cheap natural dog treats
The seven best healthy dog treats, according to a vet
Does your dog need treats?
Fortunately, many dog treats are nutritious, so dog treats can be part of a balanced diet for your pup. Dog treats are especially helpful when you are training your dog or rewarding them for good behavior. If your dog has food allergies, youll need to pay close attention to treat ingredients, and dogs that are overweight or with certain medical conditions should only follow a veterinarian-recommended diet and may not be allowed to have treats.
Choosing healthy treats for your doggie
When your best friend learns a new trick or behaves really well at the dog park, its tempting to reach for the first treats you can find to praise them. But not all treats are a good reward for good behavior. Unfortunately, some treats may have questionable ingredients or high-calorie counts that can be detrimental to your pups health. To keep your pup healthy and following good nutrition, opt for healthy treats instead.
What to look for in healthy dog treats
If youre ready to start shopping for healthy dog treats for your best friend, there are several things to keep in mind. Take a close look at labels to evaluate the ingredients and calories, but also keep things like size and texture in mind.
Ingredients. One of the most important things to look for in healthy treats is the ingredients list. Stick to treats with an ingredients list of whole, natural foods. Many treats include healthy ingredients like meat, peanut butter, fruits, and vegetables. Our vets also recommend treats with fish or salmon, because omega-3 fatty acids can help with brain and eye development in puppies or boost cognitive function in older dogs.
Brand. Some brands offer higher quality dog treats than others. Our veterinary team trusts brands like Purina Pro Plan, Science Diet/Hills, and Royal Canin. They all avoid cross-contamination between foods and treats during manufacturing.
Calories. Generally, treats should be just that treats! Treats should make up less than 10% of your dogs daily calories, so read the label for the calorie amount per treat and stick to the correct portion sizes.
Texture. You want to choose treats that arent too hard, otherwise, they can pose a choking hazard. Hard treats are difficult for a dog to bite into, so they might only be able to bite them into large pieces, which are hard to swallow. Too-hard treats can also fracture your dogs teeth.
Size. Treats can be a choking hazard if they are too large or too small for your dog. Opt for small treats for puppies or small dogs. Large dogs may enjoy large treats, but also make sure to keep an eye out. Even large dogs can choke on treats that are too big.
Labels. Treats labeled as all-natural can be misleading, as the treats may still be highly processed.
If your dog is overweight or has dietary restrictions, youll need to scrutinize the treat labels very carefully.
Types of dog treats to avoid
There are many popular treats out there that arent good for any dogs. Here are some common treats to stay away from.
Rawhides. Rawhides are inexpensive treats with little nutritional value. Some rawhides are treated with toxins like formaldehyde and bleach. They also pose a huge choking risk as they break down into pieces over time. However, some rawhide-like products, such as Purina Pro Plan Dental Chewz, are VOHC-approved and safe for consumption.
Animal bones. Sure, bones are all-natural but they can be covered in pathogens, such as E. Coli and salmonella. Some people may suggest boiling the bones to sanitize them, but this process actually makes the bones brittle and more likely to splinter. This is a choking hazard for dogs, and splinters and sharp pieces can puncture the intestines.
Jerky-type treats. Since 2007, the FDA has received reports of sick pets after consuming jerky pet treats. Learn more about their ongoing investigationTrusted SourceU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Government agency.Go to source and how theyre testing treats to determine why some jerky treats are making pets sick. While these cases are rare, we recommend avoiding jerky-type treats especially with so many other great options on the market.
Treats with additives. We like treats that dont contain lots of additives or artificial colors. Some additives, such as Red#3, used for coloring or preservatives have been linked to cancer in animalsTrusted SourcePubMed CentralArchive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature.Go to source.
Toxic human food. While dogs may love chicken and sweet potatoes as we do, there are many foods that humans eat that are not suitable for dogs. While you treat yourself with chocolate, you cant do the same for your pup, because the chemicals in chocolate can cause seizures and increased heart rates in dogs. Instead, you can give your dog human food treats like some fresh fruits and vegetables (avoid grapes and items with seeds or pits), like watermelon, broccoli, green beans, bananas, or carrots.
Can you make DIY treats at home?
Its easy to make DIY dog treats at home, and you might be surprised to find your mouth watering as the smell of our favorite peanut butter and oatmeal cookies (yes, these really are for your pup!) fills your kitchen. Making treats at home means you can customize the ingredients based on your dogs dietary needs and flavor preferences. Try one of our tried-and-true all-natural pet treat recipes for your best friend.
15 Inexpensive DIY Homemade Dog Treats Your Pet Will Love
*This post may contain affiliate links. We will earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you use any of our links. Please read our disclosure for more details.
Give your adorable puppy as much love as they deserved while treating them to a special homemade meal or tasty snack with this fantastic list of dog treats that are cheap, easy to make, and a much better alternative to store-bought pet food.
These recipes are also packed with nutritional benefits that will make sure your lovable puppy stays healthy and happy. Which is why we love to opt for a good homemade meal for those cuties.
From seeds rice, and lentils, to even peanut butter, weve got the best and easiest DIY dog treats to get you started!
15 Special DIY Homemade Dog Treats
1.Spinach, Carrot And Zucchini Dog Treats
Recipe viadamndelicious
Looking for a healthy and cheap treat that will satisfy your dog? Then you have to try this amazing treat that combines three things you might already have in your kitchen; spinach, carrot, and zucchini.
