Dog treats are essentially any consumable you give a dog beyond his normal nutrition. Dog treats are used in training as well as to praise a well-behaved dog. A diabetic dog has specific nutritional needs that prevent it from consuming many commercially available dog treats, but you can make diabetic dog food treats at home.
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Function
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Administering treats is simply part of owning a dog, but when your dog has diabetes, you likely have to place limitations on his diet to guarantee optimum health. The function behind diabetic dog treats is to create treats that are in line with the dog's diet so you can continue to provide treats without putting the dog's health at risk.
Time Frame
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Preparation time for most dog treats is between five and 10 minutes before cook time. Cook time varies from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on what recipe you follow and what ingredients are used. You should also allow for at least 20 minutes of cooling time, as you should never feed a dog a treat fresh out of the oven, because it can burn the inside of his mouth or esophagus.
Meat Treats
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Puree your dog's favorite meat, such as lean beef, chicken or liver, or use all-meat baby food such as those from Beech Nut. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare the treats while you wait. Combine approximately 1 pound of pureed meat with 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour and two eggs. Process the ingredients until smooth and spread evenly across a baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until everything is firm, and allow to cool thoroughly before cutting into smaller pieces.
Oatmeal Treats
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Oatmeal offers complex carbohydrates and fiber, so these treats are healthy as well as friendly for canines with diabetes. Combine 3 cups of uncooked oatmeal, 1 cup filtered water, 1 1/2 cups of whole-wheat flour, 2 egg yolks, 1 tbsp. parsley, 2 cloves of garlic and 1 tsp. baking soda and spoon the mixture onto an oiled cookie sheet. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before feeding.
Other Ingredients
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You can make diabetic dog-friendly dog treats using myriad ingredients as long as you follow a few basic principles. You should feel comfortable using fruits and vegetables, seeds, oats and herbs. You should avoid using sweeteners or overly sweet fruits such as raisins or honey. You should also experiment with different types of meats, including fresh meat, chicken and fish, meat baby food, broths and stocks.
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