Dalmatians require a diet that is nutritionally balanced and low in purines. Often times treats are not included in daily intake calculations and can throw off an otherwise perfectly balanced diet! Dry kibble and treats both have a recommended daily intake and serving size. Let's say the amount of ingredient A is at 80% of the daily recommended value...
Our Dalmatian has listened to a training command and we decide to reward them with a treat - this treat has that same "ingredient A" with a daily recommended intake at 50%. This would not be a suitable treat to give as it pushes the daily recommended intake over the nutritional guidelines.
With processed/pre-made treats there are many similar ingredients in both dry kibble and treats and discrepancies in recommended daily intake can easily be overlooked.
In my opinion, the simplest and most efficient way to provide appropriate nutrition for your Dalmatian is to do so through moderation and natural treats.
Many people are nervous when we start discussing a Dalmatians needs/requirements and how they may differ from other breeds. I'm here to tell you it truly does not have to be complicated or overly expensive. Some of our favorite dog treats can be found right in your kitchen!
Over the years I have searched pretty much any treat you can buy and there has been no better treats than fruits/vegetables. Of course there are also suitable pre-made treats that work well for us. I'll attach some links for our recommendations below.
Understanding Ingredient Labels:
Ingredients on nutritional labels are written in order of the quantity of each ingredient from highest to lowest, reading left to right. This applies to all regulated items that are in compliance with federal standards.
An example ingredient label:
"Wheat Flour, Ground Whole Wheat Flour, Meat and Bone Meal, Milk, Beef Fat (Preserved with BHA/BHT and Mixed Tocopherols), Salt, Natural Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Malted Barley Flour, Sodium Metabisulfite (used as a preservative), Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Brewers Dried Yeast, BHA (used as a preservative), Mixed Tocopherols (used as a preservative), Rosemary Extract"
This is a common treat you'll find in most stores, and as you can see there is a lot going on here. I wouldn't purchase these simply because there's no real reason for a treat to have this many ingredients. From this label we know that Wheat Flour is the most quantifiable ingredient in this recipe with Rosemary Extract being the least.
Some key ingredients to look out for -
I avoid foods and especially treats that have Peas listed as a primary ingredient. Peas are on the moderate to high list in regard to purine rich foods. They're very difficult to avoid in dog foods and treats because they are a cheap bulk filler but advisable to avoid any more than necessary. Almost all kibble has peas so if consumed daily in dry kibble and treats, it can very quickly throw off a nutritionally balanced diet.
Highest Purine Ingredients - Anchovies, brains, kidney, beef, game meats, gravy, herring, liver, mackerel, meat extracts, mussles, sardines, scallops, yeast
Moderate Level Purine Ingredients - Asparagus, bacon, bread, cereals, whole grains, cauliflower, eel, fish, legumes, meats, meat soups and broths, mushrooms, oatmeal, peas, pork, poultry, shellfish, spinach, tongue, tripe, wheat germ, bran Ironically, many of these same ingredients aggravate gout in humans. Our Recommendations with Links Fresh, Freeze Dried, & Dehydrated Treats Apples - fresh, freeze-dried Blueberries - fresh, frozen, freeze-dried Bananas - fresh, freeze-dried Strawberries - fresh, freeze-dried Beetroot - cooked, chips Seedless Watermelon Cantaloupe - fresh or freeze-dried Carrot - fresh, cooked, or freeze-dried Sweet Potato - cooked, freeze-dried Pumpkin - cooked, freeze-dried Cauliflower - cooked, fresh, or freeze-dried Blackberries - fresh, or freeze-dried Egg - hardboiled, raw, scrambled, or powdered Pre-made Treats that work well for us Savory Roasters - https://amzn.to/3YMdQsz
Milo's Kitchen - https://amzn.to/3BTNkDu
Afreschi Treats - https://amzn.to/3Gea2ZK
Hill's Science Treats - https://amzn.to/3FQljhk
Grass Roots Dog Treats - https://amzn.to/3Vi4H8a
Nulo Puppy & Adult Training Treats - https://amzn.to/3BUXuE5 IMK9 Single Ingredient Treat - https://amzn.to/3hMz88K There is no hard and fast rule to avoid stone forming in Dalmatians - there are recommendations, trial and error. Some Dalmatians will do okay with most things, others will have allergies to random things, others will need a very restricted diet. Just like every other breed of dog, every Dalmatian is different! As always, be sure to check with a licensed veterinarian, breeder, or Dalmatian experienced nutritionist regarding changing/adding/supplementing your Dalmatians' diet.
Most things in moderation! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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