While it has been a norm to feed dogs ready-packaged foods from the store, why not prepare ready-made natural and raw treats for them? These quick and easy raw dogs treat recipes are sure to win your dog’s heart. Not to mention that these goodies are both safe and nutritious. But, before we get there, let us go through everything we know about raw dog treats.
Ingredients for Dog Treat Recipes
Dry chewing bones can be found in a variety of outlets, including pet stores and supermarkets. However, you should not feed them to your pets despite their seductive smell. The reason for this is that these bones fracture easily, and their fats cause loose stools. Raw meaty bones or chewy bone-free raw tracheas are good additions to dog foods.
Keep in mind that raw bone is different from cooked bone. Raw bones retain moisture, making it much easier for your dog to chew on, digest, and break down. Furthermore, it is less prone to splinter, if at all. Raw meaty bones, such as lamb ribs, are high in essential fatty acids and vitamins such as K, E, and D. Iron, calcium, and magnesium are also present, making all these foods nutritious to a raw-diet dog.
Smaller meaty bones, such as chicken wings, or duck wings, are more likely to be swallowed or digested quickly as well. They can still be considered a treat for some dogs, particularly larger dogs. These healthy choices not only adhere to the raw food diet but also supply nutrients to the dogs.
Aside from that, natural chews include natural tree roots, stag antlers, and dehydrated meat pieces should be included in the recipes. Your dogs would enjoy these the most because there are no chemicals used in the processing. Play around with your dog to see which ones they prefer and which ones last the longest. Cut them into little pieces for training or regular treats, and if they appreciate it, reward them with dehydrated cow or rabbit ears.
Last but not least, do not forget to include treats made from fruits and vegetables. Some dogs enjoy eating frozen berries like blueberries and strawberries. High in fiber and vitamin C, these fruits may even help whiten your dog’s teeth. Veggies are also great options. Carrots, cucumbers, and green beans are great for overweight dogs since they are low in carbohydrates, lipids, and oils.
Ingredients to Avoid for Dog Treat Recipes
Of course, making homemade treats is far easier and less expensive than buying them at the store, but far too often, we find things that we should not be giving to our dogs. Also, just because you prepare the snacks at home and know exactly what is in them does not mean they are always healthy. Therefore, here are some things to avoid when preparing the foods:
First, avoid using peanut butter in dog treat recipes because it is harmful to your dog. It contains a naturally occurring mycotoxin known as aflatoxin. If you did not know, mycotoxins are among the most carcinogenic compounds that can cause cancer. Furthermore, most peanut butter contains undesirable fats as well as a lot of sugar.
Aside from that, stay away from peas and beans. These vegetables usually include anti-nutrients or compounds that can deplete your dog with essential nutrients. Nuts are also high in anti-nutrients, so avoid them in their treats.
On the other hand, carbohydrates such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice, and cereal grains, should be avoided. Your dogs do not require many carbohydrates to thrive because they get all their energy from protein and fat.
Finally, avoid sugar, white sugar, to be specific, because it simply feeds everything. It has the potential to cause diabetes, inflammation, allergies, and cancer cells are fed by it.
Raw Treats’ Recipes to Try
Frozen Strawberry and Banana Smoothie
Treat your pets with this frozen smoothie that will get them drooling. They will like it even more during the summer. To begin, combine all the sliced strawberries and banana, skim milk, and honey in a blender. Understandably, some dogs cannot tolerate skim milk. Consider using raw goat milk or unsweetened kefir instead. You could also substitute kefir for Greek yogurt.
Next, turn the blender to medium and mix everything for at least 2 minutes. Once the texture is smooth, pour them into the molds or ice cube trays of your choice. Then, place it in your freezer for at least 4 hours. Simply pop them out of the molds when you want to treat your dogs. If there are any leftovers, store them in zip lock bags or another airtight container, as this will ensure that they are safe to eat for at least another two months.
Frozen Banana and Pumpkin
The next recipe you should try is the low-calorie treat that is not only delicious but also healthy. The frozen popsicles are guaranteed to be high in nutrient-rich pumpkin and banana, boosting your dog’s immune system. To make this, combine the banana and pumpkin purees in a blender and blend until smooth. Do not worry if you do not have a blender because you can mash them with a fork.
Then, add the yogurt and the mashed mixture to a large mixing bowl. Pour in the honey and stir until all the ingredients are well combined. Finally, fill ice cube trays or any silicone candy molds halfway with the mixture. Freeze overnight before serving, then defrost. It is worth noting that you can replace the yogurt with kefir to improve your dog’s probiotic intake daily. If your dog is sensitive to dairy, non-dairy yogurt is also a good option.
Frozen Coconut Oil and Blueberry
Coconut oil has lots of advantages for dogs. In addition to keeping their coats healthy and beautiful, coconut oil is good for their immune and digestive systems. It is a good idea to add it to their diet, but keep in mind that you should not feed your dog just coconut oil. Instead, include it into your dog’s regular diet. Here is an example of one of the recipes.
First, unfreeze the blueberries in ice trays of your choice and set them aside for some time. While you are waiting for that, heat the coconut oil in a small saucepan. Allow them to cool for a few minutes before carefully pouring them into the mold. Then, return the mold to the freezer to firm up. Take them out of the mold whenever you want to feed them to your pets. Other than blueberries, you can use strawberries as well to provide all the nutrients to dogs.
Frozen Chicken Broth with Apple
Many recipes came to mind when making raw dog treats, but this one takes the cake. With ingredients like apple and chicken broth, this recipe will not disappoint your dogs. Chicken broth is good for dogs because it contains collagen, which is good for a dog’s joints. Apples, on the other hand, are abundant in fiber and vitamin A and C.
When making this recipe, make sure to cut them into bite-sized pieces to avoid dogs choking on them. Then, fill the containers or ice cube pans with apples, followed by chicken broth. Allow just enough space at the top to seal the lid and freeze them for at least four hours. Take them out of the fridge as you feed your dog, and you are ready to go.
Coconut Popsicle
Make these coconut popsicles to hydrate your dogs after a long day under the sun. If your dog has never tried coconut, this treat could be a wonderful way to introduce them to healthy fruits. Most dogs have no problems digesting coconut-derived goods. However, start with a small amount to see how their body responds.
To make this treat, mash the banana with a fork, add yogurt and coconut water to a mixing bowl. Pour them into the ice cube trays after thoroughly mixing them. Place them in the freezer for at least an hour or until solid. Serve in a doggy dish, followed by a bowl of water, and you are all set. If you are unsure which yogurt to use, go with plain or Greek yogurt, which improves their digestion and works wonders for the skin.
Frosty Banana Holes
The final recipe on the list is the banana frosty holes. As we all know, bananas are high in potassium, fiber, vitamin C and B6. Aside from that, they are low in fat and cholesterol. Keep in mind, though, that they do contain a significant amount of sugar. Therefore, do not offer your dog all the treats at once. Keep it to a minimum, perhaps once every other day.
All you need to do for this recipe is cut the banana into circular pieces and then make a small hole in the center. Then, pour some yogurt into the hole and set everything in a container in the freezer. Allow for at least 30 minutes to an hour for it to freeze, and you are done. Other than yogurt, you can also put berries into it.
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