Healthy Dog Treat Recipes for a Nutritious Start to 2024
The New Year is always an exciting time full of positive changes and healthy habits for people. It can be a great idea to make positive changes for your dog too! An excellent way to kick this off is with some healthy dog treat recipes.
What to Consider Before Switching Dog Treats
Of course, before you start introducing a bunch of new dog treats to your pup, it’s a good idea to check with your vet. Every dog and breed is different, so be sure that various foods and ingredients are okay for them to eat.
Easy Healthy DIY Dog Treats
Your dog will be drooling over these Easy, Healthy DIY Dog Treats. They only take six ingredients and are simple to make.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup all-natural peanut butter
- ⅓ cup pumpkin puree
- 1 large egg
- 1 ¼ cup almond flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
Instructions: First, preheat your oven to 350° F. Mix the peanut butter, pumpkin puree, and egg into a medium-sized bowl and stir until they are combined. Add in the cinnamon, almond flour, and turmeric, and stir again until it combines into a dough.
Use your hands to form cookie shapes and place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Grab a fork to make criss-cross patterns on the top and bake them for 20 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.
Crunchy Homemade Dog Treats
These crunchy homemade dog treats are perfect for spoiling your dog with something delicious and healthy.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup blueberries
- ¾ cup oats
- 2 ½ cup whole wheat flour
- 3 tablespoons peanut butter (no xylitol)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ – ½ cup warm water
Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350° F. Mash up the blueberries a bit in the mixing bowl and then add oats and mash them some more. Add flour, eggs, peanut butter, and cinnamon, and mix them all together until combined. Then, add the water to get the dough to stick together.
Roll the dough out and use cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes. Place the cookies on a lined baking sheet and bake them for 40 minutes until hard and crunchy. Let them cool, and then enjoy!
Breath Freshening Treats
Your dog’s breath and coat will be better than ever with this breath-freshening healthy dog treat recipe.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup warm water
- ¼ cup ground flax
- ½ cup unsweetened, natural apple sauce
- 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350° F. Mix the warm water and flax in a small bowl and set aside to thicken for 10 minutes. In a larger bowl, add the flax mixture, apple sauce, parsley, peanut butter, and cinnamon, and then mix well. Then, add the whole wheat flour to create a thick dough.
Knead the dough on a clean surface and add 1 teaspoon of water to help it come together if needed. Knead until ½ inch thick and then cut out treats. Place the treats on a lined baking sheet and bake for 45-60 minutes. And for the final step, let your dog enjoy!
