Quick Answer
Yes, you can mix dog treats with dog food, but it should be done in moderation. Dog treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake. Too many treats can lead to obesity and other health problems. The best approach is to use treats for training purposes and mix a small amount into their regular dog food as a bonus.
Should You Mix Treats with Food?
There are pros and cons to mixing treats with dog food that are worth considering:
Pros:
– Makes mealtime more exciting and enticing for picky eaters
– Allows you to accurately control treat portion sizes
– Avoids overfeeding treats between meals
– Provides mental stimulation from hunting through food for treats
Cons:
– If overdone, can unbalance your dog’s nutritionally complete meal
– Some dogs may start holding out for treats and refuse plain food
– Higher calorie counts can lead to weight gain if ratios are off
The key is moderation. An occasional mixed meal or using treats as a meal topper is fine for most healthy dogs. But overdoing treat additions can undermine the dietary balance of their dog food.
Guidelines for Mixing Treats with Food
If you want to mix some treats into your dog’s normal kibble or canned food, here are some guidelines to follow:
– Treats should make up no more than 10% of the total calories in a meal
– For a 50 pound dog, treats should be limited to around 60 calories per meal
– Start with even less, around 20-40 calories of treats mixed in at first
– Only use treats made for dogs with ingredients appropriate for your dog’s health needs
– Consider the extra calories from treats when calculating your dog’s daily food intake
– Adjust meal sizes accordingly if needed to prevent weight gain from extra treats
– Mix treats thoroughly into the food so your dog doesn’t pick them out first
You can also use some of your dog’s daily food allotment as treats for training purposes. Just deduct a portion to use as training treats so it doesn’t exceed your dog’s daily calorie needs.
Best Types of Treats to Mix with Food
The best types of treats to mix in with your dog’s regular food include:
– Dehydrated meat pieces – Easy to break into small bits and mix in
– Freeze-dried treats – Low calorie and can be crumbled on top
– Vegetable or fruit purees – Provides moisture and flavor
– Healthy wet food – Mix a spoonful into kibble as a flavor topper
– Low-fat yogurt – Good source of probiotics
– Unsalted popcorn – Whole grain, low calorie treat
– Baby food – Use unseasoned vegetable or meat varieties
– Plain whole wheat pasta – Break into small pieces and mix in
– Fresh fruits or steamed veggies – Cut into bite-size pieces
Avoid mixing in high fat or sugary treats like biscuits, cheese, or hot dogs, as these undermine the meal’s nutrition. Read labels and aim for healthy, natural ingredients.
Tips for Mixing Treats into Food
Follow these tips when mixing treats into your dog’s regular food:
– Start with small amounts like 10% of calories and adjust as needed
– Break treats into pea-sized pieces or crumble over the food
– Use some of your dog’s kibble as treats for training
– Mix wet and dry foods together before adding treats
– Add water or low-sodium broth to dry food to enhance flavors
– Hand mix the treats in well versus topping food
– Supervise your dog to ensure he eats the whole meal
– Adjust food portions to account for extra treat calories
– Reduce treats if your dog becomes overweight
Potential Risks of Too Many Treats
While the occasional mixed treat meal is fine, adding too many treats or table scraps to your dog’s regular food on a frequent basis can pose some risks, such as:
– Weight gain and obesity
– Unbalanced nutrition if treats replace food
– Increased risk for pancreatitis from high fat treats
– Diarrhea or upset stomach from too many new foods
– Development of food pickiness or bad habits
– Increased calorie intake leading to less exercise
– Higher risk of diabetes or other obesity-related diseases
– Accidental choking from gulping down treats
To avoid these risks, keep treats limited to 10% of calories per day. Monitor your dog’s weight and adjust food and treats as needed to maintain an ideal body condition.
Healthy Homemade Treat Recipes
Whip up some healthy homemade treats to mix into your dog’s meals. Here are a few simple recipes:
Frozen Yogurt Treats
– 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
– 1 mashed banana
– 2 tsp honey (optional)
– Pinch of cinnamon
Mix ingredients and spoon into an ice cube tray. Freeze overnight. Pop out cubes and mix into food.
Chicken & Rice Treats
– 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded
– 1 cup cooked brown rice
– 1 egg
– 2 tbsp peanut butter
Mix all ingredients together. Roll into marble sized balls and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Let cool and mix into food.
Pumpkin Treats
– 1 cup canned pumpkin
– 1/4 cup oatmeal
– 1 tbsp honey
– 1 egg
Combine ingredients. Dehydrate in oven at 200°F for 2-3 hours until fully dried. Crumble over food.
Fruity Fish Treats
– 1 (5oz) can salmon, drained and flaked
– 1 mashed banana
– 1/4 cup blueberries
Mash ingredients together. Spread into a thin layer on a baking sheet and dehydrate for 3-4 hours at 180°F. Break into pieces to mix in.
