Ask Dr Fiona

Can I give my 8 week old puppy treats?

When it comes to treats for puppies, it is important to choose a treat that is safe and gentle on the tummy. Some treats can be ‘too rich’ for little puppies and can contain ingredients that can potentially cause gastric upsets.

We recommend you use a treat approved by a veterinarian. There are some excellent products available and these include dried liver, fish, chicken and duck. Always stick to a product that meets Australian standards and avoid products that contain preservatives or ingredients you don’t recognise.

Plenty of people like to give their puppy a raw hide type bone to chew on but be aware that these have caused intestinal obstructions.

Other suitable treats include:

A few pieces of commercial dog food (such as a few pieces of dry kibble)

A small portion of human food such as few small pieces of steamed chicken

Remember that the stomach of a puppy is very small and it is very easy to overfeed treats. As a guide, use a piece less than the size of your little fingernail.

There are also some excellent toys such as a Kong that you can stuff kibble in to or freeze a portion of food to help keep your puppy entertained for hours.

If you’d like to chat in person, you can get a live video call or start a text chat to discuss in more detail, as soon as possible.

We’re here to help!

Chat soon,
Dr Fi