low calorie dog treats for small dogs

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.

8 Best Low-Calorie Dog Treats For Healthy Rewards, Training, Allergies & More

Whether using treats to train your pup or just as a fun snack, they can push your dogs daily calories over a healthy limit. And too many tasty rewards, especially those that are high in calories and full of low-quality ingredients, can lead to weight gain and subsequent health problems. Fortunately for us pet parents, we have some yummy alternatives for the best low-calorie dog treats to use as healthy natural snacks.

At A Glance: Best Low-Calorie Dog Treats

Why Are Healthy, Low-Calorie Dog Treats So Important?

Dogs can gain weight easily, and even a few extra pounds can lead to weight-related health problems down the road, like arthritis, diabetes, heart conditions, and more. So, choosing low-calorie, high-quality, and all-natural treats is crucial to maintain a pups overall health, especially if your dog is prone to weight gain. Be sure to read the ingredients, including the caloric content, of any treats youre considering.

Expert Tip: Remember to factor in calories your pup consumes from treats and snacks and cut back on your dogs food at mealtimes to compensate for any treats given. Most vets and dog experts recommend following the 90/10 rule: 90% of calories should come from complete and balanced dog food and 10% from treats.

High-Calorie Snacks & Treats To Give Sparingly (Or Avoid)

For many dogs, a high-calorie snack is okay once in a while (as long as you cut back on your dogs food that day in proportion to the treat). But for overweight and obese dogs, its generally not a good idea. And use caution in breeds that are particularly prone to weight gain, such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Pugs, Beagles, Dachshunds, and Basset Hounds.

Some treats and snacks that weve personally found that love (but are high in calories) include:

8 Best Low-Calorie Dog Treats

We chose these healthy, low-calorie dog treats based on the quality of ingredients, brand reputation, pricing, customer feedback, and other factors. We also broke down our recommendations into separate categories to help you find the best options for you and your pups treat preferences. Every treat we review here is all-natural and made in North America.

Best Overall: Rocco & Roxie Chicken Jerky Sticks Review

View on Amazon | View on Chewy

Rocco & Roxie is a well-respected brand of high-quality dog products, and these treats are extremely popular among pup parents and their canine companions. Although each chicken jerky stick is 20 calories (which is still low-calorie compared to most dog treats), weve chosen them as our top winner. Why?

What we love about these treats is that a whole 6-inch stick is an excellent option for larger dogs, but you can easily break them up for smaller breeds (a quarter of a stick is only 5 calories). They have a soft, chewy texture and are hickory smoked for 10 hours for a tasty, satisfying reward.

Ingredients: American-Raised Chicken, Rice Protein, Spices, Salt, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Potassium Sorbate, Natural Wood Smoke Flavoring

Calories/Treat: 20 | Crude Protein: 20% | Crude Fat: 4% | Crude Fiber: 2% | Texture: Soft & Chewy

Price:

Best For Training: Pupford Freeze-Dried Rabbit Dog Training Treats Review

View on Amazon | View on Chewy

While its somewhat easier to find low-calorie dog training treats because of their small size, the caloric content of these Pupford freeze-dried treats is hard to beat for the quality. When youre training your pup in certain skills, its crucial to reward her multiple times in a short period of time.

So these high-protein and super low-calorie bites are ideal for those needs. These little chews are also an excellent choice for dogs with allergies or food intolerances because theyre grain-free and feature a novel protein thats less likely to trigger allergy symptoms.

Ingredients: Rabbit, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative & Antioxidant)

Calories/Treat: 1 | Crude Protein: 59% | Crude Fat: 24% | Crude Fiber: 2% | Texture: Soft

Price:

Best Crunchy: Old Mother Hubbard Savory Mix Biscuits Review

View on Amazon | View on Chewy

Made by premium pet food brand Wellness, these grain-inclusive treats are surprisingly low in calories for traditional dog biscuits. And to give your pup a variety, you get three different flavors in one bag: LivRCrunch, P-Nuttier, and BacNCheez. Each low-fat treat includes protein and high fiber from all-natural sources. Theyre slow-baked to preserve nutrients and freshness and are a decent size for all dog breeds.

Ingredients: Whole Wheat Flour, Oatmeal, Wheat Bran, Chicken Fat, Cane Molasses, Apples, Carrots, Chicken Liver, Eggs, Crunchy Peanut Butter, Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Natural Flavor, Salt, Maltodextrin, Turmeric, Paprika, Natural Bacon Flavor, Paprika Extract, Natural Peanut Flavor, Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract

Calories/Treat: 10 | Crude Protein: 12% | Crude Fat: 7% | Crude Fiber: 5.5% | Texture: Crunchy

Price:

Best Grain-Free Biscuits: American Journey Oven-Baked Biscuits Review

View on Amazon | View on Chewy

If crunchy biscuits are your furballs favorite, but he has a sensitive tummy or allergies, Chewy brand American Journey offers these grain-free, limited-ingredient alternatives. We recommend the peanut butter recipe as the healthiest low-calorie option, but they come in seven other flavors. Theyre small enough to fit in your pocket for on-the-go rewards but a satisfying size for many pups. Most owners say their dogs love these extremely affordable treats.

