Last Updated on January 7, 2025 by Dogster Team
Dog treats can be used as a training aid to reward your dog for good behavior or as a nice gesture. However, since you choose to treat your dog, those small snacks count toward the daily caloric intake. If you’re giving your dog a lot of treats each day, it can contribute to obesity.
It is important to look for treats that are healthy and low in calories, as well as treats that are appropriate for your dog’s life stage and size. Here are our picks for the seven best low-calorie dog treats based on pet owners’ reviews.
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Wellness CORE Power Packed Venison Grain-Free Jerky Dog Treats are the best low-calorie dog treats overall. These hearty, lean treats use real venison and no artificial colors or flavors. Each treat has minimal ingredients and offers a lot of protein, giving your dog added nutrition for rewards without empty calories. The treats are only 5 calories each.
These treats have no wheat, wheat gluten, or soy. Like all Wellness products, these treats are made in the USA with top-quality ingredients. Each bag contains approximately 84 treats per bag. Several reviewers mentioned the size of the treats, which is more for training aid, and the steep price.
Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Tender Beef Recipe Soft-Moist Training Dog Treats is the best low-calorie dog treat for the money. Beef is the first ingredient, giving it a flavor that dogs love. The small bites are ideal for training and rewards, as well as just for showing love. Each treat is 4 calories and boasts omega fatty acids for skin and coat health.
The treats are made in the USA with no by-products, artificial colors, or flavors. Though they are formulated for adult dogs, the small bites are the right size for puppies. Some reviewers said their dogs didn’t like the treats, however.
Stewart Pro-Treat Beef Liver Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Treats are a premium, high-protein, low-calorie dog treat. The treats are made from 100% pure beef liver that’s freeze-dried to maintain its flavor and scent while offering the nutrition of the organ. The single-ingredient formula is good for dogs with food sensitivities, and the treats are only 4 calories.
All Stewart treats are made in the USA in a USDA inspection facility and use no additives or preservatives. The treats come in multiple tub sizes. You can feed them as is or rehydrate them for more moisture. Reviewers said their dogs liked the treats, but they’re large and hard to break into smaller portions for small dogs. Some reviewers said the treats are too hard for their dog to eat.
Wellness Soft Puppy Bites Grain-Free Lamb & Salmon Recipe Dog Treats are delicious, bite-sized treats perfect for training puppies. Formulated for puppies under a year old, these treats have protein from animal sources and added fruits and vegetables for added nutrition.
The treats are made in the USA and contain no meat byproducts, wheat, soy, dairy, or artificial colors and flavors. They also contain DHA and omega-3 fatty acids for brain, skin, and coat health. Some reviewers said the treats seemed to upset their dogs’ stomachs, however.
Merrick Power Bites Real Texas Beef Recipe Grain-Free Soft & Chewy Dog Treats are meaty treats with real beef as the first recipe. Perfect for dogs with chicken allergies, these treats are rich in protein and help to maintain healthy muscle and energy levels. The treats also have omega fatty acids for skin and coat health. Each treat is approximately 5 calories.
Merrick treats are formulated without artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, gluten, soy, or wheat. All treats are made in the US according to FDA guidelines. In addition to beef, the treats come in rabbit, chicken, salmon, and other flavors. Some reviewers said their dogs did not like the treats.
Wholesomes Lite Biscuit with Lamb Meal Dog Treats are low-calorie treats with lamb meal for protein. The nutritious treat is the ideal size for training and has a crunchy texture that dogs love. Each treat is fortified with vitamins and minerals to support overall health.
All Wholesomes treats are made in the USA with high-quality ingredients. Though the treats don’t contain chicken, which may be an allergen for some dogs, they do have chicken fat. Several reviewers said the treats were too hard for their dogs to eat.
Hill’s Natural Baked Light Biscuits with Real Chicken Dog Treats are delicious treats with real chicken as the first ingredient for protein and weight control. The treats are low in calories to avoid weight gain and are recommended for adult dogs.
Treats are made with no artificial colors or flavors. Though they’re for weight control, they are higher in calories than other treats on this list. The small treats are 8.1 calories per biscuit, and the medium treats are 34 calories per biscuit. Several reviewers said their dogs didn’t like them.
Finding the right low-calorie dog treat for your dog depends on the ingredients, your dog’s size and life stage, and other considerations.
Low-calorie treats should be low in calories and offer high-quality protein sourced from animals to support the dog’s energy needs. Avoid treats with filler ingredients like artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
There are benefits to different treat textures. Some dogs may prefer the crunchiness of hard treats, while others may enjoy a soft chew. If your dog has missing teeth or dental issues, however, it’s best to avoid hard treats that may cause discomfort.
You can find treats suited to small, medium, large, and giant breeds. It’s important to consider your dog’s size in choosing a treat since feeding a toy dog a low-calorie treat intended for large breeds will inevitably increase the caloric intake. If you have large treats, try to break them into smaller portions for your dog.
Your dog probably can’t tell the difference between a big treat and a small one, and breaking them into small pieces translates to more treats for them!
Low-calorie for giant breeds will be a little higher, but generally, low-calorie treats should be under 20 calories. Remember that even low-calorie treats can add a lot of calories if you overfeed. Ideally, treats shouldn’t account for more than 10% of your dog’s total calorie consumption.
Every dog is unique in their nutritional needs, so we recommend reaching out to your vet for advice.
If you need to speak with a vet but can’t get to one, head over to PangoVet. It’s an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
If you need to speak with a vet but can’t get to one, head over to PangoVet. It’s an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
This buyer’s guide was carefully crafted by our writers and editors in collaboration with our team of in-house veterinarians. The dog treats reviewed here are rated on a combination of factors: brand reputation, customer reviews across multiple retail outlets, personal experience, and in some cases, feedback from our own dogs! Together, we choose and review only the best dog treats available, to help you make the most informed decisions that foster the well-being of your furry friends.
Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online since 2004, which means we have a lot of experience with dog treats. We are a team of passionate dog owners who care about our pups as much as you do yours. We want the best for every canine on the planet. Dogster’s writers, editors, and veterinarians are deeply invested in the well-being of our pets, and we believe that all pet owners share this dedication to providing only the highest quality products and services for our dogs.
Low-calorie dog treats are an excellent way to reward your dog without adding a lot of calories that can contribute to obesity and health problems. Wellness CORE Power Packed Venison Grain-Free Jerky Dog Treats are our pick for the best overall low-calorie dog treats.
If you want value, Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Tender Beef Recipe Soft-Moist Training Dog Treats is the best low-calorie dog treat for the money. The premium option is Stewart Pro-Treat Beef Liver Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Treats, a high-protein and low-calorie dog treat.
Featured Image Credit: Reddogs, Shutterstock
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Nicole has loved animals of all sizes her whole life so it’s no wonder she has dedicated her career to helping them through what she loves best: learning, writing, and sharing knowledge with others. She’s the proud mom of two dogs, a cat, and a human. With a degree in Education and 15+ years of writing experience, Nicole wants to help pet parents and pets around the planet to live happy, safe, and healthy lives.
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