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

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.