Discussing Some Of The Best Recipes For Homemade Treats For Dog & Cats
August is here, but it’s not too late to indulge in some tasty frozen summer treats. While ice cream, milkshakes, and popsicles taste delicious to us, they are very unhealthy for pets. However, there are plenty of pet-friendly frozen treat recipes for both dogs and cats to enjoy! This article will cover several different D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) summer treat recipes for both dogs and cats. Please be mindful about your pets food allergies, dietary restrictions, and overall taste buds when making D.I.Y. pet treats.
Using Dog Friendly Ingredients
When making homemade dog treats, it’s important to remember what ingredients are safe and unsafe for dogs to eat. It’s widely accepted that dogs are omnivores, meaning that they need both meat and plant matter in their diets. Always do your research about a particular ingredient before using it in a homemade treat recipe. For example, many fruits are safe for dogs to eat like bananas, blueberries, and coconuts. However, some fruits like grapes, raisins, and avocados are poisonous to dogs.
Summer Treats For Dogs
Most homemade summer dog treats are going to consist of ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, plain non-fat yogurt, and peanut butter. How you combine these ingredients will ultimately change the flavor profile and consistency. If your dog is a picky eater, try experimenting with different ingredients until you find a combination that suits them.
Frozen Banana Bites
This recipe comes from Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota (AERCM). The ingredients needed are one banana, 1 and ½ cup of watermelon, and 1 cup of pineapple. Puree the watermelon & pineapple and slice the banana. Next, place the banana into a silicone mold or ice cube tray. Then, fill the mold or ice cube tray with the watermelon & pineapple puree. Finally, let it freeze until solid. This is a light and refreshing frozen treat that is sure to get your pooch excited for snack time.
Peanut Butter Blackberry Popsicles
This recipe comes from DailyPaws.com. The ingredients needed are peanut butter, blackberries, frozen banana, and plain yogurt. First, puree the blackberries. Next, puree peanut butter, frozen banana, and plain yogurt in a separate bowl. Then, use both mixtures to make layers of both purees in a popsicle mold or in paper cups. Lastly, insert popsicle sticks or bone-shaped dog treats as a handle and freeze until solid. These doggy popsicles are sweet, tart, and savory all at the same time!
Using Cat Friendly Ingredients
When making homemade cat treats, it’s important to remember what ingredients are safe and unsafe for cats to eat. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they only eat meat and can’t properly digest plant matter. It is safe to give your cat raw meat as long as it is hygienically prepared and handled.
Summer Treats For Cats
Most D.I.Y. frozen treat recipes for cats are very simple and require minimal ingredients. Think of these recipes as templates or basic outlines for you to play and experiment with. Cats can sometimes be picky eaters, so it may take some trial runs with different ingredients until you find what works for your cat.
Frozen Tuna Treats
This recipe comes from the Phoenix Veterinary Center. The ingredients needed are water-packed tuna and water. First, put the tuna into a food processor and blend. Next, add water until you get the desired consistency. Then, pour the mixture into a silicone mold or ice cube tray and freeze for several hours. Lastly, once they are frozen, pop the treats out and put them into a freezer bag for better storage. This is a very simple recipe, but produces a very tasty snack for your feline friend.
Frozen Pate Cubes
This recipe comes from Meowbox.com. The ingredients needed are pate-style wet food and soft treats. First, put the pate-style wet food and soft treats into a mixing bowl and stir together. Next, pour the mixture into a silicone mold or ice cube tray and freeze for several hours. Then, once the treats are frozen, pop them out of the mold or ice cube tray and serve. This recipe is convenient, easy to make, and will satisfy your cat’s taste buds.
Looking For A Pet Sitter?
While treats are delicious, they don’t replace that social element of human interaction. Pets don’t just want attention, they need attention in order to stay happy and healthy. The best way to keep your pets happy and sociable is to hire a pet sitter! Long Island Pet Services is the best place to turn to for professional, quality pet sitting services. We offer a wide variety of services including dog walking, drop-in visits, overnight stays, pet taxi, and more! Click here to become a client today or give us a call at 516-247-6976.
