Best Low Carb Dog Treat to Keep Your Fur Buddy Happy and Healthy
Keeping a check on the nutrition level of your dog’s treat can guarantee long-term health and wellness. Sometimes, it is okay to ignore the wagging tail when your little pup is demanding more treats – after all, you’re responsible for their diet and overall health. First thing first – treat is not a complete and balanced meal for your dog. Just as the name suggests, it supplements their current diet, mainly offered as a reward for good behavior or to encourage them while training. But regardless of why you’re offering treats to your beloved pup, don’t forget that it adds up to their daily calorie count and you shouldn’t go overboard to avoid health risks.
If you stick to a low-carb diet for your dog, you must get low-carb dog treats too to make their diet regimen work. The great news is that you’ve got tons of options for healthy and delicious treats for dogs. But if you’re looking to narrow down the choice, check out our top favorites listed below. We’ve chosen them for their wholesome, high-quality, and natural ingredients, so your pup gets nothing but the best. Keep reading to learn about the top five important pieces of information for the top low-carb dog treats in 2024.
Low Carb Dog Treats Buying Guide
The subject of giving food to pets that we human prefers for ourselves has always been quite debatable. Most people just prefer a low-carb diet for their dogs because they are gaining the benefits of a keto diet. But the question is… does it really help?
This guide will bust some myths and misconceptions related to this subject and highlight that choosing low-carb dog food and treat is indeed a good decision.
The Scientific Health Benefits of Low Carb Dog Food
Your dog doesn’t have to be overweight or diabetic to introduce a low-carb diet. You can choose this alternate diet for your healthy dog and still gain the benefits. Be it the regular food or treats, the low-carb options could be highly beneficial for your fluffy one.
Keep health risks at bay
Most off-the-shelf menus feature high carb content based on unnecessary fillers like potato and rice. Manufacturers do that to reduce their costs and include ingredients that help with weight gain. Little do people know that the constant consumption of such high-carb fillers can lead to serious health issues in the long run – the most prominent being obesity and diabetes. By controlling your dog’s intake of carbs, you can prevent the risk of these health issues.
For your safety
This may come as a surprise, but research suggests that if a dog is at risk of diabetes, the owner will most likely too. A study was carried out involving above 200,000 dog parents, showed 38% higher chances of developing type II diabetes because their dog was also diabetic. As a matter of fact, the research suggests that it is because of the food choices that dog parents make. The more vigilant they are in this matter, the safer. Similarly, if they’re too careful about their pet’s health, they’re likely to be more responsible for themselves as well.
Improved life quality
When the health risks are low, your dog would naturally enjoy a better quality of life. The specially formulated diet appropriate for different dogs has proven to be reliable. The key is to stick to it and see the changes yourself. Give your fur buddy the gift of long, healthy life with the right food.
High Carb Diet and Your Dog’s Health – The Concerns
If you have been giving a high-carb diet to your dog or never paid attention to their food labels, now could be the right time to check over your dog’s food and treats again. There has been substantial research into the topic of feeding a carb-rich diet to your dog, and here are our main concerns:
Blood sugar
The regular consumption of a high-carb diet can cause a spike in your dog’s blood sugar levels. Not only does it pose a risk of developing diabetes, but raised blood sugar levels could also lead to smaller blood vessels and damage to the eyes and kidneys in the long run.
Weight
Vets recommend a high-protein low-carb diet for dogs struggling with obesity. The point is to boost weight loss by promoting body fat metabolism without reducing calorie intake. A high protein diet improves satiety, reducing the desire to continue eating.
And since obesity in dogs is directly linked with liver disease and diabetes, providing them with low-carb food and treats would naturally reduce the risk for such diseases.
What Makes a Great Low Carb Dog Treat
A few factors make some products stand out, such as:
The ingredients
A low-carb dog treat option should be rich in other essential nutrients, like high-quality protein. The key is to check the labels while comparing your options. High-quality protein ingredients include chicken, beef, and lamb. These ingredients will help maintain lean muscles without loading your pup up with calories. Avoid treats that include artificial colorings, filler ingredients, artificial flavors, and preservatives.
Size
Apparently, larger treats contain more calories than smaller ones. But if your pup loves that large treat, you can always break it into smaller chunks before treating her.
Texture
Some dogs prefer chewy treats, while others are more content with crunchy treats that are easier to eat. When buying a low-carb dog treat, pay attention to the texture and pick what your dog prefers. If you’re just introducing treats to your pup for training, get the soft chewable treat that’s quick to consume so that your training session doesn’t slow down due to continuous chewing.
Calorie count
Treats with a low-calorie count are highly recommended. Even if you pick a treat above 20 calories, you can control it with the right portion size. You may love your pet just like a baby, but too many treats would lead to weight gain. Even during training sessions, do not go beyond 10% of the total consumption of your dog’s daily diet.
