Overweight, old dog with massive amounts of allergies

I found your website by browsing around the internet and find it fantastic. You have given me loads of ideas of what I can and can't feed my dog.

I have 2 little old men now with me. One who is almost 7 and the other is going to be 11 this year! They are both rescue dogs, so both weren't the healthiest from the start.

They are both slightly overweight and have health issues as well.

Both have severe allergies to oats, wheat, grain, chicken and grass. (not that they eat grass but it's one of the allergies they have)

They get walked every day but don't seem to lose the weight. I think it's because I spoil them as they are fantastic little boys and they deserve it after the hard start in life they had.

Now to my question. I would love to be able to make some homemade dog treats as I like to know what goes into the food they get and also I think it will save me a little bit of money.

I work loads on a horse farm where the dogs are with me most days so I am a little bit of a lazy chef. So the less fuss the better.
And with the dogs dietary needs I struggle to find an easy to make treat for them.

So would you be able to help me find an easy to make dog treat recipe for a dog with food allergies and being overweight?

I'd be soo sooo grateful.

Thank you and all the best,

Jessie, Lolo and Doofus.

Chef's Comments ~ Thank you so much for your kind words. I love what I do, and I'm so happy I can help dogs and their parents along the way! :)

The first easy recipe I thought of was my liver dog treats recipe. Beef liver, even calf liver, is not very expensive. All you have to do is cut the liver and bake it until dried. It's a bit smelly, but I'm sure your dogs won't mind! :)

Another way to make baking dog treats easier, is to make really large batches at one time. You can freeze the baked treats for approximately 4 months, and up to 6 months. You can also make the dough and then freeze the dough in small balls to take out and bake fresh treats.

As far as the allergens are concerned, you may need to substitute certain ingredients. For example, you can substitute, one for one, the wheat or grain flour for brown rice flour or potato flour. If any recipe calls for chicken broth, you can use beef broth instead.

OK, now on to how to find low fat dog treat recipes. You can make most dog treat recipes lower in fat by replacing the oils, butters or margarine for unsweetened applesauce. You can also try this green bean homemade dog treat recipe.

Remember that to your dog a treat can be an extra belly rub, a new toy or quiet time by your side. It does not always need to be a morsel of food. But, if you can't resist (I know it's tough for me), give a bit of carrot or green bean as a treat. Most dogs love them, and there's almost no calories added to their daily intake.

I hope this helps! Happy Dog Treat Baking! :)