Due to the emotions tied to giving treats, discuss changes to treat type, timing, and quantity with pet owners before altering their routine. Photo courtesy Purina Giving treats to dogs can be a fun bonding experience for both owners and pets and can even add exercise to a dog’s day if they have to work for them. However, treating habits can be difficult for owners to modify, even when they have contributed to a dog becoming overweight or obese. That is why it is important for veterinarians to adopt a proactive approach when counseling owners about treats. Naturally, the best time to bring up the subject is when the pet is still a puppy—or newly adopted. A discussion about appropriate treats and how they should be dispensed can put clients on a healthy treat-giving path early. However, adult dogs struggling with weight issues should not be viewed as “lost causes.” It is possible to get poor treat-giving habits under control by understanding the behavior behind them and working with the client to develop a personalized plan that satisfies both owners and pets. Here are five tips to help owners of overweight dogs get treat-giving on a healthier track. Tip 1) Recognizing giving treats is an emotionally laden behavior The bond between owners and their four-legged family members runs deep. Giving treats can be integral to the relationship many owners have with their pets, particularly those who own dogs.1 In a study2 of dog owners in the UK, 96 percent of those interviewed reported feeding treats to their dog, with 69 percent feeding store-bought treats daily. Most owners in the study interpreted the word “treat” in a nutritional context, rather than considering other rewarding behaviors, such as giving a toy or other object of enjoyment. Meanwhile, even though some owners recognized overfeeding treats could result in problems, such as weight gain and obesity, they also revealed reasons why altering treating behavior can be difficult. Some study participants had difficulty accurately gauging how many treats their dog was receiving. In other cases, owners stressed giving treats helped keep their dog “happy.” Given the strong emotions associated with giving treats, modifying how treats are provided, the time of day they are given, the type of treat fed, and in what quantity the treat is dispensed should be fully discussed with owners before attempts are made to alter their treating behavior. Veterinarians should start by assessing client awareness of the pet’s body condition and willingness to change treating behavior—even if such changes will benefit their dog’s health—before recommending wholesale changes. Tip 2) Doing a nutritional assessment at every visit An assessment should include an evaluation of diet history, environment, activity level, body weight, body condition score and muscle condition score in conjunction with a complete physical examination.3 A thorough diet history should include the primary diet, as well as treats, table food, supplements and foods used for medication administration.3 Clients often do not realize treats should be accounted for within their dog’s daily caloric allotment—not as an addition to it—and should not exceed 10 percent of a patient’s daily caloric intake. If a client is disguising their dog’s medication in a piece of cheese or providing store-bought treats liberally throughout the day, the calories in those “extras” need to be subtracted from the dog’s allotted calorie count. In some cases, treats may become such a large source of calories the patient’s diet becomes unbalanced, which may result in nutrient deficiencies. Having nutrition conversations with clients requires veterinary professionals to listen carefully and be responsive to a client’s point of view. Being nonjudgmental will help increase client acceptance of and adherence to nutrition recommendations. The 2021 American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats3 is an excellent resource for determining what should be a part of a nutritional assessment and provides helpful forms that can be used during the assessment. Client resources for healthy treating There are excellent online resources geared to pet owners that explain what treats are and are not healthy for dogs, and how to use treats appropriately. Here is a sampling. Article: “How to Use Dog Treats for Training, Bonding & Rewarding” Video: “Determining a Client’s Nutritional ‘Readiness to Change’” with Julie Churchill, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Nutrition) Handout: “Treat guidelines for dogs,” which includes appropriate fruits and vegetables (plus serving amounts) Article: “Toxic Foods for Dogs and Cats” Tip 3) Evaluating the client’s receptivity to change In the case of an overweight pet, understanding and acknowledging the perceived role of treats in the owner-pet relationship can help veterinary professionals create realistic weight-loss plans that preserve the human-animal bond.1 It is important to discern if a client is ready to modify their treating (and/or feeding) behaviors before recommending they change them. Being aware of client sensitivities about their pet’s weight within the context of discussing obesity hazards is important. Consider posing open-ended questions to help determine how willing a client is to change. Some examples of questions and potential client responses include: Ask, “I noticed Ranger has gained a few pounds—can we talk about that?” or “Can I offer you some materials that talk about healthy food and treats?” If the client says no or strongly pushes back on the suggestion, this indicates they are in a precontemplation stage and are not yet ready to change their behavior. However, by surfacing the issue you have planted a seed and can follow up with a more detailed, action-oriented recommendation at a subsequent visit.4 If their response is they have been wondering if Ranger looks too heavy, they are in the contemplation stage. This means they recognize there is a problem, but may or may not be ready to take action. In this case, ask, “What barriers do you see to changing that?” If their response indicates they are not yet ready to make changes, stress you will be happy to talk about potential solutions when they are.4 If the client says they would like to discuss solutions now, they are in the preparation/decision-making stage and are ready to work with the veterinarian or veterinary staff to create a weight management plan.4 Tip 4) Counseling clients Even if the owner is ready to make changes, it does not alter the fact treat-giving can be an important bonding activity for them. Make sure their input figures significantly into creating a weight management plan they can adhere to. This includes discussing the owner’s specific daily routine with their pet and what they feel strongly about including in a weight management plan.1 Their answers can reveal the “non-negotiables” that can be included to help make clients more comfortable with the plan and help increase the chances of success.1 Remind clients small things, such as placing treats in a toy the dog has to work at to release, substituting healthier treats (e.g. vegetables or a piece of kibble) for a high-calorie treat or replacing some treat-giving with playtime can help their dog achieve better health. Tip 5) Helping them stick to the plan Veterinarians should always emphasize their commitment to continue working with the client to get treating behavior on track and helping them adhere to a weight management plan. Establishing a “weight management liaison” on your staff who can answer questions and address concerns can make the client feel supported. Proactively checking in with the client to see how things are going and/or scheduling follow-up weight checks are excellent tools to help ensure that treat-giving evolves from being tricky to being an engrained healthy habit. Raj Naik, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), is a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and Veterinary Communications manager for Nestlé Purina PetCare. As a liaison between Purina and the veterinary community, Dr. Naik delivers continuing education on the nutritional management of companion animal diseases, engages with students and faculty at colleges of veterinary medicine, and works on cross-functional teams as a technical expert in clinical nutrition. References Linder D, Mueller M. Pet obesity management: beyond nutrition. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2014 Jul;44(4):789-806, vii White GA, Ward L, Pink C, et al. “Who's been a good dog?" – Owner perceptions and motivations for treat giving. Prev Vet Med. 2016 Sep 15;132:14-19. Cline MG, Burns KM, Coe JB, et al. 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2021 Jul 1;57(4):153-178. “Determining a Client’s Nutritional ‘Readiness to Change’" video with Julie Churchill, DVM, PhD, DACVIM “(Nutrition). Purina Institute website: https://www.purinainstitute.com/centresquare/nutrition-conversations/determining-clients-nutritional-readiness-to-change. Accessed May 9, 2024.
