Make Dog Treats for the Holidays
Edited by Mian Sheilette Ong, Eng, Lynn, Jen M and 1 other
The holidays are coming! All your energy is focused on coming up with the best dishes and gifts for your friends and loved ones. Have you ever paused for a while to think about your furry companions? It's easy to forget that dogs need to be part of the celebration as well. Dogs are loving members of your family. Don't you think they deserve some extra love this holiday season? You don't have to raid the pet stores in your area just to get that special gift. Why not make dog treats for the holidays? Whipping up these holiday treats ensures their safety and nutrient content. Holiday feasts are known to have food hazards for your furry companion. With your very own treats, your dogs can enjoy the holiday gatherings without that dreaded trip to the vet.
Choosing Ingredients Safe for Dogs
Preparing dog-friendly dishes is a very delicate task. There are many ingredients out there that are harmful to your canine companions. As a responsible dog owner, you should be aware of what they are. Not all food items that are good for human health are also beneficial to dogs. In purchasing these ingredients, you have to learn how to read the labels and what particular items you should add. Processed foods including the ready-made treats may all have a few ingredients that could make your dog sick.
- 1Sweets for the sweet.Remember that Xylitol (artificial sweetener) is toxic to all animals. Avoid giving your dog food items that have sugar. They will make them sick. Applesauce, bananas, and raw honey are the best alternatives to sugar.
- 2Too much salt.To preserve foods, salt is added. Many food items in the market are filled with unmeasured amounts of salt. Choose fresh vegetables and fruits to keep your dog healthy and attuned to all natural tastes.
- 3Onion powder or Onions.This ingredient is fatal to dogs. It is associated to hemolytic anemia that destroys their red blood cells. Make sure that the purees, stocks, and broths that you give your dogs are onion-free. This includes onion powder. You can always make your own purees, stocks, and broths. This way, you know what quality of food your dog eats every day.
- 4Chocolates in treats.Take note that chocolates are very dangerous to your dog's health. The darker you go, the more detrimental it is for your dog to get that chocolate piece. There is theobromine in chocolates. This is considered canine kryptonite. Some chocolate products also have high levels of fat and salts that can also make your fur-kid very sick. Carob is the alternative you can give them. It is not chocolate. It only tastes, feels, and looks like chocolate.
- 5Grapes or raisins.These harmless-looking tidbits bring about kidney damage to dogs. The amount of raisins that is needed to cause this varies from dog to dog. Instead of raisins, add cranberries. Just always be on guard for preservatives that usually come with dried fruit preparations.
- 6Baby Food for Dogs.Small amounts of baby food is okay. However, there might be hidden components in it such as onions and high amounts of salt and sugar that are not normally in your dog's daily diet.
- 7Excessive Liver.Feeding your dog too much cooked liver can lead to Vitamin A toxicity. Just use this food item as a treat.
- 8Regular Milk and Cheese.Remember that most dogs are lactose intolerant. Pick the lactose-free or soy alternatives if you want to give them milk and cheese. You can also opt for almond milk.
- 9Potatoes.Avoid feeding the green patches on the spuds. These are toxic.
- 10Yummy walnuts and macadamia nuts.These are definitely toxic. If your dog ingests them, expect weakness, paralysis, and muscle tremors. Keep all nuts well selected. Know which nuts are okay for your dog.
Making Dog Treats for the Holidays
To make your dog treat making extra enjoyable, have your fur-kid by your side. Your dog can be the official taster. The following recipes are not expensive at all! It's just a matter of coming up with the right flavors that will definitely make your dog's taste buds water.
Mint Carob Christmas Cookies for Dogs
Ingredients:
- A cup of carob (a naturally sweet alternative to chocolate looks like, tastes like, and feels like chocolate, but it's not)
- A cup of flour
- A cup of baking mix
- ¼ cup of milk
- 4-5 drops of mint essence flavoring
- 2 tbsp. of margarine
- A teaspoon of corn syrup
- An egg
- Dog bone or holiday-inspired cookie cutters
How you make it:
- 1Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.
