4 Diabetic Dog Approved Treats You Can Make At Home

Much like humans, dogs can be born with diabetes or develop it later in life, heavily restricting their dietary options. While it may initially seem like they won’t be able to enjoy your delicious homemade snacks, all you need is a bit of adjustment! 

There are plenty of recipes for diabetic dog treats available, so if you’re ready to change up your recipes, it won’t be any trouble at all.

Why do Diabetic Dogs Need Special Treats?

Similar to human cases, diabetes in dogs prevents the body from properly regulating insulin levels. Because of this, a diabetic dog’s blood sugar tends to fluctuate between extreme highs and lows, which can be deadly if left untreated. While it’s a manageable condition, sugary and carb-heavy foods are often responsible for spikes in blood sugar, so consuming them tends to be unsafe.

While dog treats shouldn’t contain large amounts of added sugar, they tend to be baked goods, and as such, contain white flour. White flour is notoriously hard on a diabetic dog’s system, so you’ll need to find substitutions. Fortunately, whole-wheat flour is much lower in carbs, so as long as you only use small amounts, your pup shouldn’t have any problem with it! 

Essentially, dog treats for diabetic dogs should cut carbs wherever possible, while focusing on other flavors dogs love, such as meat or fish. On that note, let’s take a look at three great diabetic dog treat recipes that are quick, safe, and delicious, perfect for anyone looking to make their pup’s day!

1. Homemade Fishy Dog Treats

Source: Tasty Low Carb

These diabetic dog treats from Tasty Low Carb are low in carbs and sugar and high in protein. With a delicious fishy flavor that your pup won’t be able to get enough of, these quick, simple treats are a cinch to prepare, making them one of our favorite diabetic dog snacks to whip up!

Ingredients

• 1 14-ounce can salmon
• 1 7-ounce can tuna in water
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups whole wheat flour

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix the salmon and tuna in a bowl. Beat the eggs, add them to the mixture, add in the flour, and stir until well combined.
3. Spread the mixture evenly on a greased baking sheet and bake it for 40 minutes.
4. Remove the treats from the oven, allow them to cool completely, cut them into squares, and serve!

2. Diabetic Dog Treats

Source: RedCipies (Via Pinterest)

Another extremely simple recipe for homemade diabetic dog treats courtesy of RedCipies, these treats only require three ingredients and twenty minutes of your time! With plenty of meaty flavor, we recommend this recipe to all dog owners, whether or not their dog is diabetic. 

Ingredients

• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• 1 ½ cups beef liver
• 2 eggs

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place the liver into a food processor, cutting it into smaller pieces if necessary, then use the processor until it reaches a fine consistency.
3. Add in the flour and eggs, then blend everything until well combined. 
4. Spread the mixture evenly over the baking pan, and bake for 15 minutes.
5. Remove the treats from the oven, and allow them to cool completely. Cut them into squares, and serve!

3. Ruby Stewbie Homemade Diabetic Dog Food

Source: My Untangled Life (Via Pinterest)

Rather than diabetic dog treats, you may want to try your hand at full-fledged meals. If so, this recipe is for you! Named after the dog it was prepared for, My Untangled Life’s Ruby Stewbie supplies diabetic dogs with plenty of healthy proteins and vegetables. The recipe is an extremely large one, so your pup will have plenty to enjoy!

Ingredients

• 28 cups water
• 4 pounds chana dal
• 2 pounds brown lentils
• 2 pounds black-eyed peas
• 2 pounds green split peas
• 1 pound pearl barley
• 5 pounds boneless chicken breast
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 29 ounces plain pumpkin puree
• 2 pounds frozen broccoli
• 2 pounds frozen carrots
• 2 pounds frozen green beans
• 20 ounces frozen spinach

Instructions

1. Using a 20-quart pot, boil the water over high heat.
2. Thoroughly rinse the chana dal, brown lentils, black-eyed peas, green split peas, and pearl barley, add them to the pot, and reduce the heat to medium.
3. Cut the chicken breasts into small cubes, then add them into the pot along with the ground turkey.
4. Add in the pumpkin and frozen vegetables, and reduce the heat to medium-low.
5. Continue to cook over medium-low heat until most of the liquid is absorbed. 
6. Allow the stew to cool completely, then store it in the refrigerator or freezer.

