Tasty Tuesday: The Healthy Edition

We have all read lately that obesity in pets is becoming a problem...an epidemic of sorts. Here are a few suggestions for things that you can feed your dog...as "Healthy Treat Substitutes"

And it is a real PLUS that they are much cheaper than purchasing costly dog treats!!

Vegetables

Anyone who's ever seen a dog eat grass or greens knows there's a vegetarian side to your pet. Before domestication, when dogs hunted for their living, they ate portions of their prey, which contained a considerable amount of digested vegetable matter. Most animals still want some of this vegetation, but can't digest the tough fibrous components on their own. Try offering your dog some cooked green beans, carrots or peas. Many pets love them, and you can even mix them into their regular diet.

Rice, Popcorn and Pasta

Other favorites for many pets are rice, popcorn and pasta. A bit of a rice cake or some air popped popcorn is a great substitute for a high fat treat. Cooked rice can be added for bulk to a weight control diet. It's a way of giving your pet more food without adding a lot of fat calories. Cooked pasta is also great. Chloe and LadyBug sure do relish a few elbow pieces of macaroni or spaghetti!!

Egg Whites, Cottage Cheese and Yogurt

A cooked egg white is a great protein treat, hard boil a few and keep them on hand. (The yolk has all the fat!) A little dab of cottage cheese or plain yogurt substitutes for licking that ice cream bowl!