🦴 DIY Dog Treats: Healthy and Delicious Recipes for Your Pup 🐶
Welcome to my guide on
making homemade dog treats! As a veterinarian with over 10 years of experience,
I often get asked by clients for healthy treat recommendations. So I decided to
share some of my favorite do-it-yourself recipes that your dog will love and
are nutritious too.🥰
Why Make Your Own Dog Treats?
There are several
benefits to crafting your own snacks over buying pre-made ones:
You Control the
Ingredients
You get to choose
wholesome ingredients, avoiding unhealthy preservatives and artificial colors.
This gives you peace of mind that your pup is getting only natural,
high-quality foods. 👍
Customize for Your
Dog's Needs
You can add or avoid
certain ingredients if your dog has allergies, sensitivities or health
conditions. Tailor treats to provide nutrients they specifically need.🥬
Save Money
Homemade is much
cheaper than artisan store-bought treats. And you can make them in bulk and
store for later.💸
Bonding Activity
It's a fun project to
do with kids and brings you closer together with your furbaby. My dogs get
super excited when treats are involved! 🤗
👩⚕️ Veterinarian’s Advice
When preparing home cooked
food or treats, there are some key tips to keep in mind:
🔸 Talk to your vet if your dog has any health issues to discuss
diet needs. Provide an overall balanced diet.
🔸 Follow recipe
guidelines carefully including
ingredients, measurements and preparation.
🔸 Avoid ingredients your dog is allergic or sensitive to. Some
common culprits are wheat, soy, chicken, and beef.
🔸 Use high-quality
ingredients. Choose fresh, whole
foods whenever possible over heavily processed.
🔸 Store safely. Refrigerate treat dough or baked treats in
airtight containers. Label with the date and contents.
🔸 Watch for signs of an
upset stomach like vomiting or
diarrhea. Discontinue the food and call your vet if symptoms don’t go away
within 24 hours or sooner if severe.
🔸 Brush your dog's teeth too for good dental health. Some studies show 94% of dogs over age 3 develop dental disease. Providing chews
can help remove plaque.
Let’s get to those
recipes now...your dog is waiting! 😋
1. Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Dog Treats
This is an all-time
favorite combo both for pet parents and pups. These homemade biscuits are a
cinch to make.
Ingredients:
·
2 and 1⁄2 cups whole
wheat flour
·
2 eggs
·
1 cup pumpkin puree
·
1⁄2 cup peanut butter
·
1 tsp baking powder
·
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets
with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour,
baking powder and cinnamon.
3. In another bowl, whisk eggs then stir in
peanut butter and pumpkin puree until smooth.
4. Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix
thoroughly. Dough will be sticky.
5. Flour your hands and roll dough into 1⁄2 inch
balls and place on prepared baking pans with space between.
6. Bake for 14-18 minutes until lightly browned.
7. Cool completely and store in an airtight
container for up to 2 weeks.
These protein-packed
treats make great training rewards too. Freeze a batch for teething pups!
See also:
Top Training Tips for New Puppy Owners
2. Chicken & Sweet Potato Chews
Chicken and sweet potato is a gentle food combination appropriate for most pups, including those with sensitive stomachs. And they absolutely love these chewy homemade jerky strips.
Ingredients:
·
2 sweet potatoes,
peeled and sliced thin
·
1 lb skinless,
boneless chicken breasts, sliced thin
·
3 cups low-sodium
chicken broth
·
1 tsp garlic powder
·
1 tsp parsley
Instructions:
1. Add chicken and sweet potatoes to slow cooker.
2. Pour in chicken broth then sprinkle seasonings
on top.
3. Cook 3-4 hours on high until chicken is cooked
through and potatoes are tender.
4. Transfer solids to a baking sheet lined with
parchment paper.
5. Bake at 200°F, flipping once, until completely
dried out - about 3 hours.
6. Cut into bite-sized pieces and store in
airtight container up to 2 weeks.
These long-lasting
crispy strips are packed with vitamins and minerals too. I like making a double
batch to save for later!
See also:
Is Raw Food Diet Healthy for Dogs?
3. Baked Vegetable Fries
It can be tricky getting our canine friends to eat their greens. But baked veggie fries are a game-changer! Dogs devour these crispy, savory treats made with nutrient-dense vegetables.
Ingredients:
·
2 sweet potatoes, cut
into strips
·
2 carrots, cut into
sticks
·
2 celery stalks,
sliced
·
1 red bell pepper, cut
into strips
·
1 zucchini, sliced
·
1 egg, beaten
·
1⁄2 cup breadcrumbs or
oat flour
·
2 tbsp olive oil
·
2 tsp Italian
seasoning
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet
with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, toss chopped veggies with
olive oil and Italian seasoning.
3. Place breadcrumbs and beaten egg in separate
shallow bowls.
