Looking to give your pet a special snack without breaking the bank? Then check out our guide to vet approved homemade dog treat recipes.
During 2019, American pet owners spent $95.7 billion on their pets, and the biggest chunk of that went toward pet treats. Clearly, we love our pets.
The truth is, you don’t need to spoil your pet with expensive store-bought treats. You can reward them for their undying loyalty with these easy and delicious homemade dog treat recipes instead.
Your vet knows your dog best, so always check with them if you’re unsure of any of the ingredients used in these dog treat recipes.
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Peanut Butter and Bacon Bones
Dogs love peanut butter and it’s good for them too. What’s more, these look and smell yummy enough for the whole family to eat, so label them clearly and store them out of reach of small fiddly fingers.
Here’s the drill:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pumpkin
- ¾ cup peanut butter
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup oil
- 2½ cups wholewheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons bacon grease
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix ½ cup peanut butter, pumpkin, oil and eggs in a bowl.
- Add the baking soda and flour and stir until the mixture forms a stiff dough.
- Knead the dough until smooth.
- Roll out the dough and cut it into shapes.
- Bake the biscuits for 15 minutes.
- In the meantime whisk the grease and remaining peanut butter until thick.
- Drizzle the grease mix over the treats and leave it to set.
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Diabetic Dog Treats
Do you have a dog with special dietary needs? They don’t need to go without a special treat now an again. These quick and easy bites are perfect for dogs who need to watch their sugar intake:
Ingredients:
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- 1 ½ pounds beef liver, cut into pieces
- 2 large eggs
Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a 15×10 inch jellyroll pan with some parchment paper.
- Place the liver in a food processor and pulse it until it’s finely chopped.
- Add the flour and eggs and process until smooth.
- Spread the mixture evenly into your pan.
- Bake the treats until the center’s firm – about 15 minutes.
- Cool and cut into squares.
Store these treats in a sealed container in your refrigerator.
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Fruity Dog Treats
Dogs can eat many types of fruit safely and many of them enjoy it. Avoid things like grapes, raisins, mushrooms and garlic, these can be poisonous.
There’s a little confusion about whether avocado’s okay for dogs to eat, read this post for clarity on the issue.
Here’s a safe, easy recipe for fruit-loving dogs:
Ingredients
- 2 apples
- 1 cup nonfat plain yogurt
Method
- Chop the apples up and add them to the yogurt.
- Add a little water to get a pour-able consistency.
- Freeze the treats in an ice tray.
These are a great refresher for dogs on a hot day. Don’t overdo it though, too much of a good thing’s bad, even for a ‘very good boy’.
A Final Word on Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
Making your own dog treats involves a little more work than popping out to the store but it does have several advantages. For starters you know exactly what’s in them, so you can ensure your pup gets only the best.
Besides, pet treats are expensive, so these homemade dog treat recipes may save you some money too.
Do you want to find out more about how you can do the best for every member of your family? Keep reading my blog for more.
