Who stole the dog treat from the cookie jar

Esteban with a mouthful of kangaroo meat treat. Photo: Siam Lim

When Luciana Callaghan finds the content of her kangaroo dog treat jar dwindling,  she knows who the culprit is. And it’s not her pet dog. It is her six-year-old son, Esteban. This is his favourite.

Luciana is not concerned that her son consumes food made for dogs. It is her product, after all, and she knows it is made from organic human grade ingredients.

She is founder and owner of Sassy Treats, an online business specialising in organic food for dogs, cats and horses, all free of additives and preservatives. All the main courses are made from fresh ingredients — chicken, beef, fish and vegetables — individually packed and snap-frozen for delivery all over Sydney and even to the rest of Australia.

Think Lite & Easy menu plans for humans and Sassy Treats is the equivalent with “dishes” ranging from Thai (a mild mix of fresh chicken, organic brown rice, corn and carrots), Italian (fresh beef with organic polenta, carrot, zucchini, organic eggs topped with low fat tasty cheese) to dog’s shepherd’s pie (kangaroo, topped with potato and peas, grain free), to name a few. 

Sweet and savoury snacks include such treats as mints, misty muffins, lolli chomps and dehydrated kangaroo, lamb liver, shark skin, beef skin, fish biscuits and nori rolls.

Anyone for these treats? Photo: Siam Lim

Fish bones and animal tails. Photo: Siam Lim

Of the total $8 billion expenditure on pets in Australia, food accounts for $3 billion of which over $1.6 billion is dog food.

Most dog owners consider their pets as family and, as with baby food, dog food is  recession-proof, with owners not willing to compromise when there is a need to cut down on household spending.

The growing importance of health and wellness considerations in human food has also flowed on to dog food; it now covers weight management, antioxidants, protein supplementation, added vitamins and minerals, omega-3 fortification and probiotics.

Premium and specialty food aside, owners are also indulging their pets with snacks from savoury to sweet delights such as petit fours, cupcakes, macaroons and dog donuts.

Give treats in moderation

However, vets warn that treats should be given in moderation after several pets were diagnosed with Fanconi syndrome, a rare kidney disease.

Mosman veterinarian Jodi Braddock says the cause is related to dog treats of various kinds that introduce toxins into the dog’s system; the first signs being that the dog is drinking or urinating more with possible accidents in the home.

She recommends a balanced diet and treats only to be used in moderation.

Or perhaps, we should all go “knick knack paddy whack, give a dog a bone” to promote health and save a visit to the vet which could cost around $240.