Assessment of the Nutritional Impact of the 10% Snack Recommendation in Pet Diets

TL;DR

This study evaluates how replacing 10% of a pet's daily energy with treats affects the nutritional quality of dog and cat diets.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence on how treat inclusion impacts the nutritional adequacy of commercial pet diets, particularly for inactive cats.

Findings

All diets for active and inactive dogs met protein and fat requirements even with treat inclusion.

Inactive cats showed deficiencies in protein and fat when treats replaced 10% of their energy intake.

Reducing food intake to accommodate treats may not be ideal for neutered or indoor cats.

Abstract

It is essential for pet owners to understand how the food they provide impacts their pets’ health. This study examined whether replacing 10% of the daily energy needs with treats affects the nutritional quality of diets. The research analyzed the nutritional information labels of various commercial dry foods and commercial snacks for both healthy adult dogs and cats. We analyzed 226 dog food labels and 124 cat food labels in the Brazilian market, as well as 170 dog treats and 114 cat treats. Our results showed that all diets for active and inactive dogs met protein and fat requirements, even with the inclusion of treats. For active cats, all diets met the minimum protein requirement, but for inactive cats, some diets with dry, wet, or liquid treats did not meet the protein and fat requirements. Reducing food intake to fit treats may not be ideal for some cats, especially neutered or indoor cats, as it could lead to nutrient deficiencies.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommend that treats make up no more than 10% of daily energy intake for dogs and cats. This study assessed whether replacing 10% of maintenance energy requirements with commercial treats affects the nutritional adequacy of diets. Labels from 226 dry extruded diets for adult dogs and 124 for adult cats in the Brazilian market were analyzed, along with 170 dog treats and 114 cat treats (dry, wet, or liquid). Maintenance energy requirement calculations followed FEDIAF (2024) guidelines. All diets for active and inactive dogs met protein and fat requirements after a 10% intake reduction and the inclusion of any type of snacks. Regarding protein intake, all diets met the minimum requirement for active cats. However, for inactive cats, some diets failed to provide enough crude protein after restriction (36.29% of diets with dry snacks, 16.12% with wet snacks, and 2.41% with liquid snacks). Concerning fat content, only 1.61% of diets failed to meet the minimum when liquid snacks were included. On the other hand, when considering the equation and the needs of inactive cats, 29.03% of diets with dry snacks, 28.22% with wet snacks, and 44.77% with liquid snacks did not meet the minimum. Reducing food intake to accommodate treats may not be ideal, depending on diet composition and treat selection, particularly for neutered and indoor cats.

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