ByThese easy tuna dog treats use three ingredients (one can of tuna, one egg, and flour) and take about 25 minutes. The #1 safety rule is the tuna itself. Pick light (skipjack) tuna in water with no salt added, and serve these as a tiny, occasional reward, not a daily snack.
Recipe Snapshot
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Total time: 25 minutes, plus 10 minutes to cool
- Yield: About 80 one-inch squares, or about 320 half-inch training bites
- Difficulty: Easy
- Storage life: 5 days in the fridge, 3 months in the freezer
If your dog sprints to the kitchen when a tuna can opens, you already know the appeal. This recipe is blend, spread, bake, slice. The treats come out soft, smelly, and great for training. Tuna does come with rules, though, so I’ll cover those right in the recipe.
Key takeaway: Tuna treats are a “sometimes” food. Pick the right can, keep the pieces tiny, and use them on one or two days a week.
What do I need to make easy tuna dog treats?
You need one can of tuna, one egg, and flour. Here’s the whole lineup, measured out.
Easy Tuna Dog Treats: Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 can (5 oz / 142 g) light (skipjack) tuna in water, no salt added
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup oat flour or all-purpose flour (use ⅔ cup if using rice flour)
- Extra flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, only if the batter is runny
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Add the tuna, water included, and the egg to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. No processor? Mash very well with a fork.
- Add the flour. Blend until you have a thick, spreadable paste, a bit like brownie batter. If it pours, add flour one tablespoon at a time.
- Spread the paste into an even layer about ¼ inch (6 mm) thick, roughly a 9×9-inch (23×23 cm) square.
- Bake 15 minutes, until the top is set and firm to a light touch.
- Cool 10 minutes. Cut with a pizza cutter into ½-inch squares for training or small dogs, or 1-inch squares for bigger dogs.
Dog-Safe Ingredient Check
- Tuna: Light (skipjack) tuna in water, no salt added. Skip oil-packed, brine, and flavored pouches. Flavored ones can carry onion or garlic, which are on my list of foods dogs can’t eat.
- No albacore. It carries more mercury (numbers below).
- No seasoning, sweeteners, or xylitol. None belongs in this recipe.
- The egg is fully baked when the treats are firm.
Pro Tip: Cut the slab while it’s still slightly warm. It slices cleanly, and the pieces don’t crumble in a treat pouch.
Is tuna safe for dogs?
Yes, in small amounts once in a while, but not as a daily food. Even vet sources disagree on how strict to be. The American Kennel Club says no because of tuna’s mercury. PetMD says very small amounts as an infrequent treat are fine, but not a regular part of the bowl. I follow the cautious side. American Kennel ClubPetMD
Which can you buy matters. A study of canned tuna in the journal PubMed found white (albacore) averaged 0.407 ppm mercury versus 0.118 ppm for light tuna. Draining didn’t change the mercury, and canned mackerel tested much lower. Draining helps with salt, not mercury. PubMed
Water beats oil. PetMD notes oil-packed tuna can lead to pancreatitis. Tuna also carries salt, so keep fresh water out. A dog water fountain makes that easy. PetMD
Vet Tip: Both AKC and PetMD tie heavy tuna feeding to mercury problems that can affect the kidneys and nervous system. If your dog has kidney disease or a history of pancreatitis, ask your vet before serving any tuna treats.
How many tuna treats can my dog have?
A few tiny pieces, on one or two days a week. This is my own cautious rule, not an official one. SpectrumCare notes there’s no official veterinary serving guideline that makes tuna safe for routine feeding. SpectrumCare
The math helps here. One batch is about 320 half-inch bites, so each bite is about 1/320 of the can. Each half-inch bite is roughly 2 calories, and a one-inch square is about 7. (That’s my estimate for the whole batch of about 500 to 600 calories, so check your own can and flour labels.)
My guide for half-inch bites, on a “tuna day”:
- Under 15 lb: up to 5 bites
- 15–50 lb: up to 10 bites
- Over 50 lb: up to 15 bites
Then count them in the daily treat budget. VCA says treats should be no more than 10% of a dog’s daily calories. A dog eating 400 calories a day gets about 40 calories of treats, total. My treats-per-day guide and my 90/10 rule story go deeper. If you’d rather not count crumbs, a variety meal plan keeps the 90% side balanced. VCA Animal Hospitals
Can I use these for training?
Yes, they’re built for it. The smell grabs attention, and half-inch bites are eaten in a second. They pair well with clicker training and teaching your dog to come when called. For more picks, see my list of high-value dog treats and what pro trainers use. Want a structured plan? Brain Training for Dogs is one I’d look at.
Since tuna is a limited treat, save these for the hard moments, like recall training. Use kibble for easy reps.
What can I swap in these tuna treats?
You can swap the flour, the fish, or the style. Here are my go-tos:
- Wheat-free: Use rice flour, or tapioca flour for grain-free. Avoid coconut flour, which dries the treats out.
- Lower-mercury fish: Use canned salmon in water with no salt added, mashed well. AKC lists salmon and whitefish among the safest fish. American Kennel Club
- Fish allergy: Skip this recipe and try my chicken and oat treats.
- Omega-3 boost: Skip extra tuna. Ask your vet about a dog supplement instead.
- Rather skip baking? Try these ready-made dog treats.
- Bigger batch: Double everything (2 cans, 2 eggs, 1½ cups flour) and use two pans. Freeze half right away.
Want an everyday option? See what treats dogs can eat daily.
How do I store tuna dog treats, and can I freeze them?
Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze up to 3 months. I stay on the cautious side because fish and egg spoil fast. Toss anything that smells sour or feels slimy.
To freeze, slice first and spread the pieces on a tray for an hour. Then bag them in portions of 10–15. Thaw in the fridge. Grab one bag for training day.
FAQ
Q: Can dogs eat tuna treats every day?
A: No. Mercury builds up over time, so I keep them to one or two days a week. For daily rewards, my best treats for dogs list has better picks.
Q: Is tuna in water or oil better for dogs?
A: Water, with no salt added. Oil-packed tuna is richer and can lead to pancreatitis, per PetMD.
Q: Can puppies eat tuna dog treats?
A: I skip it. Sources disagree: Wag says to avoid tuna entirely for puppies, while Pooch & Mutt says tiny amounts of skipjack can be OK. Use the salmon swap, and ask your vet first. Wag! Dog WalkingPooch & Mutt
Q: How long do homemade tuna dog treats last?
A: Five days in the fridge, or three months frozen.
Q: Which flour works best?
A: Oat, rice, or all-purpose all work. Avoid coconut flour, and don’t use only whole wheat, which is too heavy.
Final thoughts
Easy tuna dog treats are quick, cheap, and irresistible when you use the right can and keep portions tiny. Want to know if homemade beats store-bought? I compared them in homemade versus usual brands. And if you want to catch that first-sniff reaction while you’re out, a dog camera is a fun way to see it. To track weight and treats over time, try a dog health tracker.
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