Best snacks suitable for your furry pets

We like to snack and so do your pets! However, sometimes it's easier to just grab what is in the kitchen and feed these furry animals. You don't have to make a special trip to the pet shop just as long as these are natural and healthy treats where you also consume anyway. 

Snacks are useful when you train the animals and provide them with bite-sized rewards. Snacks should only comprise up to 10% of their diet, so typically it's 1 serving a day. However, many commercial pet treats are full of nasty substances that can contribute to weight gain. Indeed, animals can also face obesity that can contribute to health issues too.  

So what are the healthy snacks to feed our furry friends? The more natural and less ingredients added, the better it is for the animals to digest them.

Fruits
Most fruits are acceptable, just not grapes and raisins. Avocado are not suitable too due to high fat content while cherries have high sugar content. Pickles have high salt content so they must be avoided altogether. We have compiled some fruits to choose from:

Apples - Remove seeds first
Bananas - Half a slice a day
Blueberries - Fresh ones as dried ones contain sugar
Pineapple
Raspberries
Watermelon
Mango
Peaches
Cantaloupe/ Honeydew
Pears
Strawberries
Oranges - Citrus fruits are not for hamsters
Pomengranate
Papaya

Dried Fruits
Raisins and cranberries are not given to four-legged animals, but only given to birds. You can also soak them in warm water to soften the raisins' skin before feeding them. Freeze dried fruits are also suitable as most of them do not contain other ingredients. Some dried fruits that are suitable include:

Natural apricots without sulphur dioxide
Blackcurrants
Figs - More for big birds, not for dogs and cats
Mulberries
Persimmons

Vegetables
Too much fruits are not good so you need to control their portion. Vegetables are generally acceptable as they can be served during meals too. Remember not to give any food that has salt, sauce or sugar:

Broccoli
Carrots
Green beans
Red Pepper
Potatoes / Sweet Potatoes
Green beans
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Celery
Corn
Asparagus
Cauliflower
Spinach
Lettuce
Alfafa - Not for guinear pigs
Pumpkin

Nuts

Generally nuts are not fed to dogs and cats as they are a choking hazard and our furry dog and cat friends don't digest them very well. Hamsters would love almonds, pine nuts and walnuts but guinea pigs and rabbits have a more limited diet and should not be fed any nuts, fruits and seeds. Macadamias are not recommended for all animals as they are too high in fats.

Birds can eat all kinds of nuts. Parrots usually like walnuts, pistachio and almonds. Birds prefer to exercise their beak and jaw muscles so giving them shelled nuts are a good snack. Try to buy raw ones as most nuts with shells that humans take are roasted with salt. Some types of nuts that are suitable for birds include:

Pistachio
Cashews
Hazelnuts
Pine nuts
Almonds
Macadamia nuts
Brazil nuts
Walnuts
Peanuts

Nut Butter

The good news is that our nut butter is suitable for most dogs, cats and birds because our nut butter does not contain any sugar and additives. You just have to limit the amount given as the amount of fat content might give indigestion issues. Jellies, jams or marmalades are also great with fewer preservatives. 

Seeds/Beans

Seeds are affordable and widely available, they are also suitable for most animals. For birds, they would like the nuts and seeds to come in shells but these unsalted grades are not as widely available unless in pet stores. Green, red, black beans are all recommended for all animal, even rabbits and guinea pigs. Seeds inside fruits like apples, apricots and peaches should be removed before feeding as they are generally toxic. A few types of seeds to be given are listed here:

Flax seeds
Hemp seeds
Chia seeds
Safflower
Pumpkin seeds
Sunflower seeds
Fennel seeds
Lentils
Wheat
Rye
Barley
Millet
Oats
Corn

Others

Our pet snacks are air dried from New Zealand and made from beef, lamb or chicken parts. They are all single ingredient without any additives but suitable for dogs for their dental hygiene, digestion and various nutrients. We also have dried fish barramundi that is dried at a sufficiently low temperature and great for both cats and dogs. We also have freshly made pet cookies for them. 

Pastries like biscuits, popcorn, cereal, oats or grains, egg shells are great. Cookies such as plain, oatmeal and peanut butter cookies are okay to feed them as treats. Not for those with raisins, caramel or too much butter or sugar. Cheese are also great snack options. Low fat and lactose cheese are good healthy snacks, such as parmesan, cottage cheese, swiss cheese and cheddar. Do not give them milk as they cannot tolerate lactose and chocolates should not be given at all times. We have pet cookies that are made just for pets, particularly dogs and cat that are free of salt and sugar. 

Summary

In general, coffee, tea or anything with caffeine must be avoided. Spicy, fried or fatty food may cause digestion problem, or sometimes you will notice more fur are dropped off from the body. Sugar, salt, spices or sugar substitutes should all be removed from their diet as they may cause indigestion and diarrhea. The most harmful would be xylitol, and not to be consumed by your pets at all times. Stevia, monk fruit, sucralose are generally safe but good to limit to as little as possible. Humiditiy is an issue in Singapore so hydration is key to their well bring. 

The less ingredients and more natural the snack is, the safer and healthier it would be! Kind of similar to humans, isn't it?