Have you had your pumpkin spice latte yet? We certainly have and while there are technically a few more weeks of summer left, we’re fully invested in the fall season. There is nothing like a walk through the falling leaves with your pup in tow and enjoying a misty, fall morning.
As you make your next loaf of pumpkin bread, maybe consider using those culinary skills to make some delicious treats for your dog that are just as festive.
Frozen Pumpkin Dog Treats by American Kennel Club
Just how pumpkin is full of health benefits for us, it can be for our pups too!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie mix).
Supplies Needed:
Directions:
- Mix pumpkin and yogurt together in a bowl
- Divide the mixture evenly into an ice tray or molds
- Freeze for 24 hours
- Pop the treats out of the mold and put into a freezer bag for storage. You can also leave them in the ice tray if you have space in your freezer!
Sweet Potato Dog Treats by Food.com
There couldn’t be an easier recipe than this one.
Ingredients:
- Large sweet potatoes
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 250°F.
- Wash the sweet potatoes.
- Cut down the middle lengthwise.
- Then cut long lengthwise slices about 1/3 of an inch wide.
- Place on a cookie sheet in a single layer.
- Bake in the oven at 250°F for about 3 hours.
- This leaves them kind of chewy but you could also bake them a little longer to get them crunchy.
Apple Cinnamon Dog Treats by Patchpuppy.com
Ingredients:
- 1 large apple
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1/8 cup of water
- 1.5 cups of white rice flour (you can also opt for brown rice flour or buckwheat flour)
- 1 cup of oats
- Peanut butter (optional, but worth adding since peanut butter is a treat in itself!)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350⁰F.
- Peel the apple and cut into small pieces. Make sure you take out any seeds as they contain cyanide.
- Place apple pieces and water into a bowl and mash using a potato masher.
- Fold in the oats and cinnamon, and add in the flour until a dough is formed.
- Sprinkle your counter with a bit of flour, and roll out the dough.
- Use your dog’s favorite cookie cutter and place treats on a sprayed cookie sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, leaving them in the oven to dehydrate further with the oven off for 2 additional hours.
- Take a butter knife and ice the cookies with a thin layer of peanut butter before serving.
Important Reminders:
As with everything, moderation is key. If you have any questions about your dog’s diet and if these will be a good choice for them, please contact your veterinarian directly. You also want to remember:
- Avoid using pumpkin pie mix because of the added sugar and corn syrup. Only use pumpkin puree with nothing added.
- If your dog is not lactose intolerant, the yogurt they can consume should be plain and free of sugar.
- Apples are a great treat that’s high in fiber and other nutritional benefits. Make sure any apple seeds are not included since they contain small amounts of cyanide.
- If a recipe calls for peanut butter or you’d just like to give them to your pet as a treat, remember it must be an all natural peanut butter with NO xylitol.
As with everything, moderation is key. Also, follow up with your vet with any questions about your dog’s diet and if these will be a good choice for them. If they give the okay, we hope you can try out the above recipes.