A low-protein diet for dogs is not as simple as it may sound. It's a fine line between too much protein and not enough.
A major diet change like this CANNOT be made without consulting your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist.
Learning how to make low-protein dog treats is simple, but a full diet change will take a lot more research and planning.
If your veterinarian has recommended putting your dog on a low-protein diet, making your own food and treats will allow you to customize the diet to your dog's exact nutritional needs.
Many pet owners purchase commercially made low-protein dog food through their vet's office or online with a prescription. These foods are all made differently, which makes it difficult to control the exact amount of protein that your dog is receiving.
By learning how to make low-protein dog treats and food recipes, you can control exactly how much protein is in the food and what type of protein is used.
Low-protein diets are often recommended for dogs with kidney failure or renal disease. If you're looking for a dog food recipe, I've shared my best homemade dog food for kidney problems here.
How To Make Low-Protein Dog Treats
Some of the most common health conditions in dogs require a low-protein diet. Some of these conditions include kidney disease, cirrhosis, Cushing's disease, and hepatitis. A low-protein diet may be recommended to treat bladder stones as well.
While the recommendations for protein intake for healthy adult dogs can vary, it's generally agreed upon that adult dogs should consume food that contains at least 18% crude protein.
Most dog foods and treats contain 20-25% protein, but there are products with a higher percentage for dogs that need a high-protein diet. A low-protein diet usually consists of less than 16% of crude protein.
In most cases, prescription dog food diets fall in the range of 10-15%, but some conditions may require diets that are even lower in protein than this. You shouldn’t feed your pup a low-protein dog treat without consulting your veterinarian first. The vet will recommend the exact percentage of protein that will suit your dog specifically.
How To Make Low-Protein Dog Treats: A Simple Recipe
In most cases, knowing how to make low-protein dog treats would be a good option for any pet. Treats should only be used to make up a very small percentage of a dog's total diet. They should be fed sparingly. While low-protein treats may be necessary for some dogs, they would be a healthy choice for any dog when used as a limited snacking option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: about 36 cookies 1x
- Category: Cooked Treats
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 2 cups of rice flour
- 2 small apples (diced)
- 1 large carrot (diced)
- 1 medium banana (diced)
- 1 tbsp. raw honey
- 2 tsps. baking soda
- 2 tsps. baking powder
- 1 cup water
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350˚F.
Mix all of the dry ingredients together. Finely dice the apples, carrot and banana. Add the fruits and honey into the dry ingredients and mix well.
Add the water and mix thoroughly until a sticky dough forms. Use a spoon to place small balls of dough onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes in the 350˚F oven.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 treat
- Calories: 44
- Sugar: 2.3 g
- Sodium: 37 mg
- Fat: .2 g
- Carbohydrates: 10.3 g
- Fiber: .7 g
- Protein: .6 g
- Cholesterol: 0
How to store: Store leftover treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 12-14 days. Remember that homemade treats do not have the preservatives that store-bought products do. They will not last as long. If you'd like, you can freeze these treats in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
For More Information
We publish many homemade dog food and treat recipes every month. For more recipes, pet food cooking tips, and advice, see our “Recipes” section.
If you're new to the home-cooked dog food subject, I recommend you read more about “How Much To Feed” to understand serving sizes and “What Supplements To Use” to create well-balanced meals.
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