- 2Mix until the consistency is smooth.Get a big mixing bowl and combine all the ingredients.
- 3Make sure that it has a thickness measuring ¼ inch.Dust your clean surface with flour and roll out the dough.
- 4Maximize the use of your dough.With the cookie cutter, make several pieces.
- 5Place the pieces on the tray. Bake at 350 degrees for up to 30 minutes or until the cookies are light brown in color.Grease your baking tray.
- 6Make sure that only half of each cookie is coated.Melt the carob and dip the cookies in it.
- 7Store them in airtight containers.Cool the cookies.
- 8Give them to your pooch, gift wrapped, on Christmas morning.
Christmas Peanut Butter Treats
Ingredients
- A cup of flour (whole wheat)
- 2 cups APF (all-purpose flour)
- 2 tbsp. of canola or vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp. peanut butter (organic)
- 1 tsp. of molasses
How you make it:
- 1Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- 2Combine the whole wheat flour and the APF in a medium sized mixing bowl.Dry ingredients.
- 3Combine the peanut butter, canola/vegetable oil, and the molasses in a large mixing bowl.Wet ingredients.
- 4Mix until the consistency is smooth.Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
- 5Grease your baking sheet.
- 6Flatten each ball with the back of a fork for that cross-cut design. You can also make use of holiday cookie cutters.Scoop the dough into balls on the baking sheet.
- 7Bake the cookies for 30 minutes.
- 8Cool the cookies.
- 9They will keep for about a week.Store the cookies in an airtight container.
Christmas Doggie Cake
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup wheat germ
- 2 cups flour (whole wheat)
- 2 tsp. of powdered cinnamon
- A cup of molasses
- ½ cup of water
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup of canola oil
- 1 cored apple chopped
- 1 tsp. of vanilla
How you make it:
- 1Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- 2Dust it with flour.Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan with a little vegetable oil.
- 3Combine the baking powder, flour, cinnamon, and wheat germ in a medium mixing bowl and set it aside.
- 4Add in the eggs one at a time. Add your vanilla and water. Beat everything together.Mix the oil and molasses in a large mixing bowl.
- 5Mix until you reach a smooth consistency.Add the flour mix into the wet ingredients.
- 6Add the apples and fold everything together.
- 7Bake until a toothpick comes out clean when you insert it in the cake's center.Pour the batter into the Bundt pan.
- 8Cool the cake before you let your dog have it.
- 9If you want to freeze it, it can last for 60 days.Store in airtight containers and refrigerate for three days.
Christmas Mint Apple Bones
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of APF (unbleached)
- 1 1/2 cups of flour (whole wheat)
- 1/2 cup of rolled oats
- 2 tbsp. dry milk
- 1/3 cup oat bran
- 1 1/2 tsp. dry yeast
- 1 tsp. of peppermint extract or 2 tbsp. of spearmint leaves (chopped)
- 1/2 cup of apple sauce
- 7 or 8 cups of water
- 2 tsp. of food coloring (powdered; red or green)
How you make it:
- 1Preheat your oven to 250 degrees.
- 2Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- 3Place the batter in a bread machine (dough cycle).
- 4Roll the dough to ¼ inch thickness.
- 5Get a bone cookie cutter and cut the cookie shapes.
- 6Just make sure they don't get dark brown in color.Bake your cookies at 250 degrees for about an hour.
- 7Turn off the heat and let the cookies dry in your oven overnight.
- 8Serve to your beloved fur-kid.
Your canine companions will certainly love these holiday treats. They will love eating them as much as you enjoyed making them.
Tips
- You can give these treats as gifts to a friend's dog.
- You can write down the recipes and include them in your gift package for your dog lover friend.
- Make a platter of holiday treats for your dogs for every gathering you have this season.
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
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Article Info
Categories : Dogs | Holidays & Traditions
Recent edits by: Jen M, Lynn, Eng
