Too many or the wrong treats are common causes of obesity in dogs. The following 15 treats, on the other hand, are also suitable for the diet.
According to American studies, 54% of all dogs are now overweight. [1] In most cases the problem is due to the high fat content.
Because while protein and carbohydrates only have 4.1 kcal per g, fat has a whopping 9.3 kcal per g. Low-fat treats with lots of protein are therefore ideal for a diet.
Here is an overview of the four best diet treats for overweight dogs:
- Test winner: Salmon softies from Amazon
- Grain-free: Duck and apple snacks from Amazon
- Completely natural: Dried pig ears from Amazon
- Lots of protein: Kangaroo Chewies from Amazon
In total, treats should not make up more than 10% of the daily diet. Higher amounts can only make sense in the beginning when there is increased training need.
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#1 Meat Softies
Softies are particularly soft dog snacks. In most cases, unhealthy fillers and additives are responsible for the soft consistency.
In the meantime, there are also treats on the market that consist exclusively of natural ingredients. Here the softness is achieved through a high moisture content.
Our recommendation: Salmon softies from Amazon.
Here your dog benefits from the vital substances of salmon, rabbit, ostrich and goose. In addition, they are ideal for diets due to their low fat content.
The great thing about it?
- Grain and sugar free
- Consists only of meat with minerals
- Completely natural
With around 600 positive reviews, these dog treats are now among the bestsellers on Amazon.
ProteinFatWater content48%8%25%
#2 Rice cakes
All that is needed to make rice cakes is heat, pressure and a press. Or to put it another way: natural rice cakes consist only of rice.
Without salt, sugar and other fillers, they are also great as diet treats for overweight dogs. This also applies to quinoa and corn waffles.
For treats, I usually break a slice into around 6-8 pieces. Since these are so-called “pseudo grains”, rice cakes are also completely gluten-free.
AmountProteinCarbohydratesFatCalories100 g rice waffle1 g81 g3 g390 kcal1x rice waffle (7 g)0.1 g5.7 g0.2 g27 kcal
#3 Freeze-dried meat
During freeze-drying, raw and natural meat is shock-frozen under vacuum at temperatures below -40°C.
Freeze-dried dog treats are therefore free of any unhealthy fillers. In addition, the meat has a long shelf life and retains much of the flavor.
Compared to alternatives such as pickling, air drying or smoking, freeze drying is considered the most gentle method of preservation.
Our recommendation: Duck Apple Snacks from Amazon.
With a fat content of just 7%, these treats are ideal for diets. The high protein content also ensures that your dog stays full for a long time.
The great thing about it?
- Only 3 ingredients
- Almost 90% duck breast
- Sugar and grain free
In my opinion, it's hard to find healthier dog treats. In addition, shipping is free from the 11th pack. This also explains the around 2,500 positive reviews on Amazon.
ProteinFatMoisture75%7%12%
#4 Cooked Shrimp
Cooked shrimp are almost ideal as a treat. They are the perfect size, very healthy and also ideal for the diet of overweight dogs.
Since raw meat often contains pathogens, I always recommend boiling it. Stomach acid can kill some things, but not everything.
Proponents of “Biologically Species-Appropriate Raw Feeding” (BARF), on the other hand, advise only giving dogs raw meat and therefore also raw treats.
Because this is most similar to the diet of wolves. However, the studies on the topic are still ambiguous. [3, 4] So you can form your own opinion here.
By the way, you can buy shrimp cheaply at fish markets. As an alternative to shrimp, you can also use cooked chicken and turkey breast as well as pollack.
AmountProteinCarbohydratesFatCalories100 g shrimp20 g0 g1 g85 kcal1x mini shrimp (7 g)1.4 g0 g0.1 g6 kcal
#5 Harz cheese
Cheese is generally considered fattening. Because most types of cheese weigh a whopping 300-400 kcal per 100 g. But there are also exceptions.
The #1 here is clearly the Harz cheese. With less than 1g of fat and only 113 kcal per 100g, it consists almost entirely of healthy protein.
Specifically, this means: Not only is it ideal as a diet treat, but it also keeps you full for a long time. Our dog “Alex” is an absolute fan of this stinky cheese.
You can buy Harz cheese in almost every larger supermarket. However, due to the strong smell, I recommend using an airtight box for storage.
AmountProteinCarbohydratesFatCalories100 g Harzer27 g0 g0.5 g113 kcal1x roll (25 g)6.7 g0 g0.1 g28 kcal
#6 Fresh fruit
Many dogs are very picky, especially when it comes to fruit. Here, trying is more important than studying. Our dog is an absolute fan of bananas and watermelon.
My previous Labrador Retrievers, on the other hand, liked mangoes and bananas more. Depending on their mood, they would also devour strawberries.
Since fruit naturally has relatively few calories and is full of healthy nutrients, it is also ideal as a treat for overweight dogs during the diet phase.
Citrus fruits, on the other hand, are detested by most dogs. You should also avoid grapes and dried fruits. These are toxic to dogs.
It is also important that your dog sees the fruit as a reward. Otherwise the treat will serve its purpose.
