Choosing the right snacks for your dog isn’t always straightforward. But treats do play a big role in your Goldendoodle’s nutrition. Today, we’ll dish out all the details on healthy snacks for Goldendoodles.
Diet is an important part of a Goldendoodle’s overall health and wellness. Most people do a lot of research into the type of food they give their pups. But what about what your dog is eating in between mealtimes? Maybe you’re looking for a good training reward, or maybe you just want to provide your Goldendoodle with a tasty treat throughout the day.
List of Healthy Snacks
Just like with people, the variety of snack options you can give your Goldendoodle seem endless. There are rows and rows of treats on the shelves. How do you know what is healthy to feed to him/her? What should stay out of your cart?
When your Goldendoodle begs at you with those big beautiful eyes, you know it’s time to reach for a treat. Make sure you’re picking the right one.
Here’s a list of some healthy snacks and what makes them so good:
- Zuke’s Natural Hip & Joint Dog Treats -These functional treats work to provide a tasty treat but protect your dog’s hips, and joints are full of glucosamine and chondroitin. You’ll find them in beef, chicken, or peanut butter flavors. What’s even better is that these snacks contain no corn, wheat, or soy, and have no artificial colors or flavors.
- Castor & Pollux Organix Dog Cookies, Cheese Flavor – You can’t go wrong with these all-natural organic treats, made with USDA organic free-range chicken and cheddar cheese.
- Wild Earth Clean Protein Dog Treats with superfood Koji – These eco-friendly snacks contain responsibly sourced, high-quality protein that is perfect for dogs with skin allergies or stomach sensitivities. Koji is an ancient fungi superfood that contains all 10 essential amino acids. Plus, they come in Peanut Butter, Banana & Cinnamon, and Strawberry & Beet flavors that your Goldendoodle will love!
- Wellness Natural Grain Free Puppy Training Treats – You can feel good giving your Goldendoodle puppy these premium snacks made with lamb and salmon as the first ingredients. They’re filled with antioxidants and a natural source of DHA to promote healthy brain development in your puppy. But don’t be fooled by their name—even your grown-up dog will want to take a bite of these soft chews!
List of Not So Healthy Snacks
Dog snacks come in all flavors, shapes, and sizes. Unfortunately, many snacks can be considered ‘junk food’ for your Goldendoodle. Make sure you do your research to avoid feeding your dog, something that’s not nutritious.
- Milk-Bone Flavor Snacks – There are no whole meats in these treats—only poultry by-products, fats, bacon grease, and protein meal are listed. Plus, these contain artificial colors Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, and Blue 1.
- Rawhides – Rawhides pose a choking hazard or risk for digestive tract blockage. They are also usually bleached or processed with chemicals to turn the beef hides a white color. Many veterinarians agree that rawhides are unhealthy, and there are other alternatives if you want a longer-lasting snack for your pooch to chew on.
- Pig ear pet treats – In 2019, an outbreak of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella among people and dogs was traced back to pig ears sourced from outside of the United States. To be safe, it would be best to avoid all pig ears, which have been reported to cause illnesses in dogs in previous years.
Ingredients Dogs Can’t Eat
As much as you may want to share some of your snacks with your dog, there are quite a few ingredients that you should avoid. This is because these foods are toxic to dogs and can make them sick. If your Goldendoodle accidentally eats anything he/she shouldn’t, you should contact your veterinarian and animal poison control.
There are a lot of people foods that you should avoid feeding your Goldendoodle, no matter how much they beg.
Here are some ingredients you should not feed your dog and why:
- Grapes, currants, and raisins – All three of these can cause kidney failure, even in small amounts.
- Chocolate – Chocolate contains a substance that can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and even death. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are the most potent, but all chocolate, including white, should be avoided for the safety of your pup.
- Macadamia nuts – Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors, and hyperthermia in dogs.
- Xylitol – Xylitol is a sweetener found in many candies, gum, and even peanut butter! Unfortunately, this ingredient causes an increase in insulin, which lowers your dog’s blood sugar levels dramatically, causing hypoglycemia. This leads to lethargy, vomiting, and stumbling, and can lead to seizures and liver failure.
