Treats help us show our pets just how much we love them. Homemade treats make this loving gesture even more personal. If you are looking for new ways to shower your pet with love, you might want to consider spending some time in the kitchen. Westarbor Animal Hospital’s list of DIY pet treats gives you some great ideas on how to give your sweetheart a sweet treat:
Peanut Butter and Pumpkin DIY Pet Treats
If there are two things most dogs love, it’s peanut butter and pumpkin. With just a few simple ingredients, these treats are easy to make, and they are nutritious and delicious for your favorite pups.
You will need
- ⅓ cup peanut butter (make sure it is natural and does not contain xylitol)
- 1 can of pumpkin puree (without any added sugar)
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- ½ tsp cinnamon (stay away from nutmeg, as this is toxic to dogs)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and combine the wet ingredients (including the peanut butter). Once the wet ingredients are mixed, add in the flour and cinnamon and combine. Roll out the dough and cut it into the shapes of your choosing (dog bones are always fun). Bake for 20 minutes if you want the final product to be a little softer, or 40 minutes if you’d like it to be crispier. Or to make it super easy, shape into small balls by hand.
Tuna-Catnip DIY Pet Treats
Our feline friends should not be left out of the DIY pet treat fun! These simple treats combine the fishiness of tuna with the impossible-to-resist appeal of catnip. All you will need to make them is:
- 1 can of tuna in spring water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon dried catnip
- 1 large egg
Before you start, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Use a food processor to combine all the ingredients until they create a thick dough without a lot of bumps. Separate the dough into ¼-inch balls (the recipe should make about 80). Spread them evenly across baking sheets lined with parchment paper and slightly flatten them. Bake them for about 15 minutes and serve within 5 days. You can also freeze them if you want to save some for later.
Chicken and Wild Rice DIY Pet Treats
Have some extra chicken and need to get rid of it before it goes bad? These treats are a great way to avoid wasting the leftover meat while giving your dog a special treat.
For this recipe, you will need:
- 6 ounces of plain, grilled chicken
- ½ cup of cooked, wild rice
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 2 ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 egg
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and mix the chicken, rice, and chicken stock in a food processor. Once you have a paste, combine it with the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Roll out the dough until it’s about ½ inch thick, and cut into the shapes of your choosing. Bake for about 25-30 minutes and let cool before serving.
Choose one of our simple, easy and tasty DIY pet treats to make for your four-legged friend sometime soon.
Westarbor Animal Hospital is your one-stop shop for pet care in Ann Arbor. With a wide range of veterinary services and a blog full of lifestyle advice, we make it easy to find the best ways to care for your pets. Call (734) 769-5391 to schedule an appointment.