Type of fruit [100 g]ProteinCarbohydratesFatCaloriesStrawberries0.7 g8 g0.3 g33 kcalMango0.6 g12.5 g0.4 g62 kcalWatermelon0.6 g8 g0.2 g30 kcalBananas1.1 g20 g0.2 g89 kcal
#7 Canned kidney beans
Not only are kidney beans the perfect size for a treat, but they are also rich in minerals, fiber and protein.
They are not only suitable for the diet, but also as a treat for puppies. This applies at least to the beans themselves – without the preservative water.
But be careful: too many beans produce a lot of “tones”. Here I recommend a maximum of 15 beans per day to avoid flatulence and diarrhea.
AmountProteinCarbohydratesFatCalories100 g kidney beans8.4 g12.6 g1 g111 kcal5x kidney beans (10 g)0.8 g1.3 g0.1 g11 kcal
#8 Canned tuna
Admittedly. Due to its packaging and smell, tuna is rather unsuitable as a dietary treat for on the go. But it contains even more low-fat protein.
However, I advise against tuna in oil. You should also throw away the preservative water due to its high salt content.
Our dog “Alex” wags his tail greedily when I touch a can of tuna. However, due to the heavy metals it contains, it is only served weekly.
Thanks to its low calorie count, tuna is also great for overweight dogs.
AmountProteinCarbohydratesFatCalories100 g tuna25.3 g0 g1.1 g112 kcal1x tablespoon (7 g)1.8 g0 g0.1 g8 kcal
#9 Chewies
Chewies are dog treats with a rubbery consistency. Unfortunately, this consistency is achieved in most treats by unhealthy fillers.
However, completely natural Chewies have also been available for almost 2 years. Here the consistency is achieved by mixing meat and vegetables.
Our recommendation: Kangaroo Chewies from Amazon.
These low-calorie diet treats have been the absolute bestseller on Amazon since they went on sale. This is also confirmed by over 2,000 positive reviews.
The great thing about it?
- Grain and sugar free
- 100% natural
- More than 50% meat content
These snacks were also designed to be suitable even for sensitive dog stomachs. By the way, shipping is free for the XXL pack.
ProteinFatMoisture11%5%23%
#10 Canned corn
The great thing about canned corn is the fact that all you have to do is wash it. Fresh corn and the frozen version, however, must be boiled.
The small corn kernels are not only suitable as a treat for puppies, but also ideal for overweight dogs. They are also rich in minerals and fiber.
Due to the high sugar and salt content, I recommend throwing away the preservative water here too.
AmountProteinCarbohydratesFatCalories100 g corn2.4 g10.5 g1.2 g69 kcal1x tablespoon (8 g)0.2 g0.8 g0.1 g6 kcal
#11 Dried pig ears
Vegetarians may initially gag here. Personally, I don't eat meat either, but I'm an absolute fan of making full use of leftover meat.
Since only heat is needed to dry the pig ears, it is 100% natural and low-calorie dried meat.
Cut into small pieces, they are also ideal as a diet treat for overweight dogs. You can also sometimes buy them from the butcher. But they are usually cheaper on Amazon.
Our recommendation: Dried Pig Ears from Amazon.
Depending on the size, a single ear, cut into small pieces, yields between 20-30 treats.
The great thing about it?
- 100% natural
- No additives
- Strengthens the teeth
My neighborhood butcher often gives away fresh pig ears. However, smoking these yourself is a real olfactory challenge.
Amount Protein Carbohydrates Fat Calories 100 g Pig ear 6 g 0 g 4 g 61 kcal 5x treats (20 g) 1.2 g 0 g 0.8 g 12 kcal
#12 Baked vegetable sticks
Raw vegetables are generally less popular with dogs. And when they eat it, it's usually without much joy. Baked vegetables, on the other hand, are very popular.
And there are hardly any better treats for a diet. We often bake the following vegetables with a little olive oil for our dog “Alex”:
- potatoes
- Carrots
- sweet potatoes
- pumpkin
Here, too, your dog should find the vegetable sticks so tasty that it is perceived as a real motivation. So it's time to try it out!
To prepare it, simply cut the relevant vegetables into sticks, toss them in a little olive oil and spread them on a baking tray. Depending on the type, they are ready after around 25 minutes at 200°C.
Be careful with avocados, asparagus, garlic and onions. These are toxic to dogs’ stomachs.
type of vegetable [100 g]ProteinCarbohydratesFatCaloriesPotato sticks2 g17 g0.1 g77 kcalCarrot sticks0.9 g10 g0.2 g41 kcalSweet potato sticks1.6 g20 g0.1 g86 kcalPumpkin strips0.8 g5.2 g0 g28 kcal
#13 Homemade Diet Treats
Do you want to make your own diet treats? No problem. All you need to do is throw the following ingredients into a blender:
- 2 x medium carrots
- 60g oat flakes
- 1 x can of tuna in water
- 5 x egg whites (without egg yolks)
The finished mix should be a thick paste. Then simply spread these onto a silicone baking mat and…