5 Summer Treats for Your Dog
Welcome to the secret page of summer treats to treat your pup!
Before heading to the kitchen, there are a few ingredients we should always avoid when baking for your pets. NEVER put xylitol (an artificial sweetener that can sometimes be found in peanut butter), raisins, grapes, or chocolate in your dogs’ treats!
Let's get onto 5 easy at-home frozen treats you can make for your dog to help cool down this summer:
Peanut Butter and Fruit Freezies
Ingredients
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1 cup berries (strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries)
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¼ cup water
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a few tablespoons of xylitol-free peanut butter (check the label!)
Method
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Wash and clean fruit (cut tops off strawberries)
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Puree fruit in a blender with water
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Place fruit puree in an ice cube tray or silicone mold, filling ¾ of the way
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Add a small amount of peanut butter to each mold
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Freeze until completely frozen
Fruit & Yoghurt Freezies
Ingredients
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1 cup fruit (berries, apple, melon, banana, pineapple) Remember: NO GRAPES!
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1 cup Greek or plain yoghurt
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Method
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Clean and prep fruit – dice fruit to small pieces that will fit into the ice cube tray
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Place diced fruit into ice cube trays or silicone mold
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Fill mold with yoghurt
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Freeze until completely frozen
Rockmelon Ice Cream
Ingredients
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2 cups frozen, diced rockmelon
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2 tbsp plain yoghurt
Method
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Clean, dice and freeze rockmelon
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Place rockmelon into a food processor with yoghurt and blend until smooth
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Serve frozen. Optional: top with some of your dogs’ bickies!
Frozen Banana Bites
Ingredients
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1 banana
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1 ½ cups watermelon
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1 cup pineapple
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Method
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Puree watermelon and pineapple
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Slice banana
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Place banana into silicone mold or ice cube tray
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Fill mold to top with the watermelon/pineapple purée
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Freeze until solid
Frozen Kong
A Kong toy can provide hours of entertainment for a dog and it can be filled with many different types of ingredients. Pre-made cheese-like aerosol products or peanut butter can be used to fill the Kong and then freeze, or you can make your own delicious mixture!
Following are a few examples:
Cheese Kong
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1 cup of boiled potato
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½ cup plain cottage cheese
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½ cup low-fat cheese
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Fruit Kong
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1 banana
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1 cup yoghurt
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1 tsp honey
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Chicken and Carrot Kong
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1 cup cooked sweet potato
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a handful of shredded, boiled chicken
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a handful of cooked carrots
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1 tbsp yoghurt
Remember, give treats in moderation to avoid excessive calories. Pet owners should also know that eating a large amount of food too fast can lead to bloating and abdominal pain. Also, some dogs can be very sensitive to eating new things like yoghurt and this can lead to upset stomach (vomiting and diarrhoea). Any concerns about your pet’s health should be addressed with your family veterinarian. If you find other online homemade dog treat recipes, please consult with your family veterinarian before giving to your dog to ensure all ingredients are safe.
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We hope your pet enjoys these tasty treats and stays cool this summer!