Previous articles describe the many tasty dangers you animal companions can come across. What are some safe and even healthy alternatives to feed your pets?
Lets start with mans best friend shall we? Dogs despite popular belief are omnivores not strictly carnivores like cats or their distant relatives the wolf. This is because of selective breeding and forced evolution by humans, why is this important? Because it opens up a wider selection of foods that can be given as treats to dogs that may make other animals sick. Where things like potatoes and bread may be harmful to a wolf, cat, ferret, etc. the same might not be said about dogs in appropriate doses of course. It is important to remember that just like in humans, too much of a good thing can be bad for anyones health. So remember to treat in moderation! 😉
- Green beans, carrots, plain white rice, unseasoned cooked lean meats such as chicken, turkey, or lamb (look familiar? Thats because these are all foods used in commercialized dog foods. It is important to make sure to trim off any excess fat of the meats however).
- Many fruits can provide a sweet yet safe treat for dogs. Bananas, apples, watermelon, and blueberries are all among these sweet treats.
- Some even more unconventional veggies can be tasty treats for your dog, such as pumpkin and cucumbers
- Plain popcorn (make sure not to add any salt, butter, or flavorings!)
- Fish and pork make good meaty treats, just be sure to cook them thoroughly and trim all of the fat
- Dairy in very SMALL amounts can be an okay treat from time to time. Just be careful to give small amounts sparingly.
- And lastly everyone’s favorite, peanut butter! Just be sure not to give your pup too much as it can be a bit fattening. Also be sure to check and make sure it is unsweetened and unsalted
Next up lets talk about fun and safe foods for cats, the most popular pet choice next to dogs. Cats are strictly carnivores but despite that there are a few non meats and fish that cats can nibble on safely.
- Meats like chicken, beef, and turkey (always be sure to thoroughly cook any and all meat you give your cat!)
- Eggs (be sure to cook well!)
- Some veggies, pumpkin, steamed broccoli, steamed asparagus, fresh cantaloupe, fresh cucumber or even a veggie patty (just be sure to check for anything even remotely harmful to your feline friend like onions or garlic. And remember if theres any doubt, it is not worth risking your pals safety and well being)
- Very small amounts of dairy
- Whole wheat. Many cats seem to have an odd liking of breads and other wheat based products, however white bread and other doughy snacks can gunk up a cats digestive system. So be careful when sharing wheaty treats with felines
- Fish can of course be a great treats for cats, just be sure to buy fresh and cook thoroughly. Also be sure to avoid mercury heavy seafood like canned tuna as a treat too often.
Continuing along with carnivores lets discuss the strange mixture of puppies and kittens, snakes and lizards, and slinkies that is ferrets. Ferrets are even more along the carnivore diet than cats as many fruits and veggies dogs and cats can digest with ease pose serious dangers to ferrets.
- Cooked egg
- Cat treats (in very small amounts)
- Lean meats such as lamb, turkey, or chicken (avoid beef and pork as ferrets can have difficulty processing these meats)
- While it may seem a bit ghoulish, ferrets are fuzzy little plate cleaners (they eat the whole animal) so getting things from a butcher that might normally get tossed out like chicken organs may be a cheap way to get some meaty treats for your little furry slinky.
Mice and rats are another small fuzzy pet many people find themselves drawn to. And just like any other animal companion, we may want to spoil them from time to time. Mice and rats are both heavy omnivores that can eat more things than they can’t eat so treats can come in several different forms. Heres some snacks to help you do just that.
- Peanut Butter
- Fruits and veggies many different kinds, but the crunchier the better as it helps to keep their teeth filed down
- Cooked meats and pastas
Hamsters are another favorite small fuzzy pet that captures the hearts of many people. Much like mice and rats, hamsters are omnivorous. Hamsters have a nasty little habit of their eyes being bigger than their stomach, so please be careful not to give into their begging too much.
- Small chunks of fruits and veggies like apples, cucumbers, cauliflowers, pears, bananas, broccoli, peaches, chicory, and carrots (be cautious with carrots as they are high in sugar)
- Small bits of egg or mealworms once a week
Not all pets are furry, some have feathers or scales. Parrots are an exotic pet that requires very specific care and treats for these sweet feathery friends needs to always have that in mind.
