sinking your teeth into beef jerky, meat sticks, chicken strips, turkey sandwiches, and sliders for a quick snack or appetizer. Traditional versions may have been high in fat and sodium but these days your options have grown to include much healthier and nutritious varieties. The following meaty treats for humans are lower in fat (than counterparts) and are stuffed with nutrients that can help your dog maintain an active and healthy lifestyle:

• Lean beef - High in protein and amino acids, omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs), heme-iron, and essential vitamins and minerals.
• Bison - Similar nutrients as lean beef, but also packed with omega-6 EFA and with even lower cholesterol.
• Chicken - High in protein and amino acids along with glucosamine and omega-6 EFA.
• Turkey - High in protein and amino acids in addition to Selenium and Tryptophan.

Something Fishy

Others look to the sea when it comes to treats. Do you enjoy devouring a row of sushi, peeling open a can of fish, or diving into crab cakes when hunger pangs suddenly strike? If you choose one of the following then you can share the experience (in a manner of speaking) with your dog:

• Salmon - High in the best forms of omega-3 EFA, including Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
• Pollock - Used to make imitation crab cakes (what you commonly find behind your grocer’s freezer door) this fish is a great source of lean protein.

The Caveat

While the nutrients (and flavors) found in the above treats can be great for you and your dog, there is a caveat. Your dog requires that they be delivered in a manner that considers nutritional profile and their distinctive needs as a species. While for the most part (allergies and dietary restrictions aside) you can outright share many of the fruit, vegetable, meat, and fish treats with your dog as they are, to get the most benefit you should deliver them in a form that their gastrointestinal systems prefer. Plus, these natural and nutritious treats should be presented in a flavorful way that they will actually enjoy. Have you tried getting your dog excited about chomping down on a platter of broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot sticks with you? Instead, feed them essential nutrients in treats that will have them on the hind legs and begging for more!

Disclaimer: It’s always recommended to consult with your veterinarian before adding new foods to your dog’s diet.

View a complete list of Chew Love Dog Treats ingredients and how each delivers nutritional benefits to your dog, right here. Whether sitting down for a movie night together or rewarding yourselves after that jog around the park you can choose which treats from within our store that your dog will love.