Low Fat Dog Treats. A Comprehensive Guide To Dog Treats With Low Fat.

1. Chicken breast: Skinless, boneless chicken breast typically contains around 7-8% fat.
2. Turkey breast: Skinless turkey breast usually has about 2-3% fat content.
3. Fish: Most fish varieties contain approximately 5-10% fat, with some leaner options like cod and flounder on the lower end of that range.
4. Venison: Deer meat tends to have a fat content of about 2-3%.
5. Rabbit: Rabbit meat typically contains around 4-5% fat.
6. Lean cuts of beef: Lean beef cuts such as sirloin, tenderloin, and round cuts generally have a fat content ranging from 5-10%, depending on the specific cut and trimming.
7. Ostrich: Ostrich meat is incredibly lean, containing around 2-3% fat on average.
8. Reindeer: Similar to venison, reindeer meat is very lean, with a fat content averaging around 2-3%.

Low Fat Dog Treats

It's really important you pay more attention to carbohydrates than fat.

We all understand that if you eat pasta, or rice 5 times per day, you put weight on. 

Rice and pasta are very low in fat, yet you put weight on. 

When one consumes carbohydrates, they are broken down into glucose, which enters the bloodstream and provides immediate energy to cells. Any excess glucose that is not immediately used for energy is stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles. However, there's a limited capacity for glycogen storage.

Any excess carbohydrates will convert into triglycerides (fat) in the liver. 

What carbohydrates? 

All of them. Carrots, apples, rice, wheat gluten, peas, broccoli, oats...

So, whilst you might be spending money on low fat treats, your approach to your dog's diet might be completely wrong. 

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We advise against vet recommended diets due to their high carb load. They are filled with rice, wheat gluten, barley, and other high glycemic carbs. 

Why Do Vets Recommend Certain Foods?

Your dog's diet should be a high meat, low to no carb. Why no carb? Because they can make energy from protein and fat (Gluconeogenesis)

Gluconeogenesis is a metabolic process that occurs in various animals, including dogs, where the body synthesises glucose from non-carbohydrate sources. This process primarily takes place in the liver and, to a lesser extent, in the kidneys.

In dogs, gluconeogenesis is an essential mechanism for maintaining blood glucose levels, especially during fasting, low-carbohydrate diets, or periods of increased energy demand. Unlike some other animals (like humans), dogs have a limited ability to utilise fats as a direct energy source for their brain. Therefore, they rely more on gluconeogenesis to provide glucose for the brain and other tissues when carbohydrates are scarce.

During gluconeogenesis, substrates such as amino acids (from proteins), lactate (from muscles during intense exercise), and glycerol (from the breakdown of fats) are converted into glucose. These substrates are processed through a series of enzymatic reactions to produce glucose, which is then released into the bloodstream to maintain blood sugar levels.

While dogs, like many mammals, can synthesise glucose through gluconeogenesis, their specific metabolic rates and abilities can vary based on factors such as breed, size, health status, and diet.

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