Treats and chews
Are freeze dried treats high in calories?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
It depends heavily on the ingredient, since freeze drying removes water rather than fat, so a fatty freeze dried liver treat can be more calorie dense by weight than its fresh equivalent, sometimes reaching 4 to 5 kcal per gram. Leaner freeze dried options, like plain chicken breast, tend to run lower, closer to 2 to 3 kcal per gram, though still concentrated compared to fresh meat.
Why removing water increases calorie density
Fresh liver is roughly 70 percent water by weight, so once that water is removed through freeze drying, the remaining product packs the same total calories into a much smaller, lighter piece. A 5 g piece of freeze dried liver can carry a similar calorie count to a 15 to 20 g piece of fresh liver, which surprises many owners who assume a small, light treat must be low calorie.
Checking labels instead of assuming
Because fat content varies significantly between organ meats, muscle meats, and mixed ingredient freeze dried treats, checking the kcal per piece or per gram on the specific product is far more reliable than judging by size or texture, since a small, light piece does not automatically mean low calorie.
Using freeze dried treats without overdoing it
Given their concentration, freeze dried treats work well broken into smaller pieces than you might use for a soft commercial treat, letting a dog get several rewards from what would otherwise be one large, calorie dense piece if given whole.
Key takeaways
- Freeze drying removes water, not fat, which can make some treats more calorie dense than fresh meat by weight.
- Freeze dried liver can carry similar calories to a piece of fresh liver three or four times its size.
- Always check kcal per piece or per gram on the label rather than judging by size alone.
- Break freeze dried treats into smaller pieces to stretch a purchase across more low calorie rewards.