homemade diet dog treats

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 21, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Low Fat Dog Treats

These homemade low fat dog treats are made with oat flour, oats, pumpkin, and applesauce. They are a tasty snack for your furry friend!

So if you are looking for a great recipe for healthy low fat treats for dogs, youve found it! Now you can make your own with simple ingredients.

FYI This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Easy Low Fat Dog Treats Recipe

It doesnt take a lot of time to make these tasty treats. You dont have to roll out the dough and cut it with cookie cutters. Just shape it into balls and bake. The total time to make the treats is about 30 minutes.

Great for obese dogs in a weight loss plan. Not only are these low fat, they are also low calorie dog treats.

Theyre also great treats for dogs with pancreatitis or other health issues that require a low fat diet.

Best Treats For Obese or Overweight Dogs

This homemade dog treat recipe is a great way to give your dog something tasty without worrying about it affecting their calorie intake.

Since youll form them into bite-sized pieces, you dont have to worry about your pup overeating them. Plus, making your own dog treats lets you control all the ingredients. So if you think your dog needs to eat more fiber or protein, you can adjust the recipe.

This is a great option if your dog still asks for treats but you want to restrict their calorie intake and help them shed pounds.

The Best Things About Low Fat Homemade Dog Treats

Your furry friend will gobble up homemade treats and making them is a fantastic way to save money too! These natural dog treats cost less than store-bought and have dog-safe ingredients with no preservatives.

One treat has only 2 grams of fat.

These baked dog treats have a soft texture so they are great for senior dogs or dogs without teeth. They are full of wholesome ingredients that will help your dog maintain a healthy weight too.

Recipe Ingredients

The entire list of ingredients, quantities of each, and the step-by-step directions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post including nutritional information. First, I want to share a bit more information about the delicious ingredients.

Heres a list of what you need for this low fat dog biscuit recipe. If you want to make organic dog treats, make sure you use organic ingredients.

Oat Flour The base for the baked treats. Has healthy fats which lower the risk of heart disease.
Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats For texture and added nutrients such as folic acid.
Banana A healthy fruit that helps bind the dough. A great source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and essential fatty acids.
Pumpkin Puree A healthy vegetable dogs love.
Unsweetened Applesauce Adds moisture and a little sweetness.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

When you make this easy recipe for low fat dog treats, here are a few notes to keep in mind:

You can substitute pumpkin with plain mashed sweet potatoes or shredded carrots.

Do not use pumpkin pie filling because it may contain spices toxic to dogs.

You can make your own oat flour by placing uncooked old-fashioned rolled oats in a blender and blending until it has the consistency of flour.

For very low fat treats, substitute oat flour with brown rice flour. There are only 2.2 grams of fat in 1 cup of rice flour. They will also be low fat grain free dog treats.

If you use any other type of flour, such as all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour, the end results may vary due to the difference in the flour. They will not be gluten-free if using flour made from wheat.

Equipment Needed

You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make these treats. Here are a few of them just in case:

How to Make Low Fat Dog Treats

These are the recipe steps and photos of the process for making low fat dog treats. I hope they help you make this healthy dog treats recipe!

You can scroll down to the bottom of this article for a printable recipe card.

Slice the banana and place the banana slices, pumpkin puree, and applesauce in a medium bowl.

Stir them until combined and smooth.

Add the flour and oats to the mixing bowl.

Stir until everything is mixed together.

Scoop out the dough and shape it into balls. Coat the balls with oats. Place them on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper (or use a non-stick baking sheet).

Bake in a conventional oven at 350F for about 20 minutes.

Transfer the baked treats to a wire rack to cool.

Serving Size and Information

How many homemade dog treats should you give to your canine companion? That depends on what else they ate that day because you need to consider your pets total daily intake. Being mindful of a dogs food consumption is just as important as it is with a human family member.

It also depends on the size of your dog. Small dogs need fewer calories than larger dogs. Maintaining a dogs healthy weight is important, so keep that in mind when feeding your dog treats in addition to their regular food.

Dogs also shouldnt overeat too many carbs, including healthy homemade dog treats. For this reason, I suggest only giving your pup one treat per day. Or perhaps two on special days.

How to Store Homemade Low Fat Dog Treats

Place the cooled treats in an airtight container or plastic zip-top bag. Store them in the refrigerator.

How long do homemade low fat dog treats last?

These homemade low fat dog treats will last up to 5 days when stored in the fridge in a sealed container.

For longer storage, place them in a freezer-safe container or plastic freezer bag and freeze them. They will last up to 3 months when frozen. You can also use a vacuum sealer if you have one.

