Healthy homemade pet treats

Who’s been a good boy or a good girl? We all love our treats and when our fur babies have been especially good they deserve something healthy and delicious. Healthy pet treats are quick and easy to make and they will love you for it.

Did you know that dogs, on average have 1,700 tastebuds compared to our 9,000? Cats have just 473. But they can tell the difference between salty, sweet, sour and bitter, and just like you, they love their treats.

In fact, they probably enjoy them much more than you, because of their crazy sense of smell. If it smells good, it smells AMAZING to our furry friends. Human treats shouldn’t be on the menu though as quite often they can be toxic for our pets. Luckily it is very easy to make something delicious and healthy for them.

4 homemade treats for dogs

Pupcakes, prep time 45 min

Tails will wag and tongues will drool. These beauties look like cupcakes but are a healthy version for dogs. Great for those special occasions like a doggy birthday. The frosting is made from potato and a little bit of yoghurt. Note: Dogs can have yoghurt in small quantities as long as it does not contain additives or preservatives. Find the recipe here.

Sweet potato, apple and carrot bikkies, prep time 45 min

Everyone likes an afternoon bikkie and these are very tasty, made with sweet potato, apple and carrot and a bit of peanut butter – just make sure the peanut butter doesn’t contain the sweetener xylitol, which is toxic for dogs. Overweight dogs, dogs with kidney problems or dogs on special diets should not eat peanut butter. Find the recipe here.

Apple slices

What’s the old saying – an apple a day keeps the vet away, well that’s not quite right, a whole apple is too much for a dog, but an apple slice, now you’re talking. Apple slices make a great natural treat. Naturally sweet and crunchy they are tail-wagging good. Make sure to cut the apple into bite-sized pieces to avoid choking hazards.

Beef Jerky

Tests have shown that dogs prefer beef over chicken and lamb and when you turn that into beef jerky you are onto a winner and another big plus is that it is so easy to make. Find the recipe here

5 homemade treats for cats

Tasty Salmon Treats, baking time 20 min

Get those 473 taste buds working overtime with the key ingredient, a tin of salmon. These treats are baked in the oven and devoured in seconds. Find the recipe here

Sardine Cookies, baking time 10-12 min

Purlicious. Sardines are not everyone’s cup of tea unless you are a cat. These cookies are very simple and quick to bake, just make sure to let them cool completely before you hand them out. Find the recipe here

Meat strips

Treats, as the name implies should be special, and a simple healthy treat for our carnivorous friends are strips of cooked meat. They are tasty and a delicious alternative to their everyday food. Simply slice cooked chicken, beef or lamb for a tasty treat.

Chewy Cheesy treats

Simple and easy to make. These treats contain yoghurt which cats can have in small quantities. Many cats are lactose intolerant, so it’s best to use a goat milk based or lactose-free alternative. Don’t forget to avoid foods with artificial sweeteners and additives. Plain, natural yoghurt is best. Find the recipe here

Catnip cookies

Most cats find catnip hard to resist and lots of fur parents already have some in the house, making these treats very fast to make. They do contain flour which lots of store-bought treats have, but if your cat is gluten intolerant, take note. Find the recipe here

Benefits of making treats yourself

A lot of store-bought treats have preservatives and fillers that maybe you don’t want to feed to your furry friend. When you make your own treats, it is not only budget-friendly but you know exactly what is inside, so if your pet has any strict dietary requirements, you can adapt the recipe.

Treats also make a fantastic training tool, to help you get the best behaviour from your furry friend. Treats are always best in moderation and fed alongside a healthy balanced diet.

References

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-996/xylitol
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/accounting-taste-probing-mysteries-dogs-find-delicious/
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/can-dogs-eat-peanut-butter