This treat is indeed a little time-consuming but itll be worth it when you see your dog devour it in seconds.
If youre too busy to make this dog treat on demand, you could even make them in batches since theyll keep in the freezer for any time you want to bust them out.
2. Two-Ingredient DIY Dog Treats
Recipe viadog-milk
This dog treat is amazing if youre short of time and ingredients. Youll be able to whip up these biscuits quickly and almost anyone can make them. Curious to know what that is? Its whole wheat flour and pureed baby food.
The great thing about this treat; you can go along with any flavor your dog loves, be it chicken, beef, sweet potato, or other flavors. The only thing you should watch out for is to make sure none of the baby food contains any possible toxic food!
On the bright side, its good to note youll end up with a lot of biscuits and this treat will store for quite a few weeks.
3.Grain-Free Dog Biscuits
Recipe viaskinnym
Dont you just love it when you can control what goes into your dogs food, knowing its packed with nutrients?
With this dog treat, you wont ever have to worry about allergies since its made from black beans instead of the usual flour or oats.
These biscuits are kind of soft but theyre ideal for freezing. Also, the great thing is you only need to give yourdog one treat a day, so theyll last for a long time.
4.Grain Free Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Recipe viathehealthymaven
Heres another healthy alternative to wheat flour thats perfect for dogs prone to allergies.
With this sweet potato biscuit that combines 5 healthy ingredients (almond meal, coconut flour, and poultry seasoning) your dog will feel happy and energized.
If you keep this treat in a mason jar (with or without a lid), its bound to last for up to 2 weeks!
5.Apple Carrot Dog Treats
Recipe viamybakingaddiction
It had never occurred to me to use this apple and carrot combo before but after stumbling across this recipe, its safe to say its worth making this treat.
6.Homemade Dog Biscuits
Recipe viakitchenconfidante
This recipe takes homemade dog treats to a whole new level with a thrilling combination of peanut butter, oats, flaxseeds, and beef broth that truly deserves the title treat.
Youll need a total time of 19 minutes for this dog treat. But your prep will only require 5 minutes since the other minutes will be spent baking in the oven.
7.Peanut Butter And Almond Cookies
Recipe via CleanandDeliciousDani
Youre bound to have these ingredients already in your home but if you dont, grab almond flour and peanut butter for this simple and easy-to-make treat for your dog.
In no time, your dog will make this their favorite go-to treat that is both wholesome and healthy!
8.Fresh Breath DIY Dog Treats
Recipe viaskinnyms
Does your dogs breath stink bad when he runs up to you and attempts to lick your face? Heres a simple and effective solution you can try that might just work for you.
This treat is made from oats, fresh parsley, carrot, and a few other ingredients.
One things for sure: it will be a big hit with your dog
9.Sweet Potato Fries for Dogs
Recipe viabeaglesandbargains
Ever since being on a gluten-free lifestyle change, sweet potato fries are definitely on my menu at least two times a week.
Its really easy to make so if youre looking for a treat for yourself too, then trust me when I say its seriously good. Surprisingly, your dog will go crazy for it too!
Youll need coconut oil and turmeric for this one but you could try other spices if youd like.
10.Chicken DIY Dog Treats
Recipe viakolchakpuggle
Looking for an easy treat that contains chicken? Then these frozen chicken treats (or warm if youd like) will make your dogs heart melt for them.
Make sure you have a silicone mold of any shape to fill it with a healthy mixture of rice flour, diced chicken, rice, and parsley, pop that into the oven and let it bake for 20 minutes or so.
11.Homemade Woof Loaf
Recipe viapopsugar
For a delicious and wholesome meal that is super healthy for your dog, this homemade loaf that combines lean ground turkey, egg, and vegetables is a treat you should make.
The great thing about this treat it only takes a total of 45 minutes to make, cooking included!
So, if youre a busy bee, this loaf will have your dog (or cat!) full for the night.
12.Pumpkin Carrot Bites
Recipe viamypawsitivelypets
Ive been looking for ways to make use of the pumpkins instead of letting them go bad and becoming a waste of money. Luckily, this recipe helps to solve both problems.
During the holiday season, its a fun way to include your dog in the craziness and fun with this pumpkin treat that will surely be a hit on Thanksgiving too.
However, do note that this treat yields 4 dozen bites make sure to store them in the fridge to last longer.
13.Ginger Apple DIY Dog Treats
Recipe vialolathepitty
Does your dog love anything with apples in it? Mine sure does. Its so cute to see how fast he gobbles apple treats within no time and this recipe is pretty good!
Plus, I tend to have a lot of rice flour in my home since I am on a gluten-free diet and this is a great way to make use of it.
Its also a really tasty treat if your dog has allergies too.
14.Cheesy Bone Treats
Recipe viasugarthegoldenretriever
Just in case youre wondering, after making this cheesy treat, you wont be able to control your craving for something cheesy! Just be warned.
This yummy dog treat only requires about 4 ingredients; flour, cheddar cheese, oil, and water.
15.Carrot And Banana Natural Dog Treat
Recipe via17apart
Last but not least, one of the best treats are these carrot and banana biscuits that are ultimately healthy and wholesome for your lovely dog.
A great tip to make the process faster is to use a food processor since this will save so much time and make the mixture smoother. So, if you already own one, youre in luck. For those who dont, you could give a hand blender to see if that works too.
