Recommended low-calorie treats
The healthiest treat options for dieting dogs are nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables.
The table below lists popular household food items used as low-calorie dog treats. These healthy dog treats all come in at a fraction of the calorie count and cost of commercial dog treats! And as an added bonus they are free of coloring, additives and preservatives.
So get your dog started with some taste testing this weekend. Discover your dog’s favorite healthy treat and stock up during your next grocery run!
Dog Diet Tip: Most fruits and vegetables make tasty nutrient-rich snacks. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Avoid feeding your dog avocado, grapes, sultanas, nuts, onion, garlic, raw potato and the seeds from stone fruit, which are toxic for dogs.
Healthy Dog Treats – Our Top Picks
| Healthy Dog Treats and Low Calorie Dog Treats | Serving suggestion | Calories/100 grams | Calories per ounce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | Raw, sliced, cored | 52 kcal | 15 kcal |
| Banana | Fresh or frozen, peeled | 89 kcal | 25 kcal |
| Beans (green) | Raw or cooked | 31 kcal | 9 kcal |
| Blueberries | Fresh or frozen | 57 kcal | 16 kcal |
| Carrots | Raw, sliced and topped | 41 kcal | 12 kcal |
| Celery | Raw- de-topped | 16 kcal | 4 kcal |
| Peas | Fresh or frozen | 42 kcal | 23 kcal |
| Popcorn- air cooked* (30 kcal/ cup) | A couple of pieces | 387 kcal | 110 kcal |
| Pumpkin | Cooked and cubed | 45 kcal | 13 kcal |
| Rice cakes- plain* (35 kcal/ cake) | Half or quarter piece | 392 kcal | 111 kcal |
| Squash | Cooked | 16 kcal | 4 kcal |
| Strawberries | Fresh or frozen | 32 kcal | 9 kcal |
| Sweet potato | Cooked and cubed | 76 kcal | 24 kcal |
| Tuna- tinned in water | Drained | 116 kcal | 33 kcal |
| Watermelon | Fresh –seedless | 30 kcal | 9 kcal |
| Zucchini/courgette | Raw- sliced or cooked | 17 kcal | 5 kcal |
- Air-cooked popcorn and rice cakes make an excellent treat choice. Their low weight means there are very few calories per serve. For example a cup of plain unsalted popped popcorn weighs just 8 grams and contains just 30 calories. A typical rice cake weighs 9 grams and provides 35 calories. (Always check packet nutrition information).
NB. The term ‘calories’ and ‘kilocalories’ are interchangeable. The term ‘calorie’ used for human food is an abbreviation for ‘Kilocalories'(kcal). This means a large apple containing 120 calories accounts for 120 kcals out of your dog’s daily calorie allowance.
Dog Diet Tip: Delicious berries and crunchy treats such as apple slices, green beans and carrot sticks are a favorite with most dogs. With the added bonus of being a handy snack for ourselves!
Join your dog in giving fatty and sugary treats the flick. Prepare a bowl of low-calorie snacks and healthy treats to share with your dog throughout the day!
Training Treats
Many dog classes provide food rewards to help with training. However training treats are often high in calories and can soon exceed your dog’s daily calorie allowance. Provide your own treats, portioned from your dog’s daily meal or treat allowance. Consider using some of your dog’s dry kibble or the low-calorie snacks above.