Can humans eat these low fat treats for dogs?

They sure can! Everything in these dog treats is safe for human consumption.

More Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Want to make more tasty treats for your dog? Check these out:

Not in the mood for making homemade dog treats? Check out my favorite dog treats on my Amazon dog treats list.

Low Fat Dog Treats

Tasty low fat dog treats are a healthy snack for your furry friend.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes Cook Time 20 minutes minutes Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

1 Ripe Banana
cup Unsweetened Applesauce
1 cup Pumpkin Puree or Shredded Carrots
2 cups Oat Flour
cup Old Fashioned Oats divided use

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F.
Slice the banana into a medium bowl.
Add applesauce and pumpkin puree. Stir to combine until the mixture is smooth.
Add flour and cup of oats and mix well.
Scoop out a tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball. You may need a little flour to coat your hands.
Roll the ball in the remaining oats.
Repeat making the balls with the dough and oats.
Place the balls on a non-stick baking sheet or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone mat.
Bake for 18 to 22 minutes.
Transfer the baked treats to a wire rack to cool to room temperature.

Nutrition

Healthy Dog Treats You Can Make at Home

Homemade Treat Recipe

Yield: approx. two dozen treats

Using canned food:

Open the can and shake the loaf of food out of the can.
Cut the loaf into 1/4" thick slices, and then cut the slices into bite-sized pieces.
Bake the treats in a microwave oven on high for approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
Store baked treats in the refrigerator and discard leftovers after 5-7 days.
Homemade treats should not exceed 10% of your pet's total daily intake because heat alters the nutritional characteristics of the food.
Do not freeze homemade treats.

For a conventional oven, follow the instructions above and place the bite-sized pieces on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes or until crispy.

Using Dry Food:

In a blender, add 2 cups of dry food and grind into a powder.
Pour powder into a mixing bowl and gradually add about 1 to 1 cups of water, stirring until it forms a dough consistency.
Shape into individual "treats" or "cookies" and flatten the dough using the back of a spoon (the cookies will not flatten like standard "people cookies" do.)
Place treats on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes or until crispy.
Store baked treats in the refrigerator and discard leftovers after 5-7 days.
Homemade treats should not exceed 10% of your pet's total daily intake because heat alters the nutritional characteristics of the food.
Do not freeze homemade treats.

Cookie cutters make treats fun to make and serve. Only Prescription Diet a/d Canine/Feline food, Prescription Diet n/d Canine and Prescription Diet s/d Canine foods cannot be made into homemade treats using the above recipe. However, you can use the following recipe for homemade treats for these foods:

Roll the canned food into little balls and place in the freezer to serve later as a frozen treat. Since it is not possible to bake n/d Canine into treats, this is a great alternative. Also, this is refreshing to pets during the hot summer.

105 Homemade Dog Treat Recipes: Healthy & Super-Woof Easy

Updated on October 22, 2022

Fluent Woof is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.

Patty Oelze is a freelance writer who is also in the process of getting her PhD in Psychology. She has been writing about dogs and other critters for about 10 years and has a plethora of animals at her home including several cats, some chipmunks, a dozen raccoons, two foxes, one coyote, and herds of deer. She and her husband have been living in the Missouri Ozarks for years where she enjoys taking care of wildlife, fishing, photography, boating, and of course, writing.

How to Make Homemade Dog Treats

When your dog is a picky eater or has a restrictive diet,it can be tough finding yummy treats that are inexpensive. Thankfully, almost anyone can make homemade dog treats from the comforts of their kitchens, including the popular pyramid dog treats that make lots of tiny treats in one batch.

Homemade dog treats have benefits beyond being budget-friendly. With DIY treats, you know exactly what foods your dog is eating. Along with being free from harmful ingredients, homemade dog snacks can make great training treats, especially when made in smaller sizes.But before whipping out your cookie sheet and mixer, be sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure your dog has no allergies to any ingredients.

For owners interested in making homemade dog treats, weve put together some of our favorite baking accessories, tips, and must-try recipes.

Homemade Pyramid Dog Treats

Pyramid dog treats are homemade dog treats that are made with asilicone pyramid baking sheet. While these easy-to-clean silicone baking sheets werent originally made for dog treats, theyve become popular among dog lovers because they can make big batches of small treats appropriate for training sessions. The recipes for these kinds of treats usually call for tapioca flour, which helps the treats stay together without crumbling. Tapioca flour is an ingredient that agrees with most dogs.

