When owners give their dog a dog treat, many don't consider what went into making it. The same goes for cat treats. The fact is that cat and dog dietary needs are very different. A dog's diet is similar to our own in that they are omnivorous, meaning they need both meat and other ingredients like grains and vegetables to have optimum health. When buying dog food or dog treats, make sure it has a proper balance of protein and both soluble and insoluble fiber. If you really want to pamper your pooch, you can even make a gourmet dog treat yourself with a dog treat recipe, or make your dog a dinner of chicken or fish and rice. One very important topic to address is the use of animal bones like beef and chicken bones. While dogs may love getting them, they can shard teeth and cause damage to a dog's stomach and intestine. If you insist on giving them animal bones, it's best to get your dog used to chewing on them as a puppy, however it's safest just to give them regular dog treats like a rawhide bone or a Nylabone. Also, it's important to remember that colored treats are made to attract you, not for your dog's health. The dye in the treats can be harmful, so it's actually best to get natural treats.

Cats are 95% carnivorous, so they must have a diet high in protein. The ideal example of a cat diet is in fact the mouse. Steve Duno, author of the KISS Guide to Cat Care, says The mouse is the perfect cat food. All other cat food, whether dry or canned commercial or homemade, try to replicate the perfect nutrition present in the mouse. As gross as this may sound, the principle is true. So, the important thing to remember when getting or making a treat for your cat is that it must be high in protein and have the proper amount of calories depending on the cats lifestyle and needs.

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