Homemade Dehydrated Treats for Dogs - Dalmatian DIY (2023)

FAQs

Can you make your own dehydrated dog treats? ›

Yes, you can dehydrate dog treats in the oven. Preheat the oven to the lowest setting, and place the treats on a baking sheet. Prop the oven door open with a wooden spoon. Bake/ dehydrate according to the recipe.

You can dehydrate all types of meats, from steak and chicken to ground beef and turkey. You will want to trim all fat from meats before dehydrating. Organ meats like liver and gizzards also make healthy, inexpensive treats your dog will love.

Wash hands, wash chicken, pat dry and cut thin strips. Place chicken strips evenly and without touching on dehydrator tray. After around 8-10 hours they are dry and placed in the oven for 10 minutes at 150ºC (300ºf) to make sure it's completely safe and free from any bacteria. Chicken jerky dog treats done!

This is dependent on whether the dehydrated dog treats are commercially made or homemade. Commercial dehydrated dog treats typically have a longer shelf life, whereas homemade dehydrated treats can usually be kept for about 2-3 weeks. Pro tip: Do not store in the fridge.

Claim #5: Dehydrated dog treats are cheaper.

“Dehydrated sweet potatoes are another thing that's very cheap to make yourself, compared to buying store-bought sweet potato chews.” She adds that using less common cuts of meat (tongue, organs, etc.) is often cheaper as well.

With all of the water evaporated, these treats can last a pretty long time. In rooms with little to no humidity, it's possible for freeze-dried treats to last from 15 to 18 months unopened. These types of treats can last up to a year opened on the shelf.

Place sweet potato slices and banana slices on separate dehydrated racks. Bake overnight at 125 degrees. Cut pureed chicken/turkey mixture into strips and lay them spread apart on the silicone sheet. Continue to bake until everything is dried to your liking, removing pieces that dry faster than others.

Using treats as a form of hydration

Fresh fruits and vegetables such as watermelon (without the seeds), cantaloupe, celery, and cucumbers all have a water content of over 90% making them a great, hydrating treat choice for those hot summer days.

You'll need 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup peanut butter and 2 eggs. Mix the ingredients together until combined, and then add water until it becomes wet enough to roll out as dough. This is my go to recipe; my dog goes absolutely nuts for them.

Homemade dog treats don't contain the same amount of preservatives, fats and chemicals that regular store-bought treats contain. This is simply because homemade dog treats don't have to sit in bags on store shelves for weeks at a time, so homemade treats can contain the freshest and most natural ingredients available.

What vegetables can you dehydrate for dogs? ›

You can add a variety of dehydrated vegetables including green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini, or broccoli to your pets' food. Certain freeze dried fruits and berries, such as blueberries, bananas, and apples, can also be added in moderation, or used to make healthy dog treats.

It's better to dehydrate low and slow than try to rush things along with higher heat. This helps ensure it dries evenly all the way through. If you don't have a food dehydrator (affiliate link), you can substitute an oven-safe baking/cooking rack, drip tray, and a fan-forced oven. Cottage cheese is safe to eat raw.

The process of making dehydrated pet treats makes them healthier than many other highly processed treats. This is because there are no preservatives needed and the nutrients present in the raw ingredient remain intact after dehydration.

Jerky is perhaps the easiest, longest-lasting treat to make for your pup, and it's something you may want to make for yourself as well! All you'll need is your meat of choice (pick the leanest cuts you can find, as they will keep even longer) and your method of cooking, whether you use a dehydrator or your oven.

It's best to seal these Dog Treats in an airtight container and store in the fridge. They will stay good in the fridge for up to 2 months, or you can freeze them for up to 8 months!

🐾 The true fact to remember is that "moisture" grows mold, so if you decorate a dog treat or dog birthday cake and refrigerate or freeze it, the icing/frosting will become "wet/moist" again. Meaning it will grow mold unless you air dry it after removing it from the refrigerator or freezer.

Not only is freeze-dried food highly nutritious, but it's also great for training your dog! These treats are easy to store and do not need to be refrigerated. This makes them a great option for people who travel with their pets or have limited storage space.

Yes! Starting a dog bakery business at home can be a profitable side hustle for the right clientele. You can make money selling homemade pet treats on Etsy, at your local farmer's market, or run it entirely as a home-based business.

The Better Option Is Freeze-Dried Dog Food, and Here's Why

Dehydration loses more than 95% of the moisture content, as opposed to 98-99% with freeze-drying. With freeze-drying, the flavor and texture mostly remain the same, making it a better-tasting food than dehydrated products.

How do you increase the shelf life of homemade dog treats? ›

Obviously make sure they're either in an airtight container, or are wrapped tightly in foil, so that they don't get freezer burn. Stored this way most homemade dog treats are good for several months. Using a vacuum sealer is also a great way to extend the storage life of all sorts of dog treats.

Freeze-drying leaves the food nearly unchanged compared with raw frozen diets, and kills a percentage of bacteria (4). Commercial dehydrated complete and balanced diets have been heated slowly to remove nearly all the moisture.

The short answer is yes — you can freeze dry dog food to minimize food wastage and extend its shelf life.

Oven drying

Your oven can be used to dry foods when you keep it temperature around 140° F (60° C). Though oven drying can take around 6-10 hours depending on the specific food, this method may be beneficial for people who don't want to purchase any additional appliances.

