Hot Dogs as Dog Treats: Easy Recipes and Methods

Hot dogs can be a great treat for dogs, but it's essential to do it safely and in moderation.

You can use leftover hot dogs to make fun and healthy dog treats, such as hot dog biscuits.

Hot dog biscuits are a great way to repurpose leftover hot dogs, and they can be stored for up to a week in an airtight container.

Hot dogs can be a popular training treat for dogs, but it's essential to choose high-quality ones, such as organic hot dogs.

You'll want to check the ingredients list to avoid hot dogs containing onion powder, which can be problematic for dogs.

Feeding hot dogs as treats in moderation is key. Hot dogs can be high in fat, which can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, or vomiting in dogs.

A loose benchmark is that no more than 10 percent of your dog's daily calories should come from treats. This means that if your dog's daily calorie intake is 200-1,300 calories, only 20-130 calories should come from treats.

A whole hot dog can be around 150 calories, which is a significant portion of a small dog's daily calorie intake. For example, a 20-pound dog eating a 150-calorie hot dog would be eating more than one-third of her daily calories.

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You can make hot dog treats in the microwave, but be careful with the cooking time as it will vary depending on your microwave. Set it for five minutes, but check the hot dogs after three minutes to avoid overcooking.

To make hot dog treats, cut the hot dogs into about 1/4-inch pieces and place them on six layers of paper towels. Pop them in the microwave for five minutes, then remove the grease with a paper towel and flip the hot dogs over. Return them to the microwave for an additional three to five minutes, or until they're done.

Hot dog treats can be high in fat, so it's essential to keep them in moderation. A whole hot dog can be around 150 calories, and only 20 to 130 calories should come from treats per day, depending on the dog's size.

To make microwave treats, you'll need to cut the hot dogs into about 1/4-inch pieces. Line up the hot dogs side-by-side and cut three or four at a time to speed things up.

You'll want to place the hot dog medallions on about six layers of paper towels, preferably white paper towels with no designs. I prefer these because they help with cleanup.

Pop the hot dog medallions and paper towels into the microwave in batches if necessary. Cooking time will vary depending on your microwave.

Microwave the hot dog medallions for five minutes, but keep an eye on them as they can darken around the edges. This is a sign that they're done.

After five minutes, you should see plenty of grease on the paper towels. Use a clean paper towel to dab off all the grease on top of the hot dogs.

Flip the hot dogs over and return them to the microwave for an additional three minutes. Then, check them again and microwave for two more minutes if needed.

Once they're done, let the hot dog treats cool completely before serving them to your dog. They'll likely shrivel up, especially if you're using turkey hot dogs.

You can dehydrate hot dogs in a dehydrator or an oven. If you don't have a dehydrator, using your oven is a great alternative.

Set the oven to its lowest temperature. This is a crucial step to ensure the hot dogs dry evenly.

Slice the hot dogs to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cutting them in half is optional, but keep in mind they'll shrink during the dehydration process.

Dehydration time will vary depending on your house's humidity and oven temperature. It took about four hours for my batch of hot dogs to dehydrate.

You can store the dehydrated hot dogs in the refrigerator for up to a week. I like to keep a day's supply in my dog walking bag for a quick and easy snack.