The Canine Ledger

The 10% Rule: What Happens When Treats Replace Food

Vet groups say treats should be no more than 10% of a dog's daily calories. What a 2025 study of food and treat labels found, and what it didn't test.

Written by thecanineledger

According to a 2025 study, two large veterinary bodies “recommend that treats make up no more than 10% of daily energy intake for dogs and cats.” (Príncipe et al., Veterinary Sciences 2025). The two are the World Small Animal Veterinary Association and the American Animal Hospital Association.

While the rule is widely repeated, we found little research testing it. The 2025 study is one of the few. This page sets out what it found for dogs, and what it didn’t look at.

Our note: The WSAVA’s 2011 guidelines list “Snacks, treats, table food > 10% of total calories” as a risk factor that calls for a closer look at the diet (Freeman et al., Journal of Small Animal Practice 2011). The AAHA’s 2021 guidelines say: “Advise owners to maintain all additional item intake to ≤10% total daily caloric intake to avoid disrupting nutrient balance of the primary diet.” (Cline et al., Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 2021). The AAHA guidelines describe themselves as “consensus statements developed by experts”. Three pet food companies funded them through educational grants.

1. What the study did

Labels, not dogs. Researchers in Brazil read the labels of “226 dry extruded diets for adult dogs” and “170 dog treats”. They worked out what would happen if treats replaced 10% of a dog’s daily calories.

Protein and fat only. “The protein and fat contents were analyzed based on the information declared on the labels.”

Funding. “This research received no external funding.” The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The acknowledgements thank Brazilian research funding agencies and a pet food company.

2. What it found for dogs

No shortfall in protein or fat. “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.”

Cats were different. Some diets fell short for inactive cats. That’s outside this page, but it’s why the authors urge care with cats.

The authors’ own caution. They describe their approach as “investigative, with the aim of highlighting the relevance of this issue rather than providing definitive conclusions.”

3. What it didn’t test

  • Vitamins and minerals. Only protein and fat were checked.
  • Real dogs. No dog was fed or measured.
  • Treats on top of meals. The study assumed treats replaced food. Treats given as well as a full meal add calories.
  • Table scraps and chews. Only commercial treats were included.

Our note: That vitamins and minerals could fall short when treats replace food is our reasoning. We have no source for it.

4. What to think about

  • Count treats as part of the day’s food, not extra.
  • Ask your vet how many calories your dog needs, and what 10% looks like for them.
  • Training treats add up. Small pieces help.

Our note: These points are ours.

→ Is My Dog Overweight? Body Condition Scoring Without Guesswork · → Safe Weight Loss for Dogs

5. What we could not verify

Commonly saidWhat we found
“Treats should be under 10% of calories”Yes, in vet guidelines. WSAVA flags more than 10% as a risk factor, and AAHA advises 10% or less. Both are expert advice, not trial results.
“Treats unbalance a balanced diet”Not for protein or fat, in one label study of dog foods. Vitamins and minerals weren’t checked.
“The 10% rule was tested in dogs”Not that we found. The one study we read used labels, not dogs.

Sources

Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.