Does anyone feed their dog dried sprats?

stampsurprise · 2021-02-27T11:38:19+00:00

My dog has a couple of pounds to lose. I am looking for a healthy treat I can give him I know he should not really have many treats but there is a certain point in the day when I have a biscuit after dinner and he really expects and usually has a treat then. Instead of giving him manufactured treats could I give him A dried sprat do you think? He absolutely loves fish.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 27/02/2021 11:44

Dogs will love them, and they're great as a high value training treat (albeit smelly) but can be slightly on the calorific side as an oily fish.

Lots of dogs really like raw carrots, but mine is also very partial to broccoli stalks - which have the advantage of being much lower in calories! .

yearinyearout · 27/02/2021 11:45

I give mine a raw carrot, she loves them and hangs about by the fridge waiting for one every afternoon.

Original poster

stampsurprise · 27/02/2021 11:47

Oh yes I forgot he does like a carrot! Certainly healthier for a dog that has a few pounds to lose.

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 27/02/2021 11:49

We feed raw carrots, steamed broccoli and the inner hard bit of a cabbage. Also have a dog with a few pounds to lose

moosemama · 27/02/2021 11:53

Honestly, if it’s just one little sprat a day and you are considering his treats as well as his meals with regard to calorific intake, I think it will be fine. Mine love sprats, but the eyes freak me out!

It might be a good idea to try him with a few different vegetables and fruits to see if he likes any of them. My old boy had to go on a diet for his arthritis and will now eat raw broccoli and cauliflower, when he would have turned his nose up at them historically. His absolute favourites are apple slices, asparagus and carrots - although he has a bizarre habit of saving the carrots in his bed for ages before eating them.

loveyouradvice · 27/02/2021 12:38

yes mine loves - they are tiny - so is he - I make one last with him taking it in four or five bites so has more pleasure than just one gulp!

somethinginthewater · 27/02/2021 12:43

Mine love them but I presume they are pretty calorific. I usually break them into bits for training.

Happytentoes · 27/02/2021 13:37

I feed them to my labs sometimes - they eat anything so it’s hard to know where they sit on a scale of treats - below sausage certainly.
If mine start looking chunky they get fed on plain white fish with broccoli, cauli, apple , or carrot. One of them also likes red peppers.
They will mug me for broccoli as it comes out of the fridge, likewise apple.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 27/02/2021 13:37

Yes, but I wouldn't say they were especially healthy. I chop them up into bits and use them for recall training.

Original poster

stampsurprise · 27/02/2021 13:55

@Happytentoes

I feed them to my labs sometimes - they eat anything so it’s hard to know where they sit on a scale of treats - below sausage certainly. If mine start looking chunky they get fed on plain white fish with broccoli, cauli, apple , or carrot. One of them also likes red peppers. They will mug me for broccoli as it comes out of the fridge, likewise apple.

😀 labs do like their food I’ve heard!

OP posts:

Original poster

stampsurprise · 27/02/2021 13:56

@moosemama

Honestly, if it’s just one little sprat a day and you are considering his treats as well as his meals with regard to calorific intake, I think it will be fine. Mine love sprats, but the eyes freak me out!

It might be a good idea to try him with a few different vegetables and fruits to see if he likes any of them. My old boy had to go on a diet for his arthritis and will now eat raw broccoli and cauliflower, when he would have turned his nose up at them historically. His absolute favourites are apple slices, asparagus and carrots - although he has a bizarre habit of saving the carrots in his bed for ages before eating them.

I know what you mean about the eyes I have seen them in photographs on the Internet as I have not bought any yet

It is a good idea as you say to try and find vegetables he gets excited about

OP posts:

Sitdowncupoftea · 27/02/2021 13:57

Yes I buy them. I found Amazon cheaper for a couple of kilo bag.

Chasingsquirrels · 27/02/2021 13:58

Or just give him less food and then you have more scope for treats. Or keep some food back for treats.

Original poster

stampsurprise · 27/02/2021 14:00

I used one of those dog calorie counters and if I have worked it out correctly I think my dog can have 36 cal in the form of treats a day out of his calorie allowance

I wonder how many calories are in a dried sprat?

OP posts:

moosemama · 27/02/2021 14:12

According to Allaboutdogfood. There are 405 calories in 100g of Skippers dried sprats. here

Wincarnis · 27/02/2021 16:07

I buy dried smelt which are similar, I break them in half. Doggo also enjoys cooked green beans, cooked broccoli and cooked carrot.

blowinahoolie · 27/02/2021 17:07

Yes we use them with our puppy for heel work training.

thecapitalsunited · 27/02/2021 17:13

My boy likes dried sprats but for real low calorie we go for frozen green beans which he adores or even ice cubes.

Girlintheframe · 28/02/2021 07:19

Our dog loves sprats. I know what you mean about the eyes and I was a bit squeamish when we first started giving them but you soon get used to it.
We give carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, banana, berries and apple too but the fruit is very limited.
What I did find though when giving him veg every day is that his stools became quite loose so now he only get 2-3 times a week