What are Sprats for Dogs?
Sprats are small fish (6 to 8cm long) which have been prepared for your dog to eat. They can be fished in many different places in the world, however the Baltic Sea is a common source for European produced sprats.
Air-Dried Sprats
Possibly the most popular form of sprats for dogs. They are gently dried without heat to create a crunchy, crumbly treat for your dog. They are easy to break through and one sprat can be easily broken into four little sections to use as a training treat. You can also sprinkle some broken up sprats across your garden as a fun, mind challenging game.
Benefits of Sprats for Dogs
Sprats have a wealth of health benefits for your dog which include:
- Boosting and maintaining heart function.
- Improving the glossiness of the coat.
- Decreasing itchiness and dryness of the skin.
- Decrease inflammatory processes such as allergies.
- Improve joint health and provide arthritic pain relief.
All of these benefits can be attributed to their high omega-3 content. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid, which dogs cannot make and must obtain from their food. It is vital for many bodily functions, and a key nutrient for your dog’s diet.
Sprats are nutritionally made up of more than Omega-3 though. Their nutritional constitution varies depending on the type of sprats.
A Very Safe Treat
It’s important sprats are processed in a hygienic way but sprats themselves pose no inherent risk to dogs. Due to the high fat content, they aren’t really suitable for overweight dogs or dogs with a bowel condition.
Are Sprats Good for Puppies?
Puppies can have sprats from 12 weeks old. They are an excellent, high-reward training treat when the dried sprats are broken into small pieces.
As with all treats, they should be given in moderation, and the bulk of your puppy’s diet should consist of a balanced and nutritionally complete commercial puppy food.
