Everyone loves treats. Treats are a great way to strengthen your bond with your dog, to reward good behaviour, and they can even be a great tool to keep your dogs entertained during stressful periods or alone time. At Omni, we've designed some treats to help with both general training and specific issues, and created a guide to help you choose what works best for your best friend.

Are there treats that could help my dog's skin?

Absolutely, our yummy 'Shiny Coats' treats are delicious, full of omega oils (great for keeping the skin hydrated), magnesium (which helps the skin regenerate and repair), iron (important for healing minor injuries and to counteract oxidative stress) and beta carotene (may boost collagen).  We have found that dogs absolute love these delicious treats, and our recipe is formulated to target problem areas of skin and fur to help your dog always look in tip top condition.

Are there any treats to help with my dog's joints?

Omni has created a tasty treat selection to help your dog's joints - 'Supported Joints'.  These are useful for dogs who are returning to normal mobility after a trauma, and for dogs with more chronic problems, like arthritis.  Our recipe contains glucosamine (this can slow down cartilage degeneration, and may reduce pain, and can increase the joint fluid which lubricates and supports smooth movement), curcumin and turmeric (which both have reported anti-inflammatory effects), and our dogs absolutely love them.

Are there any treats for dogs with delicate stomachs? 

So many dogs have issues with diarrhoea or even vomiting when they try new foods, especially treats, which is why we have developed a flavoursome treat that will suit your dog's stomach down the to the ground.  'Sensitive Tummies' is what we recommend - full of both pre- and pro-biotics, with chicory root too, which helps their gut health by providing good bacteria and improving their poo consistency. They are naturally free from common allergens like meat protein, dairy soya, corn and wheat.

Are there any treats that could help with a very excited or nervous dog?

Yes, at Omni we know how distressing it can be for you and your doggo when they are anxious and not their happy calm selves so we have formulated 'Peaceful Dogs' treats.  These contain valerian root which has been used for thousands of years to help improve sleep, and also can help alleviate anxiety.  Lemon balm is another key ingredient in this recipe, may help reduces stress and anxiety.  Together, these have been formulated to help your dog relax, and can be a delicious treat before bedtime.

 What about treats for my puppy?

We have created a treat specifically for our younger 4-legged buddies - 'Growing Puppies', which can be used for all of that important training as they learn and grow.  They taste particularly delightful, designed to keep your puppy's attention!   They are also rich in calcium, vitamins and antioxidants to support your puppy's healthy growth and development.

Are dog treats high in calories?

Remember- all treats are additional calories on top of their daily required ration. Treats and scraps from the table are the most common causes of gradual weight gain. To stay in optimal shape, we should save treats for when they are deserved and use them in moderation. Make note of the number of calories per treat, and try to go for the lower calorie alternative. On those days they get more treats, reduce their food portion size that day so that they’re not getting overfed. If your dog enjoys eating, why not give them carrots or cucumber sticks? The extra crunch with refrigerated veggie sticks are low in calories and aid teeth cleaning for an added bonus! 

Are treats safe for my dog?

Make sure that your dog does not swallow large, solid chews in one! Although with time they will dissolve in the stomach, they can occasionally cause trauma whilst moving through their throat or guts, and at worst cause obstructions. It’s really important that treats shouldn’t be harder than their teeth (e.g. bones). This can result in their teeth chipping or fracturing, which may need surgical removal to prevent nasty tooth root abscesses. 

How to give dog treats?

When you’re going to be out for a short while, distract your dog by hiding treats to keep them entertained. A small amount of Xylitol-free (xylitol is a type of sweetener that is toxic to dogs) peanut butter, wet food, frozen treats takes time to eat and is fun for them too. Puzzle feeders and scavenger hunts are also a great way to give treats or even their normal meals. The challenge offers mental stimulation, entertainment, as well as slowing them down. Remember, for these purposes, you can just use their meal time Omni or Omni treats!

 

FAQs

But aren’t dog’s carnivores?

Dogs are in fact nutritional omnivores as demonstrated by a robust scientific study published in the reputable journal Nature (1,2) in which it was shown that they have 30 copies of the AMY2B gene responsible for digesting plant-based foods.

They have also evolved relatively long intestines (21) (almost as long as humans) and relatively flat surfaces on their molars (31, 22) which they use for digesting and chewing a whole range of foods.

The common misconception that dogs are carnivores probably arises from the fact that they are classified in the order Carnivora but so are plenty of other species like bears, skunks, racoons who are omnivores and even the giant panda who thrives on a plant-based diet (20).

Is plant protein digestible to dogs?

Absolutely yes, studies which have looked at how much protein dogs can absorb from plant-based and fungi-based foods like soya and yeast demonstrated over 75% digestibility which is on par with meat-based foods (23, 24, 34, 35 & 25).

Both these protein sources also contain all 10 essential amino acids (36, 37) that dogs need to thrive.

Isn't there too much fibre in plant-based food?

The average amount of fibre in a commercial dog food diet is between 2-4%. omni’s plant-powered recipe has a fibre content of 3% which is on par with meat- based diets.

In our survey with over 200 dog owners, 100% reported that their dog’s stool consistency was either ‘normal’ or ‘perfect’ and there were no reports of any digestive upsets (data on file).

Can I mix omni with other meat-based diets?

We are proud that our recipes are nutritionally complete and so include everything your dog needs to thrive. This means omni can be fed as a sole ration. We also fully support a 'flexitarian approach' like meat free lunches or using omni as a mixer.

Every little helps to bring some of the health and environmental benefits of plant-power to meal times. Mixing omni with meat/fish will help to add variety into your dog’s diet whilst adding in healthy ingredients with a relatively low carbon footprint.

Can plant-based food provide the essential fatty acids dogs need?

All the essential fats and oils that dogs need, including omegas 3 and 6 are found in a variety of both meat and plant-based foods (31, 28).

omni’s recipe is rich in plant-based sources of these nutrients so your dog will get all the essentials they need.

I hear a lot about feeding raw meat, isn’t that better?

Feeding raw meat to dogs has become a very popular trend in recent years, but most vets will warn against this practise. This is because the cooking process is vital to help kill off dangerous bacteria like E coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter (9) that have necessitated several food recalls from the market and caused serious illness and even death in both dogs and their owners (40, 41, & 42).

There are also several worms and parasites that are only killed off when raw meat is cooked. Dogs are dogs, not wolves and thanks to their domestication over thousands of years, thankfully don’t need to hunt to get their grub nor do they need to eat raw meat, it's just not worth the risk.

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