These homemade liver dog treats are the perfect training treat. They are made with chicken liver and are good for your dog’s health.
These are really healthy for your pup, but they won’t know it! They will just think you are sharing something tasty because you love them. Keep reading and learn all about how nutritious they are and how to make them for your fur baby.
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- Why These Liver Dog Treats Are the Best
- Benefits of Liver
- Liver Dog Treats Recipe Ingredients
- Ingredient Substitutions
- Best Liver for Dog Treats
- Serving Size
- Equipment Needed
- How to Make Liver Dog Treats
- How to Store Baked Dog Treats
- Can you eat these liver dog treats?
- More Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
- Liver Dog Treats
Why These Liver Dog Treats Are the Best
Your dog will love these liver treats! And you won’t mind making them because they are so easy! They might not be very appetizing for you, but they are a healthy treat for your pup.
And talk about treats dogs will get excited about. Just watch your dog’s tail wag when you are making these treats.
These DIY liver dog treats are made with wholesome, nutritious ingredients so they are actually good for your dog. Your pup will think they are eating a treat, but you will know they are eating nourishing food.
Want to know what is so healthy about them? It’s mainly the liver in these all-natural dog treats. Organ meats are so much better for dogs than any second-class protein such as beans or other vegetables.
Eggs, oats, and coconut oil are also very nutritious ingredients.
These dog treats with liver are high in protein and loaded with vitamins and minerals. They are a good source of iron and essential fatty acids.
Plus, you can crumble smaller pieces up and put them on your dog’s dry dog food!
If you enjoy baking healthy homemade treats for your dog, then this recipe is for you!
Benefits of Liver
Liver has an exceptional nutritional profile. It’s a nutrient-dense protein and one of the healthiest foods for dogs. These are some of the nutrients found in chicken liver:
- Vitamin A: Is important for normal vision, immune function and reproduction. It also helps organs function properly.
- Vitamin C: Boosts the immune system and reduces inflammation and oxidation.
- Riboflavin (B2): Is important for cellular development and function. It also helps turn food into energy.
- Folate (B9): An essential nutrient that plays a role in cell growth.
- Iron: An essential nutrient that helps carry oxygen around the body. The iron is the kind most easily absorbed (heme iron).
- Copper: Acts like a key to activate a number of enzymes, which then help regulate energy production, iron metabolism, and brain function.
- Choline: Is important for brain development and liver function.
Read more about chicken liver nutrition and beef liver nutrition.
Liver Dog Treats Recipe Ingredients
The quantity of the ingredients and the step-by-step directions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. First, I want to share some additional information about the ingredients I used in these baked dog liver treats.
Here’s a list of what you need to make these tasty dog treats. Use organic ingredients if you want to make organic liver treats for dogs.
- Liver – Not only is it full of fatty acids, but it is a good source of iron and protein too.
- Oatmeal – This has the healthy fiber your dog needs to encourage healthy digestion.
- Eggs – Another great protein source and it binds the ingredients together, so it is really important.
- Coconut Oil – A healthy fat that is good for your dog’s coat and skin.
Ingredient Substitutions
Do you want to use flour instead of oatmeal? You can use all-purpose or whole wheat flour. Note you will need to use less flour than oats.
Use 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose or whole wheat flour instead of the 2 cups of oatmeal.
Best Liver for Dog Treats
Wondering what is the best liver to use when making dog treats? Well, really any liver works. Chicken and beef liver are most commonly found in local grocery stores. You can also use:
- Deer Liver
- Duck Liver
- Lamb Liver
- Pork Liver
Read more about different types of liver and dogs.
Serving Size
How many homemade dog treats should you give your dog at once? That depends on what else your furry friend ate that day. This might be a healthier treat, but it is still a treat.
It isn’t high in sugar or calories, but it is still a “sometimes” treat that you should give to them in moderation.
Treats should not be a dog’s main source of calories. They should be something given to dogs as a reward or for training purposes.
Dogs shouldn’t overeat and consume too many calories on a daily basis. For this reason, I suggest only giving your spoiled hound a couple of these high-protein liver treats per day.
Always take your dog’s health into consideration before giving them any new treats. Consult with your veterinarian if needed. Also, dogs can have or develop food allergies. Start with small pieces and observe your dog afterward.
Tip: You can crumble up these treats to use as dog food toppers. Yup! Just break them up into small pieces and add them to your dog’s food.
Equipment Needed
You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make these homemade chicken liver dog treats. You can use any regular silicone candy mold but a dog paw print mold gives these treats a fun look.
- Measuring Cups
- Mixing Bowl
- Dog Treat Molds
- Baking Sheet
How to Make Liver Dog Treats
These are the recipe steps and photos of the process for this healthy dog treats recipe. I hope they help show you how to make your own liver treats for dogs.