Should Treats be Given at Mealtimes or Separately?
Whether you give treats at mealtimes or separately comes down to your purpose for the treats. Here are some pros and cons:
Treats Given at Mealtimes
Pros:
– Allows portion control
– Avoids overfeeding between meals
– Makes food more enticing
– Provides mental stimulation
Cons:
– May distract dogs from finishing meal
– Can encourage picky eating habits
Treats Given Separately
Pros:
– Allows use as training rewards through the day
– Gives dogs something to look forward to
– Prevents begging during mealtime
Cons:
– Makes portion control more difficult
– Can still disrupt appetite if too many/close to meals
– Requires adjusting food amounts to account for calories
Ultimately it depends on your pup and preferences. Mixing treats into food works well for many dogs, but separating works better for others. Try both to see what suits your needs. The key is keeping calories balanced.
Example Meal Plan with 10% Treats
Here is an example meal plan for a 50 pound dog that includes treats making up 10% of the daily calories:
Dog’s Daily Calorie Needs: 1000 calories
Daily Food (90% of calories): 900 calories
– 400 calories at breakfast
– 400 calories at dinner
Daily Treats (10% of calories): 100 calories
– 50 calories mixed into breakfast
– 50 calories for training between meals
Breakfast: 400 calories kibble + 50 calories treats = 450 calorie meal
– 3 cups kibble (400 calories)
– Carrot treats (25 calories)
– Frozen yogurt treats (25 calories)
Dinner: 400 calories kibble
– 3 cups kibble (400 calories)
Treats: Remaining 50 calories for training treats
This ensures the dog gets a balanced 900 calories from its regular dog food and 100 “bonus” calories from healthy treats, without exceeding daily needs.
How to Transition Your Dog to Food with Treats
When first introducing treats mixed into meals, follow these tips:
– Start with low calorie treats like veggies or fruits
– Use treats your dog already enjoys and digests well
– Begin with very small amounts like 5-10% of meal calories
– Hand mix treats into the food thoroughly so they are buried
– Slowly increase treat amounts every few days
– If your dog starts rejecting plain food, decrease treats
– Decrease meal sizes slightly if treats will be a regular thing
– For picky eaters, only mix treats into one meal at first
– Be patient and experiment until you find the right balance
With the right transition approach, most dogs learn to love a bit of tasty treat mixed into their regular food!
Should Treats be Mixed into Dry or Wet Food?
Both dry and wet dog food can work for mixing in treats, though wet food may help the treats blend in easier. Here’s a comparison:
Dry Kibble
Pros:
– Crunchy texture contrasts nicely with soft treats
– Allows treats to stick to kibble when hand mixed
– Works well for dogs that prefer crunchy food
Cons:
– Can make treats stand out more visually
– Needs extra moisture to help treats blend in
Wet Food
Pros:
– Allows treats to blend into the food easily
– Enhances flavor when mixed together
– Works well for fussy dogs
Cons:
– Treats may sink to the bottom of the bowl
– More difficult to hand mix treats in evenly
– Moist food may lead to faster spoilage
Ideally, add some water to dry kibble to create a bit of gravy before mixing in treats. You can also mix wet and dry foods together first before adding treats. Find what works best for your dog!
Should You Mix Treats into Homemade Dog Food?
Mixing treats into homemade dog food follows similar guidelines as commercial dog food:
– Treats should make up no more than 10% of total calories
– Start with small amounts and work up slowly
– Use healthy, dog-safe treats suitable for your recipe
– Subtract some regular food ingredients to account for treat additions
– Mix treats in thoroughly for balanced nutrition in each bite
– Monitor your dog for signs of gastrointestinal issues
– Adjust recipes as needed if your dog gains weight
Treats can add excitement and flavor to homemade food. Some good options include:
– Fresh fruits & veggies – apple, carrot, pumpkin, peas
– Lean cooked meats – chicken, beef, turkey
– Whole grains – oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa
– Natural yogurt or cottage cheese
– Omega-3 rich foods – salmon, eggs, flaxseed
Avoid onion, garlic, grapes, raisins, nuts, chocolates, and other unsafe human foods. Introduce new treats slowly to watch for allergies. With some creativity, you can mix healthy treats right into homemade recipes!
Conclusion
Mixing a small portion of healthy dog treats into your dog’s regular food is usually fine as an occasional meal bonus or daily routine. Limit treat calories to no more than 10% of their total daily needs, choose dog-safe ingredients, and hand mix thoroughly into the food. Monitor your dog’s weight, food intake, and bathroom habits. Adjust amounts as needed if treats lead to decreased appetite, weight gain, or stomach upset. With moderation and wisdom, stirring treats into meals can add fun, delicious nutrition and mentally stimulate your dog!