Practical feeding
Treats, Chews and the Daily Calorie Budget
How treats quietly undo a carefully measured diet, and how to keep training rewards and enrichment chews without the weight gain.
Treats add up faster than they look
A single standard dog biscuit can carry a meaningful share of a small dog's entire daily calorie allowance, and many owners give several a day on top of full meals without adjusting anything else. Rawhide, dental chews and long-lasting chews also carry real calories, not just the food in bowls.
A simple rule of thumb
Keep treats, chews and training rewards to no more than around ten percent of daily calorie intake, and reduce the main meal slightly on days with heavy treat use — a busy training day, for instance. For very small dogs and cats, breaking treats into small pieces stretches them much further without extra calories.
- Use a portion of the dog's regular kibble ration as training rewards
- Choose low-calorie options such as small pieces of plain cooked vegetable for dogs who enjoy them
- Weigh out a day's treat allowance in the morning rather than guessing meal by meal
Chews carry their own risks
Very hard chews such as antlers, cow hooves and some dental chews can fracture teeth, and some are choking or blockage risks if pieces break off and are swallowed. Match chew hardness and size to the individual dog, and always supervise a new type of chew the first few times.
If weight is already a concern
A pet already overweight, or on a therapeutic weight-loss diet, needs a veterinarian's input on whether treats fit into the plan at all and, if so, which ones — some prescription weight-management ranges include a matched treat specifically formulated to stay within the plan.