Short answer: An overweight dog can keep having treats, as long as you give small pieces, choose lean types and deduct the treats from the daily ration. According to our labels, lung trainers, bully stick bites, beef ears and most fish skin are lean, while sheep fat cubes, meat cubes, pig ears and chicken feet contain a lot of fat. If your dog is clearly overweight, talk to your vet first about a suitable weight-loss plan.
Can an overweight dog still have treats?
Yes. Cutting out treats altogether is usually not necessary and makes training and rewarding difficult. What matters is that the treats do not come on top of the regular food, but replace part of it. Choose treats that contain little fat, and make the pieces small. A dog tastes a piece the size of a pea just as well as a large piece.
If you are not sure whether your dog is too heavy, check whether you can still feel the ribs easily without pressing, and whether your dog has a waist when seen from above. If in doubt, your vet will weigh and assess your dog, and together you can agree on a goal.
Why fat makes the difference
Per gram, fat provides about twice as much energy as protein. A fatty treat therefore counts far more heavily than a lean treat of the same weight. The label of every treat states crude fat as a percentage. That percentage varies from batch to batch, so the label on your pack is what counts. It is a handy measure for comparing treats with each other, even without working out kilocalories. Two treats of the same weight can differ considerably in the energy they give your dog.
Which treats are lean and which are fatty?
We compared the labels of our own treats. The table groups them by crude fat according to the label.
| Group | Crude fat according to our label | Examples from our range | Suits an overweight dog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lean | Up to about 5 percent | Canis Beef Lung Trainers, Canis Bully Stick Bites, Canis Beef Ears without Cartilage, Canis Redfish Skin, Canis Horse Windpipe sawn | Yes, in small pieces |
| Medium | About 5 to 15 percent | Canis Beef Head Skin Roll, Canis Cod Skin, Canis Take & Break with Chicken | In moderation |
| Fatty | About 15 to 40 percent | Canis Chicken Foot White, Canis Pig Ear Medium, Canis Goat Head Skin, Canis Lamb Ears | Now and then |
| Very fatty | More than 40 percent | Canis Meat Cubes Lamb, Canis Sheep Fat Cubes Natural, Canis Pork Spaghetti | Better not |
Two things stand out. First, treats made of lung, pizzle and fish skin are almost all lean according to our labels. Second, the animal says little: beef ears without cartilage contain about 2 percent fat, while lamb and goat ears are around 30 percent. So check the label per product, not just the animal.
How do you count treats in the daily ration?
For all treats together, the rule of thumb is about 10 percent of the daily energy. For a dog that needs to lose weight, you keep strictly to that limit and deduct the treats from the regular food. This is how you do it in practice:
- Weigh the kibble: measure out the daily ration instead of scooping, so you know where you stand.
- Set treats aside: in the morning, put the day's treats in a small container. When the container is empty, that is it for the day.
- Swap instead of add: if you give a treat, give a little less kibble.
- Use kibble as a reward: for easy exercises you can give part of the daily ration as a reward.
- Weigh weekly: on the same scales, at the same time of day. That way you can see whether it is working.
- Agree it with the whole household: many extras come from housemates and visitors. One container of treats per day for everyone together prevents double rewarding.
How to work out the treat budget for your dog is explained in how many treats can a dog have per day.
Training with small pieces
For dogs that need to lose weight, lean training treats are ideal: you can reward often without it costing much energy. Cut beef lung into pea-sized cubes, or use bully stick bites and small pieces of fish skin. You will find more choice under training treats. A long chew is also possible, as long as you count it: a large pizzle or head skin roll is nutritious and then replaces part of a meal.
Which chew for a dog on a diet?
Chewing is important for dogs and does not have to disappear during a diet. It helps your dog settle down, and a dog on a diet needs that calm moment just as much as a dog that has nothing to lose. Choose a lean chew that lasts a long time, such as a piece of fish skin or a windpipe. According to our labels, fish skin from redfish and cod is low in fat and horse windpipe is lean; lamb windpipe, on the other hand, is fatty. Very hard chews such as antler contain hardly any fat according to the label, but only suit calm gnawers with healthy teeth.
Ingrid's tip: Fill a snuffle mat or treat ball with part of the regular kibble instead of extra treats. Your dog is kept busy for a long time and it costs no extra energy.
Frequently asked questions
Which treats are the leanest?
According to our labels, lung trainers, bully stick bites, beef ears without cartilage and fish skin from redfish and cod, all around or below 5 percent crude fat.
Are fish treats good for an overweight dog?
Fish skin from lean fish such as cod and redfish, yes. Salmon skin and oily little fish such as sprat contain more fat; check the label.
How much weight can my dog lose per week?
That depends on their weight and health. Ask your vet for a goal and a pace, and weigh weekly.
Can a dog on a diet still have a chew?
Yes, choose a lean type such as fish skin or horse windpipe and count it towards that day's food.
Are vegetables and fruit a good alternative?
Some dogs enjoy a piece of cucumber or carrot. Never give grapes, raisins, onion or avocado, and consult your vet if in doubt.
Sources
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee, Global Nutrition Guidelines (treats at most about 10 percent of the daily energy, body condition score)
- LICG, Honden (care and feeding of dogs; the page is not in English)
About the author
Ingrid Kooijman is the founder of Canis Snacks. She selects natural single-protein dog treats, sells them online and at markets in Brabant, and answers dog owners' questions about food and chews every day. Questions about this article? Email info@canissnacks.com.