- Almost any and all fruits (though grapes can be sugar heavy so be cautious with them)
- Cooked beans
- Nuts and peppers
- Cooked or uncooked pasta
- Plain non microwaved popcorn
- Grain bake, oats, quinoa, and small bits of whole grain bread
- Carefully washed sprouts
- Some carefully washed veggies such as carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, root vegetables, kale, and peas
Continuing on with non fuzzy pets lets discuss fish. Are often times seen as simplistic pets, however some aquatic pets can require a lot of careful planning and care. Despite what some people may also believe, fish can become really attached to their human friends. So below are some useful treats to show your fishy friends just how much you care back!
For carnivorous fishies
- Small bits of hardboiled egg yolks
- Non oily fish fillets such as Coley, tilapia, and, Cod
- Beef-heart (so long as the fat is trimmed away)
For Herbivore fish
- Cooked peas, spinach, slices of melons, cucumber, sweet potatoes, and blanched lettuce
Tortoises, turtles, and other amphibians can all make for really interesting and sweet pets. Treating all these little critters every once in a while to show them just how neat you think they are can be just as rewarding for the pet parent as it can be for the pet.
Tortoises
- Hay is filled with nutritious fiber that can be helpful for a tortoise on occasion
- Leafy green vegetable (crunchy ones are good too!) peas, spinach, green beans, cabbage, bell peppers, carrots, and sweet potatoes are all good options
- Fruits like apples, mangos, pears, and peaches
Turtles
- Meaty treats like small bits of chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, and freeze dried insects
- Fruits and veggies such as cut up bits of blueberries, lettuce, apple, or corn (be sure to cut them into bite size bits and remove any seeds)
- Live feeder fish or insects about once a week
Some people may prefer the company of tiny dragons of differing variations. Reptiles are another animal that fall under the exotic category. Depending on which scaly buddy you’ve chosen to befriend, the diet can differ drastically. Some are herbivores, others are carnivores, and some also somewhat fall into omnivorous diets. For the sake of space they will be categorized as such, be sure to look into what diet your scale plated bud favors.
Insectivorous
- Crickets and mealworms tend to be the base food for these little insect lovers, try using new bugs like silkworms, earthworms, hornworms, grasshoppers, and cockroaches
Carnivorous
- Since most meat eating reptiles get everything they need from what they are fed, treating them is seen as  unnecessary. However if you want to treat your scaly friend you could always try mixing up what freeze dried or live foods you feed them. Just be careful to be sure the new food can’t harm your buddy in anyway.
Herbivorous
- Many dark leafy greens such as spinach, carrots, green beans, squash, and dandelion can also be a nice treat
- Berries can be a sweet watery treat for certain herbivorous reptiles
Not all of our non human friends can fit in most homes, not counting miniature hoofed animals of course. However that doesn’t mean we can’t show them our love for them in food form.
- Many fruits and veggies can be scrumptious treats for hoofed animals like apples, carrots, celery, bananas, strawberries, melons, cantaloupe, pumpkins, snow peas, grapes, and raisins (just be sure to cut up into bite sized pieces)
An aside
While there may be many kitchen scraps or creative foods you can treat your fuzzy, scaly, or feathery companions with, always remember to use moderation. Does your buddy not like any of the foods/treats listed or want something more creative? There is always store bought pre-made treats that many animals love like catnip, soft chew bones, treats, etc. and there are also many recipes for homemade treats online. One of my favorites is the vegan dog treats that only consist of oats, peanut butter, and bananas. They’re fun, simple, tasty, and many types of people can eat them too! Peanut allergy? Try swapping it out for another type of plant butter, like pumpkin seed butter which is also healthy and safe for many pets like dogs.
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats
Sources:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324453.php#which-foods-can-harm-dogs
https://pets.webmd.com/feed-pets-17/slideshow-people-foods-cats-can-eat
https://m.petmd.com/ferret/nutrition/evr_ft_nutrition_ferret
https://animals.mom.me/pet-mice-eat-1161.html
Hamster Food: What do hamsters eat?
https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/fishkeeping-answers/what-human-foods-are-safe-for-fish/
https://animals.mom.me/list-of-vegetables-my-tortoises-can-eat-12564470.html
https://www.hartz.com/the-benefits-of-treats-for-your-turtle/
https://www.hartz.com/healthy-treats-for-your-reptile/
https://animals.mom.me/lizards-eat-vegetables-8742.html
https://ker.com/equinews/feeding-treats-horses/
https://animals.mom.me/treats-that-goats-can-eat-7949442.html
Happy Critters 