What’s the best way to show Fido that you love him and that you want him to be happy? Preparing a sweet tooth dog treat!
Just like people, dogs love tasty food and not just what they find in their bowl every day, but also the treats that are offered to them as a reward for performing a game or for good behavior. How to prepare tasty ones at home? We at Todocat tell you!
Dog treats on the market
Commercially available ready-made treats for dogs often contain additional ingredients that have a supportive or preventive effect, for example to help achieve a shinier coat (such as flaxseed snacks) or to supply important nutrients (e.g. glucosamine, which supports the joints, in kibble for older dogs).
The natural and healthy morsels for dogs can become a good supplement of minerals and vitamins (especially dried and smoked offal), while the harder and therefore processed ones stimulate the blood circulation of the gums and inhibit plaque formation.
The best treats for large and small dogs
When choosing a dog treat, it is essential to pay attention to its texture and size: it must adapt to the animal’s capabilities. For example, a snack that is too hard will not be good for an elderly specimen with sensitive teeth.
- For small dogs, the treats should be appropriately smaller and softer so that the relatively small jaw can handle them.
- For older dogs, it is possible to buy treats – buckets – with which they can play for at least a few minutes.
Homemade treats for dogs: what to avoid
When preparing homemade reward snacks for the dog, it is good to remember above all that his digestive system works differently from that of humans.
This means that delicacies that we digest without problems and whose taste gives us great pleasure can prove harmful or even fatal to our pets!
Among the products that should not be fed to dogs for health reasons are:
- chocolate (especially dark) – can cause a significant increase in blood pressure and vomiting.
- grapes and sultanas – can cause gastroenteritis and kidney damage.
- garlic and onion – irritate the digestive system, cause pain and bloating and, in extreme cases, gastric torsion.
- candy sweetened with xylitol – damage the dog’s liver.
- coffee and tea: the caffeine they contain causes heart problems.
- very salty and fatty morsels: just like for humans, they are very difficult to digest.
- potatoes (especially raw) – have a negative effect on the urinary and nervous systems of the dog.
- pepper and chillies – irritate the dog’s digestive system and urinary tract.
- macadamia nuts – can cause seizures, muscle stiffness and vomiting.
- avocado – toxic to the dog’s body.
- cooked poultry bones – there is a risk of suffocation and injury to the digestive system, as bones become very hard and sharp when cooked.
- cooked beef and pork bones – can disrupt intestinal peristalsis and cause constipation.
Beware of commercially available dog treats
Even commercially available dog treats, while popular, can prove harmful in some cases. Most of the time, their base (like that of many low-quality dog foods) is made up of large quantities of corn.
What’s the deal with this popular grain in a canine context? Corn is very rich in tyrosine, a substance that inhibits the action of tryptophan, responsible for the production of serotonin and a prerequisite for the good mood of our four-legged friends. It should therefore be avoided.
Of course, there are dog biscuits and other ready-to-eat treats on the market, but read the ingredients on the label carefully before buying such a product.
How to prepare a homemade dog treat?
If you have the time and like to experiment in the kitchen, you can make your own gods dog treats made from natural ingredients. Here are 3 simple and healthy recipes that Fido is sure to love.
Each recipe is based on eggs (preferably from organic hens), linseed oil (alternatively, it can be replaced with good quality sunflower or rapeseed oil) and spelled flour (or oat or rice flour); wheat and cornmeal are too difficult for the dog to digest).
Tuna dog biscuits
Ingredients:
- 1 can of natural tuna (not in oil!)
- 1 cup spelled flour
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon of linseed oil
- a pinch of fresh mint – optional
Blend the tuna with the mint, then add the oil, egg and flour. Mix all products thoroughly to obtain a homogeneous mass.
Line a baking tray with baking paper, pour the mixture and place in a preheated oven at 160°. Cook for about 15 minutes. Once the cake has cooled, cut it into small biscuits.
Caution: Smoked fish, which contains a lot of salt, should be avoided when making dog food. So if you want to replace tuna with another ingredient, you can choose fresh or frozen fish.
Pear biscuits
Ingredients:
- 2 pere
- 1 kg of chicken or turkey meat
- 1 egg
- 1 cup spelled flour
- 2 tablespoons of potato flour
Thoroughly chop the meat. Peel the pear, remove the core, add it to the meat and grind again.
Add the other products and mix. Roll out on a work surface and cut into desired shapes. Arrange on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Place in a preheated oven at 150° and cook for 30-40 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 bananas
- 1-2 tablespoons of cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon of linseed oil
- 1 cup spelled flour
- 1 egg
Combine all products in a bowl to form a homogeneous paste.
Pour into a tray lined with baking paper and place in a preheated oven at 160°C for about 15 minutes. Cool and cut into small pieces.
Remember to store these healthy dog treats in a sealed container and preferably in the refrigerator. The lack of preservatives means that they can be kept for about 3-5 days, so don’t prepare too large portions.
In the three cases it is possible to leave the whole dough to obtain a delicious cake (to be cut later) for a birthday or to celebrate the new year with Fido!