You can scroll down to the bottom of this article for a printable recipe card.
- Place oatmeal in a blender. Pulse to grind the oats into flour.
- Add liver, eggs, and coconut oil on top of the blended oats in the blender. Blend until well combined and it is a liquid.
- Place the silicone mold on a baking sheet for stability. Pour the mixture into the mold.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
If you do not have a silicone mold, you can use a greased rimmed baking sheet and pour the mixture into the baking sheet. After baking, cool it to room temperature then cut it into squares.
Tip: Wear kitchen gloves if you are concerned about food safety when handling fresh liver.
How to Store Baked Dog Treats
I recommend storing the DIY dog treats in a container for dog treats. You can also store them in sealed treat bags or a large zip-top plastic bag.
A dog treat jar is good to use so the treats are not mistaken for human treats. Here are some cute ones on Amazon:
- Metal Farmhouse Style Dog Treats Jar
- Rae Dunn Good Dog Ceramic Dog Treats Canister
- Clear Plastic Paw Print Air-tight Container
Can you eat these liver dog treats?
Yep, you sure can eat these treats. All of the ingredients are safe for human consumption. But I’m certain you won’t enjoy them. They’re quite tasty for dogs but for humans, well, not so much.
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More Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
Want to make more treats for your dog? Here are some different types of dog treats to make:
- 3 Ingredient Dog Treats
- Apple Dog Treats
- Banana Dog Treats
- Blueberry Dog Treats
- Chicken Dog Treats
- Dog Treats for Bad Breath
- Oatmeal Dog Treats
- Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
- Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats
- Satin Balls for Dogs
Find more easy dog treat recipes here on Spoiled Hounds!
Want to get the best store-bought dog treats instead of making homemade ones? Check out these favorite dog treats on my Amazon dog treats ideas list.
Liver Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 2 cups Uncooked Oatmeal
- 1 pound Chicken Liver
- 2 Eggs
- 1 tablespoon Melted Coconut Oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place oatmeal in a blender. Pulse to grind the oats into flour.
- Add liver, eggs, and coconut oil on top of the blended oats in the blender.
- Blend until well combined and a liquid forms.
- Place silicone cookie/candy molds on a baking sheet for stability. Pour the mixture into the molds.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
O pleased to have found this web site. I’ve become unwilling to feed Jake anymore commercial dog food product. This is a blessing.
Roger
Elgin, Oregon
I to make dog treats . I dehydrate the meat . I put it in the food processor several times . The end result is a powder . Liver has some small chunks remaining . The other meats are basically powder . This allows them to not need refrigeration. When done baking they get put in the dehydrator.
That’s a great tip and info Carol. Thanks for sharing it!
how long the dog treat last.
They should last up to a week in the refrigerator. You can freeze them for up to 3 months.
How crunchy are the treats? One of my dogs doesn’t have any teeth and I’m searching for soft type treats for him. Thank you.
They are chewy, not crunchy because they were baked in the silicone mold. They would be crunchy if baked on a tray. They can be baked for less time to make them even softer.
Can you use lamb or pigs liver if you haven’t got chicken?? X
Yes, you can use lamb, pig, or beef liver if you don’t have chicken liver.
I’m like Mr. Johnson I quit feeding my dogs commercial foods I make your dog food and I make their treats they absolutely love the liver treats for your recipe the dogs
hi can i replace coconut oil with olive oil?
Yes, olive oil is safe for dogs to eat.
If I’m using white flour instead, do I still put everything in a blender?
Yes, you will need to blend to puree the ingredients.
Just made these for my 4 fur bee bees, and they went NUTZ! over these treats! Thank you, thank you, thank you! For putting this article and recipe out for the public, my fur babies will not touch the store bought biscuits anymore, and I know what is in these treats too, so again I thank you and so do my fur bee bees!
Can I add peanut butter to this recipe?
You could add a little peanut butter, up to a 1/2 cup. Reduce the amount of liver by the same quantity.
One of our dogs is wicked picky, I have a hard time finding things she will eat. She’s like Mikey in the Life cereal commercial. She even walks away from marrow bones. When I gave her one of these, she liked it so much she came back for more, then came back again. The other 3 are enjoying them, but they’ll eat anything. Thank you for great recipe!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. My Sassafras is the pickiest dog about anything she eats. If it doesn’t smell right to her she just turns up her nose and walks away. I made these in two batches. Just put second batch in oven. Sassy couldn’t wait she was so excited. One fell on the floor and she gobbled it up. My secong batch I added1/2 tsp tumeric and a handful of kale greens. I am putting in dehydrator so they will store without being refrigerated.
Oh fantastic! I’m so glad your dog enjoys the treats so much.