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!

Rocky Kanaka

Rocky Kanaka is an entrepreneur, pet rescue advocate and dog dad to a rescue boxer named Flip, a blind Cane Corso called Kobe, and a terrier mix named Zoey. He's also a pet chef and owner of The Dog Bakery, which specializes in dog birthday cakes and fresh baked dog treats. His three dogs can't get enough of the dog cakes and treats!

Lorna Ladd

Lorna Paxton Ladd is a passionate dog lover and enthusiast of The Dog Bakery. She loves spoiling her 3 rescue dogs with dog cakes and jerky. A 15 year veteran in the pet industry, her aim is to educate pet parents on the best recipes, products, tips and tricks to optimize the human/canine bond. Her favorite product at The Dog Bakery are the customizable dog birthday cakes.