Lowest fat dog treats
Comparing dog treats on fat content means reading the analytical constituents panel on the back of the packet, not the marketing on the front, because 'light' and 'low fat' are not protected terms the way some food claims are. Below is how to actually compare treats, and where our lower-fat treats and biscuits sit in the range.
Reading fat content properly
Every complete pet food and most treats carry an analytical constituents panel showing crude fat as a percentage. Comparing that percentage across treats tells you far more than a front-of-pack 'light' claim, which has no fixed legal threshold and can be used fairly loosely between brands.
It is worth comparing on a like-for-like basis too — a dry biscuit and a soft, semi-moist treat carry very different moisture content, which affects how the fat percentage reads even when the actual fat per treat is similar. Where possible, compare treats of a similar type rather than jumping between formats.
Why fat content matters for some dogs and not others
A lean, active dog with no history of pancreatitis or weight issues has far less to worry about from an ordinary treat than a dog who is overweight, has had pancreatitis before, or is on a vet-prescribed low-fat diet for another reason. For those dogs, treat choice genuinely matters, not just meal choice.
Treats are, by definition, extra to a dog's main diet, so even a lower-fat treat should stay a small part of daily calories rather than a replacement for thinking about portion sizes generally. A vet or vet nurse can advise on how many treats fit sensibly into your dog's day if weight or a health condition is a concern.
What tends to run lower in fat
Plain biscuits and dried meat-based treats without an added fat coating or gravy generally sit lower on the fat percentage than soft, chewy or gravy-style treats, though this varies by brand and recipe rather than being a fixed rule. Freeze-dried single-ingredient treats are also usually lean, since they are close to the plain meat itself with the moisture removed.
Training treats, made to be given in higher numbers during a session, are often formulated to be lower in calories and fat per piece than a treat meant to be given once or twice a day, which is worth knowing if you train regularly and want to avoid the calories creeping up.
Our picks, and why
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Chicken-Wrapped Milk Stick Dog Treats
Chewy dog treats of soft milk sticks wrapped in real chicken for tasty, protein-rich rewarding.
From£12.99
Dried Catnip & Cat Grass Leaf Treats
A tub of dried catnip and cat grass leaves to sprinkle over toys, scratchers and bedding.
From£8.99
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Dreamies Meaty Sticks Adult Cat Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Soft meaty stick treats for adult cats with salmon, individually wrapped, not for kittens
£1.59
Dreamies Creamy Adult Cat & Kitten Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Creamy lickable salmon treats for cats and kittens, in a 40g pack with taurine
£1.59
Stop Bloody Scratching Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack, given daily as a treat to support skin and coat condition in itchy dogs.
£22.99
Dreamies Shakeups Seafood Celebrations Cat Treats
Complementary Dreamies Shakeups tuna, salmon and shrimp treats, 55G
£2.05
Common questions
- Are training treats lower in fat than regular dog treats?
- Often, yes, since they are designed to be given many times in one session, so many brands formulate them to be smaller and lower in calories and fat per piece. It still varies by brand, so checking the analytical panel is worth doing rather than assuming every training treat is automatically lean.
- What does 'light' mean on a dog treat packet?
- It is a marketing term rather than a fixed legal standard, so it can be used somewhat loosely between brands. Checking the crude fat percentage on the analytical panel and comparing it against a similar treat without the 'light' label is the more reliable way to judge it.
- Do biscuits or soft treats have less fat?
- Dry biscuits without a fat coating or gravy tend to sit lower in fat than soft, chewy treats, though this is a general pattern rather than a rule that holds for every product. Comparing the analytical panel between specific treats is the only way to know for certain.
- Should I stop giving my dog treats altogether if they need to lose weight?
- Not necessarily — treats can still fit into a weight-management plan if the calories are accounted for and lower-fat options are chosen. Speak to your vet about how many treats sensibly fit into your dog's daily calorie allowance rather than cutting them out without guidance.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.