Use Your Oven

It's remarkably easy to dehydrate fruits and veggies in the oven. Just turn it to the lowest setting, cut your fruit and veg into ¼ inch slices, and put them in the oven on a lined sheet pan for as long as they need, usually 6 to 8 hours.

You may be advised to offer your pet a small amount of water on your way to your vet's office to help begin the rehydration process. Dogs suffering from extreme dehydration will typically be treated with intravenous fluids to rehydrate them.

Maybe. But we don't recommend it. A few sips of Gatorade are perfectly safe for your dog, but water is the only fluid your dog needs to stay hydrated. It may help your dog somewhat to have a few sips of Gatorade after a bout of diarrhea, but Pedialyte is probably a better choice.

Dogs Drinking Salt Water

When a dog ingests salt water, the excess salt draws water from the blood into the intestines, leading to diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. Salt water also disrupts the fluid balance in your dog.

Besides gut and immunity boosting probiotics, yogurt has other benefits for your dog's health. It's full of essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium and protein. It's also a good source of the most important nutrient of all: water. Used as a food topper, yogurt is an easy way to add moisture to your dog's diet.

What ingredients do you not want in dog treats? ›

Honey is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. It contains natural sugars and small amounts of vitamins and minerals. It is also used as a sweetener in many foods and beverages.

There's no rule about how often you can dole them out, as long as you limit treats to 10% of their daily calories. Some owners choose to give one large biscuit each day. Others give a handful of kibble (perhaps 20 or 30 pieces) over the course of the day, one or two pieces at a time. Giving no treats is fine, too.

How to properly store your treats. Once dry, these treats last about 15 days in the pantry, three to four weeks inside the fridge, and up to six months when you freeze them right after making. But there are a few ways that you can extend the life of your homemade treats just by improving your storage methods.

There is no requirement that pet food products have premarket approval by the FDA. However, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires that pet foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.

While making sure your dog always has access to fresh water is a must, adding fresh fruit can be a healthy, nutritious way to help keep them hydrated. Fruits dogs can eat with the highest water content include berries, peaches, and pineapples.

Both cranberries and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities. Whether your dog will like this tart treat is another question. Either way, moderation is important when feeding cranberries to dogs, as with any treat, as too many cranberries can lead to an upset stomach.

Can dogs drink Pedialyte? ›

Pedialyte Has Been Formulated For Humans—Not Dogs

The higher level of sodium can be harmful for dogs. Pedialyte also has extra sugar in it, which may be harmful to diabetic dogs or dogs with diseases who are predisposed to electrolyte imbalances.

If you're planning to switch your dog's diet to a dehydrated one, a significant investment would be buying a dehydrator. If you already have one, all you need to do is prepare the ingredients, put them in dehydrator trays, and you're good to go. In addition, you can also make homemade dehydrated dog treats.

How long does dehydrated food last? Most home dehydrated food, when prepared and stored correctly, can last for months and up to a year. But a lot depends on the storage method and storage environment.

Dehydrated meat is a very dense source of protein. Depending on the type of meat used, jerky may consist of over 85 percent high-quality protein. Single-ingredient jerky for example, made from chicken or turkey breast is extremely lean. This makes this kind of jerky a great treat for dogs on a diet.

Dehydrated bones are a great option for dogs and cats. They can also be a great introduction to chewing fresh raw bones for some dogs. Dehydrated bones should be supervised when feeding.

Dehydration removes approximately 90-95 percent of moisture, while freeze-drying removes about 98-99 percent. Rehydration: Freeze-dried pet food will rehydrate within 2-3 minutes while dehydrated pet food can often take 5-10 minutes or need to be left soaking for a few hours depending on the size of the food chunks.

You may find yourself wondering, "Are freeze-dried treats good for dogs?" The answer is yes. Freeze-drying gently removes moisture while preserving nutrients. You will want to be sure you provide plenty of fresh water for your pets to drink though while they are eating these treats.

Obviously make sure they're either in an airtight container, or are wrapped tightly in foil, so that they don't get freezer burn. Stored this way most homemade dog treats are good for several months. Using a vacuum sealer is also a great way to extend the storage life of all sorts of dog treats.

Freeze-dried foods retain the vast majority of the vitamins and minerals found in their original state. Freeze-dried food retains its nutrition because of the “cold, vacuum” process that is used to extract the water. Whereas, the nutritional value of dehydrated food is generally around 60% of equivalent fresh food.

Is dehydrated dog food safe? Out of all types of dog food, dehydrated dog food is one of the safest options available. The dehydration process removes moisture from the ingredients helping it to last longer, especially in comparison to raw food.

What are the most hydrating foods for dogs? ›

Fresh fruits and vegetables such as watermelon (without the seeds), cantaloupe, celery, and cucumbers all have a water content of over 90% making them a great, hydrating treat choice for those hot summer days. There are also many simple treats you can create for your dog to boost their health and hydration even more.

Dogs need to drink water to keep their body hydrated. Water serves many vital purposes for the dog's body, such as keeping them hydrated, removing waste, assisting in proper digestion, and promoting good urinary tract health.

Bone broth is packed with much-needed minerals for canine nutrition. These minerals, including magnesium, calcium, sulfur, silicon, and phosphorus, play a crucial role in the nervous system, heart health, muscle contractions, sleep, and hydration of your dog.

You can add a variety of dehydrated vegetables including green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini, or broccoli to your pets' food. Certain freeze dried fruits and berries, such as blueberries, bananas, and apples, can also be added in moderation, or used to make healthy dog treats.