Practice Scenario

Meet JAX

A 12-week-old, male, purebred Jack Russell Terrier puppy

Jax is presented at the clinic for physical examination and additional puppyhood vaccinations.
Jax is the first puppy — and first dog — for this owner, who would like recommendations on feeding and caring for him.
The owner is currently feeding a dry puppy food mixed with warm water, as recommended by the breeder who sold the puppy.

white and brown dog standing up for a treat

Treats & Supplements

Puppies and Adult Dogs: Feeding Treats

Feeding treats or snacks is a way for the pet owner and pet to interact and bond. Using treats for puppy training purposes is also common, but excessive treating can potentially lead to the pet becoming overweight.

Key Messages

Treats must be counted as part of the daily caloric intake, and should be limited to <10% of the pet’s total daily caloric intake.
Edible chew toys, rawhides, dental chews, etc. may contribute a surprising number of calories — check the label for feeding guidelines.
Use small sized treats for training. Cat food kibbles are a good option as they are small in size, and they provide essential nutrients but a limited number of calories per piece.
When feeding a dry food, individual kibbles from the weighed daily amount can be used as treats, whilst managing calorie intake.

Conversation Starter Speech Bubble English

"Feeding treats is important but remember — all treats count towards the total daily calories. Try to ensure that treats make up no more than 10% of the entire diet."

Download or share this resource

You can download this resource as a PDF, share on social media or send this page’s URL via email.

Maintenance Nutrition for Healthy Adult Dogs

Every adult dog has unique nutritional needs. Tailored nutrition can help them live long, healthy lives.

VIEW BRIEF

1 min to 5 min

Maintaining Healthy Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight in pets provides many health advantages, but many pet owners are uncertain about how to manage their pet’s weight.

VIEW HOT TOPIC

6 min to 10 min

Obesity in Dogs and Cats

Obesity has many adverse impacts on pet health. Dietary therapy is a cornerstone of weight management in dogs and cats.