Ingredients: Chickpeas, Peas, Peanut Butter, Cane Molasses, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Rosemary Extract

Calories/Treat: 13 | Crude Protein: 16% | Crude Fat: 9% | Crude Fiber: 6% | Texture: Crunchy

Price:

• Starting at: $4.07 (8-oz bag)

Best Dental: Virbac C.E.T. Veggiedent Fr3sh Chews Review

View on Amazon | View on Chewy

Unfortunately, all dental chews are pretty high in calories; however, veterinarians still highly recommend their use to prevent dental disease (along with daily brushing). But these Virbac dental sticks are among the lowest-calorie options for a Veterinary Oral Health Council-approved product that reduces plaque and tartar.

These vegetarian chews get tons of positive reviews for their effectiveness, and most owners say their dogs love the taste and consistency. They come in four sizes: X-small (23 kcal/chew), small (48 kcal/chew), medium (75 kcal/chew), and large (105 kcal/chew). Inulin, a natural prebiotic, is even included to promote healthy digestion.

Ingredients: Corn Starch, Glycerin, Soy Protein Isolate, Rice Flour, Brewers Dried Yeast, Sorbitol, Ground Corn Cob, Erythritol, Potassium Sorbate, Water, Inulin, Pomegranate

Calories/Chew: See above | Crude Protein: 17% | Crude Fat: 0.4% | Crude Fiber: 2% | Texture: Hard & Chewy

Price:

Best Low-Fat: Stewart Freeze-Dried Chicken Breast Treats Review

View on Amazon | View on Chewy

We recommend Stewarts freeze-dried chicken bites as the best low-fat dog treats. They also pack a high-protein punch at only four calories each. Made with 100% premium-quality lean chicken breast, theyre a great choice for pups with sensitive stomachs and food sensitivities. You can use them as training treats or anytime rewards. Theyre also easy to break apart into smaller pieces.

Pet parents rave about Stewarts freeze-dried treats, which also come in salmon, beef liver, and chicken liver. If your pup is sensitive to chicken, the beef liver treats are an excellent alternative at 5% fat and 6 calories each. While still low in calories, the salmon and chicken liver treats are higher in fat.

Ingredients: Chicken Breast

Calories/Treat: 4 | Crude Protein: 74% | Crude Fat: 3% | Crude Fiber: 1% | Texture: Soft

Price:

Best Human-Grade: The Honest Kitchen Chicken Jerky Harvest Mini Bars Review

View on Chewy | View on The Honest Kitchen

A pioneer in human-grade dog food, The Honest Kitchen uses only healthy, whole-food ingredients in these protein-packed minibars. Featuring cage-free chicken and highly-nutritious fruits and veggies, these treats also have tons of flavor that many dogs love. Theyre gently roasted in small batches to retain nutrients, flavor, and a soft texture. They make a fantastic, healthy treat for dogs of all sizes.

Ingredients: Chicken, Oats, Apples, Carrots, Coconut Glycerin, Blueberries, Celery Juice, Chicken Bone Broth, Apple Cider Vinegar, Sea Salt, Mixed Tocopherols (A Natural Preservative), Ginger

Calories/Treat: 15 | Crude Protein: 26.5% | Crude Fat: 22% | Crude Fiber: 0.5% | Texture: Soft

Price:

Full Review Of The Honest Kitchen

Best Sustainable: Jiminys Chewy Cricket Treat Review

View on Amazon | View on Chewy

Committed to reducing your environmental footprint? Using insect-based dog treats (and food) is an excellent way to help sustain our planet. These small, low-calorie treats feature cricket as a healthier protein source compared to animal meat.

Cricket is high in omega fatty acids, fiber, iron, and vitamins and has also been shown to support gut health in dogs. These treats are also a fantastic alternative for pups with food intolerances. Some customers complain that theyre stinky, but they forgo the odor because their dogs love them.

Ingredients: Pumpkin, Carrot, Oats, Cricket, Vegetable Glycerin, Molasses, Tapioca Starch, Vegetable Gelatin, Canola Oil, Salt Natural Flavor, Cultured Dextrose (A Preservative), Distilled Vinegar, Natural Smoke Flavor, Garlic, Rosemary

Calories/Treat: 2.9 | Crude Protein: 12% | Crude Fat: 6% | Crude Fiber: 3% | Texture: Soft & Chewy

Price:

Diet Dog Treats: DIY Alternatives

If your pup is overweight, several fruits and veggies make perfect low-calorie snacks for dogs. Some of your best options are blueberries, broccoli, carrots, celery, green beans, and plain canned pumpkin. Theyre all super low in calories and fat and also fantastic sources of fiber. A recent study found that a reduced-calorie, high-fiber, and high-protein diet has multiple health benefits for overweight dogs.

While many human foods are safe and healthy for dogs, its important to familiarize yourself with foods you shouldnt give your pup. Some can even be toxic.

If your furry friend needs to shed some pounds, check out our reviews of the best dog foods for weight loss, including fresh meals, kibble, and canned options. And be sure to consult your vet for a comprehensive weight-loss plan for your pudgy puppo.

Are You Considering A Healthier Dog Food?

In addition to being vigilant about the treats you give your pup, you may want to ensure your dogs diet is providing her with the highest quality nutrition available. If youre not thrilled with your pups current dog food, take a look at some premium alternatives. We have reviews of the best fresh dog food and all-natural dog foodfor some high-quality options. You may also want to explore ourbest dog food delivery article, which includes reviews for some other top-notch food brands that will deliver right to your door.