- Onions, Garlic, and Chives – These foods all lead to anemia in dogs, as well as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and collapse.
- Some Fruits – Apricot seeds or pits, leaves, or stems, and cherry seeds or pits, should be avoided. The pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous.
Ingredients Dogs Can Eat or Should Eat
Now let’s focus on the positive: what are foods your Goldendoodle can eat? Thankfully, there’s still plenty!
Here are some ingredients you should feed your dog and what some of the benefits are:
- Most Vegetables – Carrots, green beans, broccoli, spinach, and peas are low-calorie and contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals that boost your Goldendoodle’s immune system. You can feed them raw or gently cooked without added sauces or spices. Dogs also really love the crunch of the carrots!
- Peanut butter – As long as it doesn’t contain xylitol, peanut butter is the perfect ingredient for stuffing into treat balls or toys to occupy your furry friend. Aim for a low-fat version with no-to-little added sugar.
- Some Fruits – Apples (without the seeds), blackberries, pineapple (cut from the rind), blueberries, bananas, and strawberries are excellent sources of vitamins and antioxidants. To avoid too much sugar, dogs should never eat these fruit in large amounts.
- Sweet Potatoes and Pumpkin – When cooked and cooled, or cooked and dried into strips, sweet potatoes and pumpkins provide an easy-to-digest snack packed with vitamins.
- Meat – Whole lean proteins like chicken are safe to feed your dog. Always remember to remove the skin, trim the fat, and avoid seasoning or salting before letting your down chow down.
Recipes for Homemade Snacks
If you have extra time, want to save some money, or simply want to know exactly every ingredient your furry friend is eating, you might want to make him/her snacks from home. We’ve compiled a list of five-star rated treats you can make from the comfort of your home.
- Dog Treats Recipe Books – Remember, every dog has specific tastes. Use ingredients your Goldendoodle likes, and soon you’ll discover his/her favorite recipe!
- The Great Pumpkin Recipe Cookbook For Dogs – Create your own Pumpkin is rich in Vitamins A, C, and E, potassium, and some B vitamins. Its natural fiber will also promote healthy digestion.
Here are some snacks that will get your Goldendoodle begging for more:
- Peanut Butter Bacon Dog Treats – Sweet and savory unite in this irresistible protein-snack!
- Coconut Oil Dog Treats – Combine the immune and skin/hair coat benefits of feeding coconut oil with the antioxidants of blueberries for a simple but delicious treat. Try replacing the blueberries with other fruits like cut-up bananas or strawberries for variety.
Snacks for the Summertime
As the temperature outside rises, it’s time to think about some special snacks you can give your Goldendoodle during the summer months. To beat the heat, we’ve compiled a list of cool treats that are safe for your pup to eat. Don’t be surprised if your Goldendoodle starts asking for more!
Here are some dog-safe snacks during the summertime:
- Watermelon – Watermelons are packed with vitamins A, B6, C, as well as potassium. Since they are > 90% water, this snack helps your dog stay hydrated, especially on a hot day. Avoid letting them eat more than one or two seeds, and always remove the rind before sharing some of this fruit with your pooch.
- The Bear And The Rat, Yogurt Banana & Peanut Butter Dog Treat – This frozen treat will cool your doggie down while providing an added dose of prebiotics for a healthy digestive tract.
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Burger Bites Dog Treats – Don’t leave your dog out of the backyard barbeque! These little grilled burger treats are safely cooked in the U.S.A. and contain no ingredients from China. Real beef is the #1 ingredient, and there are no artificial flavors or meat by-products.
‘Bone’ Appetit!
Now you know what treats are healthy for Goldendoodles to make your snack buying decisions easier! We listed some ingredients that you should avoid feeding your dog, and which foods are perfectly safe.
We also shared some recipes that you can use to make treats for your Goldendoodle from the comfort of your home. No matter which healthy snacks you choose, your furry friend will thank you for taking the time to pick what’s best for him/her. Bon appetit!
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!!