4. Dehydrated Vegetable Dog Treats

Picture Credits: The Dog People

Dehydrated vegetables are a delicious snack for dogs and humans alike, and as long as you’re using the right veggies, your diabetic dog can enjoy them as well! This recipe from The Dog People is extremely simple and cheap, so if you want a tasty and healthy snack to share with your diabetic pup, this is just the recipe for you.

Ingredients

• 2 sweet potatoes
• ½ pound green beans
• 2 red bell peppers
• (Other vegetables can be added or substituted as needed.)

Instructions

1. Cut the ends off of the green beans, cube the sweet potatoes, and thinly slice the bell peppers.
2. Blanch the sweet potatoes and green beans in a pot of boiling water for roughly 4 minutes, and then transfer them to a bowl of cold water.
3. Remove the sweet potatoes and green beans from the ice water, pat dry, and repeat the process with the bell peppers, blanching for 1 minute.
4. Lay all the vegetables out into a dehydrator, making sure none of them are touching.
5. Dehydrate at 140 degrees for about 8 hours, then serve!

Ready for pumpkin season? Share the love with your pup by making one of these pumpkin dog treat recipes!

There are so many benefits to fresh, gently cooked pet food. While feeding 100% gently cooked pet food gives your pet the best results, your dog and cat can still get benefits from consuming our recipes as a healthy dog or cat food topper! 

What is a cat or dog food meal topper? A meal topper is a food that you can add in small amounts to your dog or cat’s normal diet. This means there are a variety of things that can be used as a topper such as bone broths, gravies, small portions of meat or fruits and veggies, kibbles, or even gently cooked fresh pet food!

Why feed my dog or cat a topper? The most common reason pet parents will provide their pet with food toppers is to elevate their pet’s mealtime experience. Unsurprisingly, pet owners are starting to see value in providing their pets with variety rather than the same old bland kibble day in and day out. 

Other reasons to provide toppers can be to:

1. Add protein to their pet’s meal, or other nutrients that can be supplemented in dog and cat food toppers
2. For health benefits of targeted toppers i.e. hip and joint support, digestive support, or calming effects, and to improve skin and coat health and reduce itchy paws
3. Increase palatability of their pet’s food and to encourage picky eaters

What makes a good dog or cat food topper? Because of its loose definition, many things can be used or sold as a topper. However, not all toppers are created equal. 

Here are the top 5 reasons to use Tom&Sawyer’s gently cooked pet food as a healthy topper for your dog or cat:

1. Increased Moisture

Moisture is often the forgotten nutrient, but it’s probably one of the most important nutrients for us and our pets! Because of the high moisture content in fresh, gently cooked pet food (typically >70% moisture), your pet gets some much needed hydration. Hydration is key to a healthy pet, improving digestion, energy levels, skin and coat health, and more!

2. Picky Eaters and Improved Palatability

Gently cooked pet food is a highly palatable option for your pets, which makes their meal time fun and exciting! Tom&Sawyer meals are irresistible for pets because of our high-quality ingredients. Our first ingredient is always protein, which is a fan-favourite! It can also help encourage those picky eaters to dig in! Even better? We have a variety of highly palatable cat and dog food recipes to provide your pets with variety in their diet!

3. Protein

One of the main reasons pet owners choose to add a meal topper is to increase the protein content of their pet’s diet. Protein can be quite beneficial for a variety of things such as muscle maintenance, satiety, weight loss, immune function, and skin and coat health. Our meals are protein-first and we choose the best quality ingredients every time!

4. Fibre 

Another benefit to Tom&Sawyer meals compared to your run-of-the-mill topper is our high fibre content. Both soluble and insoluble fibres are beneficial for digestion and gut health and is crucial for healthy poops! Read more on fibre here: Dietary Fibre for your Pets

5. Digestibility

Research has shown that fresh, gently cooked pet foods are often more digestible than kibbles! This means that your pet is able to better digest and absorb the nutrients in their food rather than have them exit the body via their poop. This is something that not many other toppers can boast, and part of what makes Tom&Sawyer a unique meal topper choice for your pet. 

And what puts us over the edge compared to other meal toppers? Our meals are complete and balanced, which means you can feed your pet our meals as a topper or as a full meal for happier, healthier, longer lives!

Written by: Hannah Godfrey
Animal Nutritionist
BSc.H. | MSc. Animal Nutrition
www.tomandsawyer.com

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5 Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treat Recipes

Peanut butter is the quintessential homemade dog treat ingredient, but with the fall season approaching, it’s time to spice things up a bit! As usual, pumpkin, pumpkin spice, and pumpkin everything are once again back in season for humans. 

