Treats and snacks: fitting them into the daily ration

The reason treats make a difference is simple: they come in small amounts but with great frequency, and the mind tends not to register them. A scrap here, a morsel there, and the carefully calculated ration of the main food ends up being only part of what the animal really eats in a day.

• Invisible frequency: treats arrive many times a day and from several people, so the total escapes the count.
• High density: many snacks are concentrated in fats and sugars, so even a small piece weighs more than it seems.
• Cumulative effect: added to the ration, treats can shift the energy balance significantly.
• Perception error: people tend to judge a treat by its size, not by its calorie content.
• More hands, more treats: in a family everyone gives their own, and without a shared agreement the total grows unchecked.

The point, then, is not to demonise treats but to move them from the category of extras to that of food. Once inside the count, they are managed like any other part of the ration, and they stop being the hidden cause of weight gain.

A criterion widely used in veterinary practice suggests that treats and extras should not exceed roughly ten per cent of daily calories, leaving the rest to complete and balanced food. It is a general reference, not a prescription: the exact share and the total requirement should be set with the vet, who accounts for age, weight, body condition and health status.

Counting treats does little if the rest is not adjusted. The principle is a constant sum: if extras go up, the main food goes down, so the day's total stays as agreed. Here is how to apply it without complicating your life.

1. 1

   Start from the requirement set with the vet

   The daily calorie total is the basis of everything and must be set with the vet, not estimated by eye.

2. 2

   Reserve a share for extras

   Decide in advance how much of the total to devote to treats, keeping the rest for complete food.

3. 3

   Prepare the treats at the start of the day

   Put the planned share of treats in a container: when it is empty, the day's treats are over.

4. 4

   Reduce the bowl accordingly

   If treats were generous on a given day, take a little from the main food to keep the total.

5. 5

   Get the whole family to agree

   One shared rule stops everyone giving their own treats and the count slipping without anyone noticing.

6. 6

   Check weight and condition over time

   A periodic check of weight and body condition tells you whether the balance works or needs correcting.

When you want to reward often, for example during training, it is better to choose options that weigh little on the balance. Some vegetables suited to the species make a good low calorie treat, but safety comes before convenience: not everything healthy for us is healthy for dogs and cats.

• Always check which foods suit the species: several foods common for humans are toxic to dogs and cats.
• Prefer tiny portions: in training the number of treats counts, not their size.
• Use play and affection as reinforcement: for many animals they are effective treats at zero calorie cost.
• Beware of table scraps: often salty, fatty or seasoned, they are a hidden source of calories and risks.
• Watch chews: some are very calorific and others pose swallowing risks, so they must be chosen sensibly.

In training, treats are not an indulgence but a tool, and using them well means working on timing and quality more than quantity. In some situations, moreover, managing treats calls for extra care.

• In work, timing counts: a small treat given at the right moment is worth more than a large one given late.
• Vary the value: keep the tastiest treats for difficult situations and use plain options for easy exercises.
• Animals on a diet: treats must be agreed with the vet and subtracted from the plan, not added on the sly.
• Animals with disease or food allergies: some treats are incompatible with the therapeutic diet and must be avoided.
• Multiple animals at home: make sure treats do not become a source of conflict or that one does not take the other's share.

If the animal is overweight, follows a special diet or has a disease, managing treats stops being a detail and becomes part of the clinical plan. In these cases every extra must be built into the nutrition programme set with the vet, who remains the reference for the total requirement and for the choice of suitable foods.