Healthy snacks?

[Aimee Santa Monica]

Our pups are 6 months old and the past month we have made the switch to Orijen puppy food. Amazing difference-love it!   With this food change, i have also cut their 3 meals down to 2 meals a day.  They are good eaters- they usually finish eating so fast!  Ayla , from the beginning, seems to be always hungry!  Once a week, i will give a tablespoon of yogurt, if they have eaten something strange outdoors and have loose stools.  Should i be giving yogurt daily to prevent future loose stools?  I am wanting to give a healthy  midday snack, - but just afraid to get their tummy upset.   I have stopped giving them treats from pets smart, it always caused loose stools.     When Ayla is loose in our house, she seems to want to scavenge the house for food!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Aimee, if you look through the discussions here in the Food Group, you'll see lots of discussions about good treats and snacks. Petsmart doesn't have a very good selection, but the store where you buy your Orijen should.

Some treat brands we like are Zuke's, Jones Naturals, Wet Noses, Plato, and of course anything made by the recommended brand companies. 

You can also make your own chicken jerky or liver treats, and we have info here about that too, as well as in the DK Cookbook Group.

Many dogs like raw carrots, apples, bananas, and different types of melons, too.

[Aimee Santa Monica]

Thanks for your help!  I am intrested in making my own treats for them, so i will check out the DK Cookbook Group! Thanks!

 Poor Ayla ate some mud & moss at the park the other day and is recovering from her upset stomache , i mean i am still recovering from it! :)

[Adina P]

What is the point of a 'midday snack'?  I'm just curious in general what goal is being reached for when giving dog snacks at all...other than just 'for fun' and because they like food.  This is not really pointed at you, Aimme, but to anyone who uses snacks.

There are good reasons to give children set snack times with healthy food.  And for those who use treats for training or for specific rewards here and there, I understand.  But, I'm just not clear on the WHY's of giving dogs snacks--for nutritional/health reasons--ever.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

In this case, I thought it was to ease the transition from being fed three times a day to twice a day. It's been more than 20 years since i had a puppy, but I'd imagine that if they're used to getting something to eat midday, it might help to offer a "snack" when you eliminate that middle meal.

I've never given adult dogs "snacks".

[Adina P]

I thought she'd already transitioned to two meals.  In any case I know that my dogs act hungry all day if I judge by their licking their bowls clean and eagerly awaiting crumbs when we cook or eat or the way Boca dives into Natalie's high chair after her meals to lap up the bits of food that fall into the seat.  I think most dogs are ALWAYS into eating just about anything (and then there are those picky eaters who have a more discerning palate).  I think it's more "dogs with big appetites" or "gluttonous dogs" rather than 'hungry'.

[Aimee Santa Monica]

I've been using deghydrated liver for treats for training with the pups, but i'm thinking that it is upsetting their tummy. I did get this from a high quality pet food store.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

We give Zukes and Cloudstar treats.  Also, my dogs go crazy for apples, pears, green beans, carrots....

[Aimee Santa Monica]

I will definitely try those fruits you mentioned! Thanks!

[Joy & Buddy]

Buddy loves raw zucchini, carrots, etc, but I am hesitant to use them as treats, because his stool is very loose, and has been for a few months now.  He is on Acana and at times, sometimes for days at a time, seems uninterested in his food, and will skip meals or only eat some of it.  (I will post this same concern on a discussion about loose stools and picky eating.)  I've had his stool checked for parasites, and it was not positive, although we've only had it checked once (I know you have to catch the parasite when it is not dormant.) Any thoughts?  Should I use yogurt?  Raw veggies for training?  I have used pumpkin but I'm not sure I should be using it every day.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna loves any vegetables and fruit :)

 

Her favorites are cucumbers, peppers, broccoli, bananas and oranges.  She doesn't seem to like lettuce much though!

 

We have started giving her a midday "snack" of a handful of veggies/fruits cut up, since she has resumed eating any plants (and sometimes mud) in sight outside.  We're hoping supplementing the fruits and veggies in her diet will quell her need for the green stuff ;) Only been doing it a few days, so we'll see how it works.

 

I think next shopping trip will include picking up some frozen veggies just for her, since she LOVES ice cubes and would probably love frozen veggies.