The trick with choosing a healthy dog treat is picking one that you can give your dog without compromising his diet. If you give a lot of treats during the day, you may need to reduce the amount of food your dog eats at meals to avoid unhealthy weight gain. In that case, you'll want to make certain that your dog treat choices are also nutritionally balanced. You don't want to deprive your dog of nutrients he needs to give him treats he doesn't. Many dog food manufacturers make treats that are similar to kibble, only in more interesting shapes or with different textures, which can be good choices in such situations.

When trying to pick out treats for dogs' health, it's a good idea to look at the list of ingredients. Are the treats meat based? Do they have a lot of added sugar or chemicals? Are there any notes on the package about how many treats are safe to give your dog each day? Remember that obesity is just as big a health problem in dogs as it is in humans. If your dog has a tendency to overeat and isn't prone to exercise, you'll need to put more focus on finding healthy treats than you will if your dog is in better shape.

If you're looking to save money, then making your own natural dog food treats can also be a good option. Simple food items like raw vegetables, plain unbuttered popcorn, rice, and even egg whites are perfect options for tasty, low-calorie, and healthy treats. You can also find an abundance of healthy dog recipes online including many for natural dog goodies.

Choosing a healthy dog treat may sometimes seem like it involves a lot of compromise, but it doesn't have to. You can find natural dog food treats that are not only yummy but good for your dog's health. Personally, I always liked giving my dog carrots as a healthy treat. Not only did she love the taste and the crunch, but they were easy to carry around for whenever I wanted to have a treat on hand. Plus, if I ever got too hungry to continue through my day, I could always eat them myself! How many natural dog food treats are YOU willing to stick in your mouth?

Quick Tip: Remember that there are a lot of human foods that can be toxic to dogs, so be very careful about what kind of treats you give your pet. Some dangerous human foods include: chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, and raisins, but you should make sure you know the other foods that are dangerous and poisonous to dogs.