What is the generally accepted guideline regarding the percentage of total daily calories that treats should not exceed?
Answer
Treats should not exceed 10% of the total daily calories allowed
A frequent oversight in managing a dog's intake is failing to account for supplementary items consumed between scheduled meals. Treats, chews, and any table scraps must be rigorously incorporated into the dog's total daily caloric budget to prevent inadvertent overfeeding, which leads to obesity. Experts and organizations focused on preventing pet obesity widely reinforce a specific guideline for these extras: treats should constitute no more than 10% of the total daily caloric allowance set for the dog. If any calories are given via treats, that amount must be subtracted from the main meal allocation to maintain the intended energy balance.
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