Detailing Our Favorite Low Carb Dog Treat of 2024
Visionary Pet Foods Dog Treat
– Best Overall
It doesn’t get any better than this because this product by Visionary contains only 1g net of carbs, making it one of the best choices for low-carb dog treats. If you give your dog strict keto food, you can confidently add these treats to their diet. It is suitable for puppies and both small and large adult dogs. Use the biscuits for training or just shower love on your beloved pet without the guilt.
The low-carb treat biscuits are super crunchy and full of flavors. You will have your little pup wag around his tail for more. Prepared with limited ingredients, the diet is also suitable for sensitive canines and dogs with allergies.
- Suitable for all breeds
- Does not contain common allergens for sensitive dogs
- The beef flavor becomes a favorite in no time
- Animal protein for best health benefits
- The picture on the packaging can be misleading
Nulo Dog Treat
– Best Flavors
This treat by Nulo will help you keep your pup in the best shape. Not only does it has low carb content, but it also contains only two calories per treat to support a healthy weight. The super delicious formula is available in various flavors, including salmon, duck, and turkey. It is in the form of a pellet, which is easily chewable by dogs of all breeds and sizes.
Your dog will fall in love with the real meat flavors. The ingredients are carefully chosen so you can confidently give these gluten-free treats to your dog. Rest assured that this low-carb and low-calorie formula will keep your dog happy and healthy.
- Treats make training easier
- A little extra treat won’t hurt for its super low-calorie count
- Added flavors of cherries, honey, and blueberries for more nutrition
- Can be given separately or as a food topper
- The texture of pellets may vary
A Freschi Dog Treat
– Best Natural Option
A Freschi offers turkey tendon treats that are hard to resist by dogs of all breeds and sizes. The low-carb treat is made of high-quality ingredients without chemicals, additives, preservatives, or any other harmful ingredient. This treat is as natural as it gets with simple flavors. The turkey tendon treat is a one-ingredient dog chew available in different patterns, including strip, rope, coil, and bone. Choose the pattern that your dog prefers the most.
It is a high-protein formula that helps maintain lean muscles without extra weight gain. Cooked to perfection with the slow roasting method, these treats with multiple strands will keep your dog engaged for longer.
- Suitable for sensitive dogs or dogs with allergies
- Doesn’t contribute to pet weight gain
- Can be broken into pieces for smaller dogs
- The multiple strands help cleanse your pup’s teeth
- Not all dogs will be fond of the single-ingredient flavor
Nudges Dog Treat
– High Protein Option
Rich in protein, the sliced treats can make the most stubborn dog come to you wagging his tail. Made from high-quality chicken breast, this one-ingredient treat gets its flavors from its marinade and slow-cooking method.
The recipe is free from common allergens to ensure the best health of your pup. The low-carb formula is also rich in protein, with chicken being the no.1 ingredient. The treats are suitable for dogs of all breeds and sizes, so you don’t have to get separate treats if you have different dog breeds as pets.
- Makes training easier
- Most dogs love chicken and will enjoy the treat
- Suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs and allergies
- One pack serves all dog breeds
- The recipe lacks versatility
Pur Luv Dog Treat
– Also Consider
The protein-rich recipe has chicken as its primary ingredient. It has an easily digestible formula, suitable for pups with sensitive stomachs. The delicious low-carb treat will satisfy your dogs’ craving and their natural urge to chew.
The recipe includes a handful of carefully selected ingredients to give your dog the best. There’s absolutely no confusion about what’s in your dog food. The flavorful treats are surely going to become a favorite in no time.
- Chewable treats keep dogs engaged and satisfied
- Suitable for sensitive dogs
- Suitable for dogs with allergies to common ingredients
- Interesting texture will keep your dog hooked
- A little dense in calorie count
People Also Asked
A: In addition to picking any of the treat options that we shared in this guide, you can also offer some low-carb food to your fur buddy. Vegetables such as sweet potatoes, yams, carrots, squash, peas, and pumpkin are packed with healthy nutrition and low carb content that you can offer your dog. Fresh or frozen, you can occasionally give your dog green beans, peas, and carrots as healthy snacks.
A: Besides choosing a healthy, low-calorie diet, food with low carb content will also offer health benefits to your dog. The best part is that you can find various specialty dog diets to choose from. Other than off-the-shelf products, you can also give them raw vegetables like carrots. These are crunchy, delicious, and not high in calorie or fat content. You can also offer fruits such as berries, banana slices, and apples in moderation. Limit the natural sugar in fruits to keep your overweight dog healthy. Treat your dog with foods they like but keep their health as your top priority. If you want to introduce more flavors as a treat, consider giving them rice cakes and air-popped popcorn.
A: Most dogs absolutely love peanut butter and cannot have enough treats that include their favorite ingredient. Whether your dog is diabetic, overweight, or both, you can still offer peanut butter in moderation. Make sure you pick a high-quality product to minimize any risk to your beloved pet. The right brand will have everything listed on the label, so you can be sure it doesn’t contain a lot of fat or added sugar. Any food that contains these harmful ingredients can destabilize the blood glucose levels of your dog.