Treats for a pregnant dog
A pregnant dog doesn't need a specially marketed treat, just a sensible one: something easy to digest, not too rich, and kept to a genuinely small part of what she eats overall while her main complete diet does the real nutritional work through her pregnancy.
Why treats matter less than the main diet during pregnancy
A pregnant dog's nutritional needs are met by her main food, ideally a complete diet suited to her life stage as advised by your vet, who will guide any changes needed as the pregnancy progresses. Treats sit alongside that as a small extra, not as a way to meet any particular nutritional need.
Rich, fatty or unfamiliar treats are best avoided during pregnancy, the same as they would be at any other time, simply because they're more likely to upset her stomach — something worth avoiding when her digestive system is already under a bit more pressure than usual.
What to look for in a treat
Simple, single-ingredient treats — a plain training treat or a natural chew with a short ingredients list — are a safer bet than anything heavily processed or rich. Soft treats can also be easier to manage than hard, crunchy ones if she's finding some foods less comfortable to eat later in pregnancy.
Keep portions small and treats occasional rather than frequent, the same guidance that applies outside of pregnancy — treats generally shouldn't make up a large share of any dog's daily food.
When to speak to your vet
Any specific dietary changes during pregnancy — including whether to adjust her main food as she progresses — should go through your vet rather than being worked out from general guidance alone, since every pregnancy and every dog is different.
Your vet is also the right person to ask about supplements some owners consider during pregnancy. None of these should be added without guidance, since getting the balance wrong can do more harm than doing nothing at all.
Using treats for training around a busy time
Pregnancy and, later, a litter of puppies underfoot can make training moments harder to fit in, so treats that work well for quick, low-effort training — a handful tossed for a simple sit, or used to build calm settling behaviour — are worth having ready.
Soft, easily broken treats let you use smaller pieces for more repetitions without overfeeding, which matters if you're training more frequently in short bursts around a heavily pregnant or newly whelped dog.
Keeping a small stash somewhere easy to reach, rather than having to fetch treats from another room each time, makes it more likely you'll actually use short training moments consistently through a busy, tiring stretch of pregnancy.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Calm the Eff Down Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured calming tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack and given as a treat for dogs who find fireworks, travel or being alone difficult.
£22.99
Stop Bloody Scratching Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack, given daily as a treat to support skin and coat condition in itchy dogs.
£22.99
Forthglade Grain Free Soft Bites Fresh Breath Treats 8pk
Chicken soft dog treats with parsley and peppermint oil for fresh breath
£2.45
James Wellbeloved Adult Dry Cat Food Turkey
A single-source turkey dry food for adult cats, without the grain-free or joint-support extras
From£21.79
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Pedigree Dentastix Light Dog
Pedigree DentaStix Light dental chews across small, medium and large sizes
From£2.35
Common questions
- Can I give my pregnant dog normal treats?
- Yes, in most cases ordinary treats given in moderation are fine, though simple, easily digestible options are a sensible default. If your dog has any specific health concerns, check with your vet first.
- Should I change my dog's diet during pregnancy?
- This is worth discussing with your vet, who can advise on timing and any changes suited to your individual dog as her pregnancy progresses. It isn't something to work out from general guidance alone.
- Are there any treats to avoid during pregnancy?
- Rich, fatty or unfamiliar treats are best avoided, mainly because they're more likely to cause an upset stomach at a time when that's best avoided. Stick to simple, familiar options in small amounts.
- How many treats can a pregnant dog have?
- The same general rule applies as for any dog — treats should make up a small part of her overall food intake, with her main complete diet doing the nutritional work.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.