If your dog suffers from a food allergy or intolerance, you know just how hard it can be to find treats which are both delicious and safe for your pup.
The most common canine food allergens are beef, dairy, gluten, poultry, lamb, and soy. “Un-fur-tunately,” these ingredients are common in many commercial dog treats.
Sure, you could leash up Fido and take a trip to the pet store to pick up some specially formulated hypoallergenic dog treats. But where’s the fun in that? Save yourself some cash and make some tasty treats at home. (We’re sure you’ll get extra brownie points if you let Fido in the kitchen to lick the bowl!)
Below, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite hypoallergenic dog treat ideas. “Bone” Appetit!
Sweet Potato Chews
Skip the rawhide bone and treat your pal to an all-natural alternative! Not only are these chews doggone delicious, but they’re also chock full of fiber and vitamins A, B6, and C. They also keep in an airtight container for up to two weeks. The best part? This treat only requires one ingredient!
Ingredients:
- 2 large sweet potatoes
- 1 tbsp. coconut or olive oil (optional)
Method:
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Slice off the ends and cut into half-inch-thick, vertical slices.
- Bake on a low heat for 6 hours. Flip the treats once halfway through.
- Remove chews from oven and let cool.
- Snap pics of your pup going dog wild with their new chew!
Berry Good Pupsicles
What better way to soothe your pup on a sweltering summer day than with a pupsicle? If your dog has a dairy or soy allergy, they’ll “pawsitively” love this treat!
You can use any dog-safe berries -- blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, or cranberries -- for this super simple, customizable recipe. (Just make sure to avoid cherries -- they’re toxic for dogs.)
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of water
- 1 cup of dog-safe berries of your choice
- 1 tbsp. watered-down molasses (if desired)
Method:
- Combine water, fruit, and molasses in a bowl.
- Pour into ice trays or molds and freeze.
- Enjoy!
Peanut Butter Bites
This is the ultimate treat for dogs who are head over paws in love with peanut butter. Like all our other hypoallergenic dog treat ideas, this one is simple, cheap, and uses minimal ingredients. It also yields 36 bites, making it “pawfect” for those daily training sessions. Add a little honey, and you just might find yourself sneaking a few treats for a midnight snack!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of 100% peanut butter, preferably with no added sugar or oils
- 1 cup of extra-virgin coconut oil
Method:
- Using a double boiler, melt the peanut butter and coconut oil until well-combined.
- Pour mixture into ice trays or mold and freeze.
- Store in the fridge and enjoy!
Venison Jerky
Canines might be omnivores, but most dogs have an instinctive hankering for meat. If your pup has an allergy to poultry or lamb, venison jerky is a tasty, natural alternative. Not only is this a low-fat option that’s packed with protein, but it also doesn’t include any of the animal byproducts commonly found in commercial dog treats.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. venison meat
Method:
- Preheat oven to 170 degrees F.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Cut venison into bite-sized pieces and bake for one hour.
- After one hour, lower heat to 140 degrees F and bake for an additional 8 hours.
- Let treats cool.
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Pumpkin Oatmeal Dog Biscuits
Search the internet for hypoallergenic dog treat ideas and you’ll find hundreds of recipes containing milk and yogurt. If your precious pal has a dairy allergy or suffers from lactose intolerance, don’t fret! Feel free to get fancy with this dairy-free alternative to milk bones for dogs. Time to break out the bone-shaped cookie cutters!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- ½ cup canned* or fresh pumpkin (deseeded and mashed)
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
(If using canned pumpkin, be sure to read the ingredients list and opt for 100% pure pumpkin. Pie fillings often contain added sugars and spices which can be harmful to dogs.)
Method:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Add pumpkin, water, and oil to a bowl and combine.
- Slowly stir in oats and flour and shape into a dough.
- Roll the dough into small biscuits about ¼ of an inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to shape if desired.
- Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 40 minutes.
- Let cool before serving.
Share Your Hypoallergenic Dog Treat Ideas
And there you have it: five of our all-time favorite hypoallergenic dog treat ideas. We’d love to hear your tried and true hypoallergenic recipes! (Extra brownie points for including pics of your pup chowing down on their treats!)