Fortunately for your pooch, pumpkin is an excellent seasonal complement to peanut butter, and it’s completely safe for pups to enjoy! Let’s kick things off with four of the best recipes for pumpkin peanut butter dog treats!

1. 3-Ingredient Soft-Bake Peanut Butter Dog Cookies

Source: The Dog People

This recipe from The Dog People is exactly like the peanut butter cookies you know and love, but it’s completely safe and healthy for your pup to consume! With an extra kick of fall flavor, your pup is guaranteed to enjoy these pumpkin peanut butter dog treats! Best of all, you can make it with three simple ingredients!

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ cups oat flour
• 1 cup plain pureed pumpkin
• ½ cup dog-friendly peanut butter

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place the oat flour, pureed pumpkin, and peanut butter in a mixing bowl, then mix until well combined.
3. Roll the dough into small balls, place the dough balls on a lined baking sheet, and then use a fork to create a crosshatch pattern on each cookie.
4. Put the cookies in the oven, then bake for 20 minutes.
5. Remove the cookies from the oven, allow them to cool completely, and serve!

2. Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Source: Eat the Gains

If you’re well into the fall season but it’s still a bit too warm, these pumpkin peanut butter dog treats from Eat the Gains are just the thing to keep your pup cool! They’re extremely simple to make, and all you have to do is combine the ingredients, place them into molds, then stash them in the freezer! Your pup will be able to cool off in perfect fall fashion!

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain pumpkin puree
• ½ cup and 2 tablespoons dog-friendly all-natural peanut butter
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
2. Place the mixture into bone-shaped silicone molds, with 1 tablespoon of the mixture in each mold.
3. Place the molds in the freezer for an hour or two, or until completely hardened.
4. Remove the molds from the freezer and serve!

3. Easy Air Fryer Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Source: Two Kids and a Coupon

If you’re looking for a way to get some use out of your air fryer, check out this recipe from Two Kids and a Coupon! It takes after the classic cookie-style dog treat, but the convenience of an air fryer means they’ll be ready in almost an instant!

Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cup flour
• 1 cup plain pumpkin puree
• ⅓ cup dog-friendly peanut butter
• 2 eggs

Instructions

1. Place the pumpkin puree, peanut butter, and eggs in a mixing bowl, then mix until well combined.
2. Add one cup of flour to the mixture, stir until fully incorporated, add another cup of flour, and then stir until the dough begins to form.
3. Knead the dough by hand, adding ¾ cup more flour if necessary. The dough should be soft and cohesive, but not sticky.
4. Sprinkle flour over a sheet of parchment paper, then turn the dough out onto the surface.
5. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough ¼ of an inch thick, then use your cookie cutter of choice to cut out the treats.
6. Line your air fryer with parchment paper, then place the treats into the fryer with enough space to prevent them from touching. You won’t be able to get all of them at once, so don’t worry!
7. Cook the treats at 370 degrees for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 until you’ve used all the dough, then serve to your pup!

4. Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Source: Cardamom and Coconut

Our final recipe for today comes from Cardamom and Coconut, and is the perfect example of a fall-flavored cookie for your pup! This recipe once again requires just three simple ingredients and is ready in under an hour, making it a breeze to whip up if you ever feel like giving your dog an extra treat! Needless to say, Fido will love them!

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• ⅓ cup dog-friendly peanut butter
• ½ cup plain pumpkin puree

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
2. Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until well combined
3. Place a piece of parchment paper on the counter, turn the dough out onto the parchment, then place a second sheet of parchment on top. Roll the dough out to a ¼-inch thickness.
4. After removing the top layer of parchment paper, use your favorite cookie cutter to cut out the dog treats, then place them onto a lined baking sheet.
5. Bake the treats for about 20-30 minutes, allow them to cool completely, and then serve!

5. No-Bake Pumpkin Peanut Butter Balls

Source: Sizzling Eats

Sometimes, you just don’t feel like switching on the oven, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun of homemade dog treats! These no-bake pumpkin peanut butter dog treats from Sizzling Eats are the absolute easiest way to let your pup enjoy these tasty ingredients, and again, you won’t have to deal with baking anything. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain pumpkin puree
• ½ cup dog-friendly peanut butter
• 2 ½ cups rolled oats
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly until well combined.
2. Line a sealable container with parchment paper.
3. Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them onto the parchment paper. 
4. Store for up to 4 days in the fridge!

Is your dog a pumpkin fiend? Find more dog-friendly pumkin treat recipes here.