Do you enjoy cooking? You may want to try your hand at making some holiday cookies for your pup. Fido would be more than happy to sample some options! A local Fort Bragg, NC vet offers some insight on making doggy holiday treats in this article. 

Choosing Ingredients

Stick with safe ingredients. Some good ones include plain yogurt; natural peanut butter; pureed pumpkin or squash; bananas; eggs; whole-wheat flour; sodium-free broth; cooked, boneless meat, fish, or poultry; canned tuna or chicken; bacon bits; organic baby food; and wheat germ oil. Ask your vet for specific advice.

Unsafe Foods

Many popular foods are toxic to our canine friends.  Some dangerous ones include garlic, onions, and chives; meat on the bone; avocados; chocolate; nuts; caffeine; alcohol; pitted fruits; grapes, currants, or raisins; or xylitol. Ask your vet for more information.

Doggy Biscuits

There are almost countless variations on this one. For a base, you can use things like whole-wheat flour, liver powder, eggs, minced or chopped meat, wheat-germ oil, olive oil, sodium-free broth, pureed pumpkin, or fat-free Greek yogurt. Feel free to mix and match! Try 350 for 20 minutes, and add time if needed.

Yogurt/PB Bites

For this one, you’ll combine natural PB and plain fat-free yogurt. You can customize these by adding bacon bits, mashed banana, or pureed pumpkin or sweet potato. Divide into small portions, and then cook for about 20 to 25 minutes at 350.

Liver Woofs

You’ll mix beef liver with eggs and whole-wheat flour, using a food processor. Once you have the batter to the texture you want, pour it into a brownie pan or use cute molds. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Add more time as needed.

Turkey Yums

Cooked, boneless turkey mixed with egg and flour is the basis of this one. You can also add cheese, bacon bits, bacon grease, and/or spinach. Divide into smaller portions, and cook at 375 for 20 minutes.

Presentation

You can get cute cookie cutters shaped like hearts or bones, or go all-out and get a dog treat maker. These are similar to panini makers, but have bone-shaped molds. Fido may not care what his treats look like, but it’s good to make his snacks easy to identify. Homemade dog treats also make great gifts for your pet’s four-legged buddies. Put some in a Mason jar and decorate it with a pretty ribbon.

Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones! Please contact us, your local Fort Bragg, NC pet hospital, today!