When you flip over the baking sheet, you can fill it with a range of recipes that will easily pop out from the silicone sheet once youre finished. Some molds can make up to 500 treats in one batch! Along with the basic pyramid mold, there are also a lot of fun different shapes of silicone sheet molds to try. Here are some baking sheets to try out.

This simple, pyramid-shaped mat will make treats that pop out easily and clean up quickly.

If youre looking for something a little more traditional, these mini dog bones are perfect for DIY dog treats.

These paw molds are safe to use in the oven, refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher. Plus, the silicone material means wet ingredients wont stick to the mold.

Want to have a lot of fun shapes and sizes? This pack comes with a range of molds, including hearts, bears, stars, and shells.

Key Ingredients for Homemade Dog Treats

Another great thing about making homemade dog treats is that you probably already have most of the key ingredients in your house. Many recipes require things such as oatmeal, eggs, flour, water, or broth. Add some flavor as well as vitamins, protein, and fiber with peanut butter (free of artificial sweeteners likexylitol), pureed pumpkin, apples, carrots, sweet potato, and cheese to create delicious cookies any dog would love.

Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Once you order a pan, try out some of these popular recipes. From bacon treats to peanut butter, here are some popular pyramid dog treat recipes for beginners to try.

Bacon Pyramid Pan Treats

Does your dog love bacon? Try this simple bacon dog treats recipe by Michelle Taylor. With just four ingredients, this is a great homemade treat for beginners, one that your dog is sure to love.

Ingredients:

package of bacon
2 eggs
150 grams ofgluten-free flour
Water (to thin)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.
Blend the bacon and eggs.
Add flour. Stir in water if the batter needs to thin.
Smooth the batter over the baking mat and bake for 8 minutes.
Once cooled, cut the treats into bite-sized pieces or dump out.

Baked Chicken Treats

For an easy, no-fuss recipe, try these baked chicken homemade dog treats from Eileen Anderson. Once baked, you can refrigerate or freeze the treats.

Ingredients:

110-ounce can of chicken, including liquid
2 eggs
1 cuptapioca flour
cup of white flour
1 tablespoon of coconut oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.
Blend chicken and eggs in a food processor.
Pour the mixture into a bowl, and stir in flour and oil. This batter should be a little thicker than pancake batter but still pourable.
Spread the batter onto the silicone mold on a cookie sheet, making sure its in the holes, and then scrape it off the dividers.
Bake for 12 minutes.
Once cooled, turn over the mold and dump the treats out.
You can bag up the treats and refrigerate or freeze.

Peanut Butter Treats

Peanut butter is a favorite for many dogs, and a common, tasty ingredient in homemade dog treats. If your dog loves that nutty flavor, give these peanut butter treats from Eileen Anderson a try.

Ingredients:

2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons canola oil
cup peanut butter powder
cup white flour
cup tapioca flour
cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.
Mix the ingredients until smooth.
Pour the mixture into the pan.
Bake for 12 minutes or until the treats are soft but still drawing away from the side of the pan.
Once cooled, stretch the pan and dump the treats out.

Apple-Cheddar Dog Biscuits

To make something a little different and mix in some unique ingredients, take a look at this recipe for apple-cheddar dog biscuits from Martha Stewart.

Ingredients:

2 cups barley flour
cup old-fashioned oatmeal
cup shredded cheddar cheese
cup grated Parmesan cheese
cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients and about 3 tablespoons water to form a dough. Roll out mixture between two sheets of plastic wrap to -inch thick. Remove plastic wrap and cut out biscuits with a 3-inch bone-shaped cookie cutter. Re-roll scraps and continue cutting out biscuits.
Space biscuits 1 inch apart on a prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes until nicely browned and firm.
Transfer biscuits to a wire rack. Turn off the oven and place biscuits on a wire rack in the oven overnight. Remove from oven and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Cheese and Sardine Pyramid Pan Dog Treats

These tasty dog treats by Michelle Taylor only have a handful of ingredients and are easy to make. Sardines are a great single-ingredient source of protein, and many dogs cant resist cheese. Its a win-win.

Ingredients:

1 can of sardines 2 eggs 150 grams of grated Parmesan cheese Handful of roasted vegetables 75 grams of tapioca flour (or plain flour) Water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 320F.2. Blend all the ingredients in a blender to make a thick batter. Add water as needed to make thicker.3. Smooth the mixture over the baking mat and bake for about 15 minutes or until crispy.4. Once cooled, cut into small pieces.

Remember, you should always check with your vet before giving your dog anything other than dog food, commercial dog treats, and prescribed medication. Once youre in the clear, purchase a fun baking sheet, try a recipe, and rest easy knowing exactly what youre feeding your dog.