It seems so unfair that our 4-leggeds must tolerate our Halloween shenanigans but can’t have any candy. So, I’ve researched homemade holiday dog treats and hand-picked these as they sound yummy and easy to make (I’m the complete opposite of good in the kitchen!) I plan to take each of these for a test drive with and report back with results in subsequent posts.
Please note: The following recipes are for dogs of normal weight, activity, and general good health. Please always check with your vet to ensure that all new foods, portions, and ingredient balance are suited to your dog’s needs. Live Love Dogs or its principals cannot be held responsible for any reactions your dog may have. Many people foods such as onion and garlic can be toxic for dogs. As new information is discovered about human food effects on dogs, it’s a good idea to make it a habit to check this list at the ASPCA’s website.
Turn Halloween pumpkins into yummy dog treats
Did you know that pumpkin is good for your dog? Besides being rich in vitamins and anitoxidants, it can be very helpful in treating digestive problems. Add a couple tablespoons to your dog food to help relieve upset tummies, loose stools, hard stools, etc. Here are several recipes for homemade dog treats using pumpkin.
Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Pupsicles
Insanely easy to make – NO COOKING REQUIRED. Our dogs love them! (I don’t know what the original source is for this recipe, I found it floating around the interwebs with no credit.)
- 1 can 100% pure pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- Blend all 3 until smooth.
- Pour into ice cub trays – freeze for 12 hours
- Pop single cubes into your dog’s dish as a holiday treat!
Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Treats*
Pumpkin, peanut butter and ground cinnamon — These sound good enough to eat and easy to make!
This recipe includes whole wheat flour. A good gluten-free substitute might be coconut flour and it is actually healthy for pets (and humans) to consume.
Pumpkin Soup
This one requires no cooking! That’s right, NO COOKING!
Pumpkin Puree
Just chop, bake, scoop, blend, and heat. Sounds super easy!
Pumpkin Cheese Cups*
This is a bit more involved, but sounds manageable for the culinarily challenged, like myself. And they do sound delicious! I did laugh, though, when I read “Here’s an idea: cut the cookies into your dog’s favorite shapes.” I really don’t think our dogs give a hoot what shape they are. And how, exactly, do you know what your dog’s favorite shape is?
This recipe includes whole wheat flour. A good gluten-free substitute might be coconut flour and it is actually healthy for pets (and humans) to consume.
Pumpkin Balls*
Delicious and healthy — and what dog doesn’t like balls? (keep it clean, y’all! We are talking about tennis balls here!)
This recipe includes whole wheat flour. A good gluten-free substitute might be coconut flour and it is actually healthy for pets (and humans) to consume.
