Food & Treats

A complete food, such as James Wellbeloved Adult Dry Dog Food or Sheba Fresh & Fine wet pouches for cats, is formulated to cover everything an animal needs on its own, day to day. A treat, whether that is Pet Munchies training treats or Pointer Milky Bones, is not designed to be a meal, however good it smells.

Keeping that distinction in mind matters for weight as much as anything else. Treats are easy to lose track of, and a generous handful most days adds up in a way a single evening meal does not.

Dry food keeps well, is straightforward to portion, and tends to be the cheaper option per meal. Wet food, in pouches, cans or trays, is more palatable for a fussy eater and adds moisture to the diet, which matters more for some cats than most owners realise.

This aisle also covers small pet food such as hay and pellets, and bird seed and suet for garden feeding, alongside the dog and cat ranges, since the same basic split between complete food and an extra applies across species.

Training treats such as Pet Munchies liver and chicken pieces work well precisely because they are small, so a dog can have plenty during a session without eating a full meal's worth of extra calories. Natural chews, like Natures Menu freeze dried bites, tend to be a slower, longer-lasting option for downtime rather than training.

Whatever the treat, it is worth thinking of it as a portion of the day's food rather than something separate, particularly for a dog or cat who is already at a healthy weight and does not need the extra.

Change a main diet gradually over a week or so, mixing in increasing amounts of the new food, rather than swapping in one go. This matters far more for a complete food than for an occasional treat, since a sudden switch is more likely to unsettle digestion.

New treats are generally lower risk, but it is still worth introducing one at a time in small amounts so you can tell what, if anything, does not agree with your pet.