You love your dog, and it probably fills you with joy to give him or her treats in addition to their regular diet. However, overfeeding your dog can lead to serious health issues, such as obesity, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, diabetes, and even early death. The wrong kind of dog treats can have these same effects. Below, we offer some healthy choices for your pet, including safe, delicious treats and what to avoid.

Before you make any decisions on which treats to give your dog, please consult with your veterinarian. He or she will determine which treats are best based on your dog’s weight, breed, activity level and overall health. The basic rule of thumb is to keep your dog’s treat intake to about ten percent of their overall diet. Just as eating an entire bag of potato chips is less than ideal for a human, eating an entire bag of dog treats is a bad idea for your dog. Read on for some healthy dog treat options:

1. Safe human foods for dogs
Instead of buying expensive treats from the store, which are loaded with fillers, added sugar, and often are made in overseas factories with questionable practices, you can feed your pooch some human foods that are safe and healthy. For example, many dogs love green beans, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, and blueberries. These foods are not on the list of toxic items for dogs, and they are far less expensive than store-bought dog treats.

2. Seek out meaty treats
Dogs love meats of all kinds so finding a dog treat that’s high in animal protein content is always a good choice. Keep in mind though, treats that are mostly meat ingredients tend to be more expensive than grain- or vegetable-based treats, but the extra money is worth it to keep your dog healthy and energized. If you prefer to purchase dog treats from the store, we recommend grain-free treats with no added sugar.

3. Look for whole ingredients
Consider treats with whole ingredients vs. by products when looking for a quality bag of dog treats. For instance, wheat is better than wheat flour, wheat bran and wheat germ. Same for meat products, as chicken or chicken fat is far superior to undisclosed meat meal or animal fat. Lastly, natural preservatives (i.e., vitamins C and E or mixed tocopherols) are effective and safe preservatives to find in dog treats. A good rule is if you buy treats, stick with those that have few ingredients and are high in protein.

4. DIY dog treats
The other option is to make your dog treats at home. Stick to healthy ingredients that dogs love, such as:

• Pureed pumpkin
• Peanut butter
• Cooked eggs
• Whole wheat flour