Delicious and Healthy Foods You Can Give Your Pets
There is a lot of healthy food you can give your pets, dogs and cats alike as well as many other animals. These animals have some surprising tastes for some unique snacks you should try for cheap solutions for snacks, nutrition, and overall entertainment. Diversify their diet with any of these different unique snacks that are cheap, accessible, and likely to be a success with your beloved pet.
Sweet Potatoes
Such a weird idea but definitely worth trying on your dogs today is sweet potatoes. They are packed with high protein, even higher fiber, and are also high in vitamin A, C, and manganese. The sweetness in them may be attractive to your dogs and provide them a healthy treat at little cost to you. Regular potatoes and sweet potatoes are among the cheapest sources of fiber, iron, and calcium. A good thing to have around the house, this healthy food you can give your pet is also totally beneficial for you to buy and eat that goes great with any meal.
Graham Crackers
Graham crackers are another delicious and more unexpectedly healthy snack your dogs will love. Their sweetness and crunch are very attractive to dogs as to people and provide unexpected health benefits. Not intended for an every day snack, they are still low in calories loaded with some great whole grain health. Nabisco brand for example provides 8 grams of whole grains per every 8 pieces. Other healthy crackers include Kashi crackers, Triscuit, and other crisp whole grain crackers at your grocery store or market.
Ice
One of the best ideas to hone in on for pets is to give them healthy foods that also double as great toys and sources of entertainment. Ice is that slidable, chaseable treat that simply melts down with little mess and the great benefits of hydration health. Ice is a cold healthy food you can give your pets that turns into pure hydration and pets need approximately 1 ounce of water per pound of weight they are. This amount of needed water is per day so if you are interested in a playful way to get your pets more excited about needed hydration, give them daily ice cubes!
Cheese
A great source of calcium, good fat, and protein, cheese is a more popular healthy food for pets that most dogs or cats will love to snack on. Cheese is also a great way to feed your pets any necessary medicines. It is easy to chew, and has many varieties, meaning more opportunities for pet snack variations and also more likelihood of your pets finding a type they like or even several. Cut it into strips or feed them a chunky wedge to last longer and be more engaging. Cheese is also nutritious for omega-3 fatty acids and many different vitamins.
Peanut Butter
Try to find a dog that doesn’t love this healthy food you can give them. Peanut butter is another one of the most popular and well-known pet snacks that is so much fun just to watch them enjoy. Make a game of it by putting a glob of peanut butter on the roof of your dog’s mouth and watch them work to lick it free. The length of time your pet can be entertained by this snack is one of the biggest incentives for giving it to them regularly in moderation but it is also another source of good fat, oil, and protein. It also mixes well with other foods including their regular meal food.
Pickles
Some dogs do actually enjoy this tart snack. The crunch can be satisfying and the flavor gives a unique taste for pets. It is non-toxic to dogs and in moderation, can be a fun-to-chew food for them. Give them a slice to see if they might enjoy the taste and if so, you should definitely try giving them a whole pickle for a snack. While the acidity and bitter smell of this healthy food you can give your pets may not be as likely a favorite of theirs, some dogs do still enjoy this cheap treat that is great for bone health, anti-inflammation, and is easy on sensitive stomachs.
Cucumbers
If your pet doesn’t like the acidity and bitter smell of pickles, try the unfermented version of this food with a nice cucumber. They are a great snack for after your pet is exercised and needing a rehydration as they have a high water content, around 96 percent! This healthy food you can give your pet also has a nice crunch to it and is delightfully low in calories. The low calorie content can help with the health of any pets who need to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight overall. Cucumbers have antioxidants and also help promote regularity and low blood sugar.
Salmon
Salmon as well as other types of fish are actually common in pet foods for both dogs and cats. Cats are more carnivorous so often less open to other types of snacks and treats outside of meat and seafood. Cats and dogs alike enjoy this healthy treat which boasts a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, immune system support, and decreased inflammation for your pet. Did you know that salmon is also really beneficial to your pet’s hair, promoting a healthy, shiny coat? Approximately one regular portion of salmon per week is enough for your pet to benefit.
Watermelon
One of the best treats for your pets, watermelon is widely enjoyed. It has natural sweetness which makes it more popular while also having high water and fiber content for hydration and nutrition. Like cucumbers, watermelon is another superfood due to its nutrition density, making it ideal for humans and pets. Give watermelon to your pets in regulated amounts, being careful to rid it of seeds and its rind beforehand. One cup of diced, deseeded watermelon provides immune system health. Watermelon also has amino acids and the antioxidant lycopene.