4. One at a time, dip veggies in egg, allowing
excess to drip off then coat completely in crumbs.
5. Arrange veggies in a single layer on baking
sheets. Mist with olive oil spray.
6. Bake 20 minutes, flipping halfway, until
browned and crispy. Cool before serving.
Store leftovers in
fridge up to 5 days or freeze for 6 months. You can substitute other vegetables
too like green beans, beets or parsnips. Have fun with mixing up veggie combos
to find your pup’s faves! 🥕🥦
See also:
Can Dogs Eat Vegetables?
4. Healthy Breakfast Pup cakes
Starting the day with
these wholesome muffins chock full of super foods will help give your buddy
steady energy. And they make fun handheld treats for nibbling! 🧁
Ingredients:
·
3 very ripe bananas,
mashed
·
3 eggs
·
1⁄4 cup peanut butter
·
1⁄4 cup plain Greek
yogurt
·
2 cups oat flour
·
1 tsp baking soda
·
1 cup blueberries
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin tin with
papers or grease holes.
2. Mix bananas, eggs, yogurt and peanut butter
together in large bowl.
3. In another bowl, combine oat flour and baking
soda.
4. Add dry ingredients to wet and stir just until
blended. Fold in blueberries.
5. Divide batter evenly into muffin cups.
6. Bake 18-22 minutes until toothpick inserted
comes out clean. Cool completely on rack.
These little cakes
stay fresh covered at room temp for 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
You can swap out
blueberries for other fruits like raspberries, apples or pumpkin puree too. For
extra protein, mix in a spoonful of almond butter or scoop of collagen
peptides.🍓🥧
See also:
Can Dogs Eat
Fruit? Healthy Options
5. Breath-Freshening Mint & Parsley
Biscuits
Many doggie breath issues start with gum disease which recent studies show over 80 percent of adult pooches suffer from. These savory herbal biscuits help combat bad puppy breath while providing vitamin K, iron, and beta carotene too.
Ingredients:
·
4 cups whole wheat
flour
·
1 1⁄2 cups fresh
parsley, minced
·
1⁄4 cup fresh mint
leaves, minced
·
1 1⁄2 cups shredded
carrot
·
1 cup shredded cheddar
cheese
·
1 tbsp parsley flakes
·
2 eggs
·
1 cup chicken broth
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. In a large bowl, mix
flour, parsley, mint, parsley flakes and cheese.
2. Add carrots, chicken broth and eggs. Mix until
it forms a soft dough.
3. On a floured surface, roll out to 1⁄4 inch
thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
4. Arrange on a parchment lined pan and bake 35
minutes until lightly browned.
5. Turn off oven and leave biscuits to dry out
for 1-2 hours.
6. Once fully cooled, store treats in airtight
container up to 1 month.
If your furry friend
needs extra fresh breath power, swap cheddar for mint cheddar. You can find my
homemade dog toothpaste recipe here for more oral care.
See also:
Dog Bad Breath
Causes and Treatment
Recipe FAQs
Have some questions
about preparing tasty homemade nibbles? Here I cover some common concerns pet
owners have.
Are these dog treat
recipes nutritionally balanced?
Dogs require a
complete and balanced diet with protein, fat, minerals and vitamins. So I
recommend homemade treats make up no more than 10% of your dog’s total caloric
intake. Provide a high quality commercial or home cooked meal plan for the majority of their diet. My
recipes here use wholesome ingredients that add nutritional value.
Can I adjust
ingredient amounts or substitute?
Yes, you can double or
halve recipe portions depending on how many treats you want to make. When
swapping ingredients, aim for similar nutrition value. For example, substitute
beef, turkey or lamb products for chicken. Stick to dog-friendly fruits,
veggies and grains over processed people foods. Get creative experimenting with
healthful ingredients!
How do I know if my
dog has a food allergy or intolerance?
Symptoms of allergy
may include itchy skin, ear infections, foot nibbling/licking or digestive
issues like vomiting and diarrhea. Food intolerances can cause loose stools or
gas. Keeping a food journal can help narrow down problem ingredients. Then work
with your vet on appropriate diet changes or challenge trials. Omitting common
offenders like wheat, corn and soy may help.
What are choking
hazards for dogs when giving treats?
Any small, dense
bite-sized foods can pose choking risks for eager eaters. This includes things
like grapes, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, nuts and seeds, cheese cubes and
more. Always supervise your dog when eating. And consider larger or softer
treat options.
Final Thoughts
Whipping up nutritious
nibbles at home saves money while controlling for better ingredients. You can
customize treats to your dog’s health needs and food sensitivities too. These
recipes only skim the surface of endless homemade possibilities.
I’d love to hear your
favorite homemade treat combinations or any questions! For more veterinarian
tips and advice for your fur babies, explore the resources at My Vet Clinic Website. And
don’t forget to brush those pearly whites after snacktime! 😁🐶