What Ingredients Are Safe for Dogs?

If you’re thinking about making homemade dog treats, one of the first questions you’ll probably have is:

What ingredients are actually safe for dogs?

I remember wondering the same thing when I first started making treats at home. It can feel a little overwhelming at first, especially when you’re trying to sort through all the information online.

The good news is that homemade dog treats don’t have to be complicated. Most of the recipes I make use a few simple ingredients that are easy to find and easy to work with.

A Quick Note Before You Start

Before trying any new recipe, there are a few things worth keeping in mind:

• Introduce new foods gradually
• Treats should only make up a small portion of your dog’s overall diet
• If your dog has allergies, sensitivities, or health concerns, check with your veterinarian before introducing new ingredients

And one important reminder:

Never use products containing xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.

When in doubt, keeping recipes simple is usually the easiest approach.

My Go-To Dog Treat Ingredients

These are some of the ingredients I use most often when making homemade dog treats. They’re easy to find, easy to work with, and show up in a lot of my favorite recipes.

Oats

Oats are one of my favorite ingredients for homemade dog treats because they’re so versatile.

You can:

• Use quick oats as they are
• Blend old-fashioned oats into oat flour
• Use them in baked, frozen, or no-bake recipes

They’re often the starting point for many simple homemade treats.

Natural Peanut Butter

If your dog is anything like mine, peanut butter is usually an instant win.

When choosing peanut butter, I always check the ingredient label and make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol.

Peanut butter works especially well because it adds flavor and helps hold ingredients together in many recipes.

Pumpkin Puree

Pumpkin is another ingredient I use regularly.

It’s easy to mix into doughs, frozen treats, and no-bake recipes, making it one of the most versatile ingredients to keep on hand.

Just be sure you’re using plain pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.

Unsweetened Applesauce

Applesauce is simple, affordable, and works well in a variety of recipes.

When shopping, look for:

• Unsweetened applesauce
• No added sugars
• No artificial sweeteners

It adds moisture and a little natural sweetness without requiring extra ingredients.

Bananas

A ripe banana can do a lot in a homemade dog treat recipe.

Bananas are easy to mash and work well in baked treats, frozen treats, and no-bake recipes.

They’re also a great way to add flavor using ingredients you may already have at home.

Plain Greek Yogurt

Plain Greek yogurt is one of my favorite ingredients for frozen dog treats.

It blends easily with fruits and other ingredients and creates a smooth, creamy texture.

When choosing yogurt, stick with plain, unsweetened varieties and skip anything with added sweeteners or flavorings.

What About Fruits and Vegetables?

There are plenty of fruits and vegetables that can be used in homemade dog treats.

Some common options include:

• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Sweet potatoes

If you’d like a more complete list, check out my guide to dog-safe fruits and vegetables.

Simple Is Usually Best

One thing I’ve learned from making homemade dog treats is that you don’t need a long ingredient list to make something your dog will enjoy.

In fact, some of the recipes Luna gets most excited about use only a few ingredients.

Keeping things simple makes recipes easier to make, easier to customize, and a lot less intimidating when you’re just getting started.

Where to Go Next

Ready to put those ingredients to use?

Check out Easy Homemade Dog Treat Recipes for a few beginner-friendly recipes that use many of the ingredients on this list.

If you’re wondering whether homemade treats are better than store-bought treats, you might also enjoy Homemade vs. Store-Bought Treats: What I Actually Use, where I share how I use both and why I think there’s room for each.

Final Thoughts

Getting started with homemade dog treats doesn’t require a pantry full of specialty ingredients.

A few simple staples like oats, peanut butter, pumpkin, applesauce, and bananas can go a long way.

Start simple, see what your dog enjoys, and have fun with it. That’s really what homemade dog treats are all about.