There’s a special pet holiday coming up that has the puparazzi quite excited. February 23rd is Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day! Of course, one could argue that every day is Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. That wouldn’t be wrong! However, this ‘pawspicious’ occasion deserves a bit of recognition. A local Kerrville, TX vet offers some tips on giving your pooch snacks in this article.

Benefits

There are some benefits to giving your canine buddy treats. For one thing, they are a great way to reinforce training and reward Fido for being a good boy. They also really brighten up your pup’s day! Last but not least, yummy snacks can help form, solidify, and strengthen the bond between you.

Begging

We know, Fido is very, very good at putting on that adorable sad puppy face. Don’t let your furry bff cajole you into forking over snacks on demand. That’s just bad petiquette! (It’s also an easy way for you to find yourself with a pudgy pup!)

People Foods

There are some things you can share with your four-legged buddy. Most types of plain, cooked meat, fish, and poultry are safe. However, you should avoid—or at least limit—processed foods. Also, be sure to remove the skin, bones, and fat first.

Unsafe Foods

Our canine companions have very, very powerful appetites. It’s always adorable seeing how excited Fido gets when he thinks he’s about to score some bacon! However, Fido’s enthusiasm for food can also be dangerous. Many of our favorite foods are toxic to dogs. Never give your pup anything that contains garlic, onions, scallions, chives, or chocolate. Other unsafe foods include meat on the bone, caffeine, nuts, mushrooms, avocado, pitted fruits, grapes and raisins, and anything that contains xylitol or a lot of salt, sugar, or fat.

Recalls

Keep an eye out for pet food recalls. You can monitor them on the FDA site here , or the ASPCA site here .

Shopping

Dogs are known for being very, very enthusiastic about snacks, so you probably won’t have to worry too too much about whether or not your canine pal will like what you picked up. That said, we do recommend opting for brands that use whole, healthy ingredients. A word to the wise? Avoid products with labels that read like science experiments.

Please contact us, your Kerrville, TX veterinary clinic, for your dog’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!