We all want what is best for our dogs; that includes considering what we give them as food and treats on a regular basis. These simple homemade grain free dog treats keep your dog’s health in mind allowing you to give them to your dog with a guilt free conscious. Many dogs are sensitive to grain products, leading to digestive tract issues.
Why choose grain free dog treats?
Increasingly pet owners have been making the switch to grain-free dog food as opposed to commercial pet food due to the high percentage of grains in traditional kibble. Many commercially available dog treats also have high amounts of grain and filler products that are not great for your dog’s health.
Can dogs eat grain? Yes, however dogs have a more difficult time digesting grain as they lack the necessary enzymes in their saliva that start digesting grain. Grain is not harmful if given in moderation, but your dog should not be consuming grain products on a regular basis. There are many dogs that are actually allergic to grains and develop digestive issues as a result.
In recent years, the FDA has investigated the link between grain consumption in dogs are heart disease. While there still needs to be more research done on this topic, it appears grain consumption and heart disease are closely related.
It is always best to talk with your vet before making any changes to your dog’s daily habits or diet. Your vet will be able to provide you with an individualized analysis and allow you to make the decision that is best for your dog.
Why choose homemade dog treats over store bought dog treats?
There are numerous reasons as to why you might choose to provide your dog with homemade dog treats compared to store bought dog treats.
Homemade treats for dogs go through less processing, unlike store bought dog treats. Increasingly, store-bought dog treats contain a concerning amount of artificially enhancing ingredients such as MSG and unwanted and harmful filler ingredients. These filler ingredients are often used to substitute quality protein and can be harmful to your dog’s health.
Healthy homemade dog treats are also more affordable compared to name-brand store-bought treats. Store-bought treats often come at a higher price tag. By sourcing your own ingredients and doing the work yourself you cut down on the cost associated with the diy dog treats.
Diy dog treats are also fun to make! In addition to the above positives of homemade treats, they are also fun to make. It is an activity that you can involve the whole family in. Kids love to help with baking, especially when they are baking for one of their furry friends and get to see his excitement when he eats a treat.
How to store homemade dog treats
It is important to store your diy dog treats in an airtight container to prevent them from going bad. If you would like your homemade dog treats to last even longer, consider storing them in the fridge. A storage medium that we have found to work particularly well are mason jars. Mason jars are airtight when the lid is screwed on; this prevents the healthy dog treats from going bad before their shelf life is over.
Why we chose these ingredients for our healthy dog treat recipe
We carefully chose every ingredient in this recipe to keep your dog’s health in mind. This healthy dog treat recipe will provide you peace of mind knowing they are not harmful to your dog’s health.
- Pumpkin: pumpkin is full of fiber which aids in digestion and keeps your dog’s gut well balanced. In addition, pumpkin is a powerful antioxidant which helps to prevent illness.
- Coconut Oil: coconut oil is a health fat that has also been shown to aid in digestion and offer immune support. One study found that coconut oil also has cancer fighting properties.
- Eggs: eggs are a great source of protein for dogs. It is important that you get high-quality eggs that are free of antibiotics and come from free-range chickens. The main component of every dog’s diet should be protein.
- Turmeric and Cinnamon: both of these spices are great for preventing inflammation. These are especially great if your dog is suffering from any joint stiffness or mobility issues.
Note: if you do not have pumpkin on hand, you can replace the pumpkin with sweet potato puree. To create a sweet potato puree, peel the potatoes, boil a pot of water, add the potatoes to the water until they are soft, then mash the sweet potatoes until they have a creamy consistency. You can also add a few drops of CBD oil into this recipe for additional health benefits.
GRAIN-FREE PUMPKIN DOG TREATS
Ingredients
- 15 ounces 100% Pure Pumpkin
- ½ cup Peanut Butter (xylitol free)
- ½ cup Pure Coconut Oil, melted
- 2 Cage-Free Eggs
- 1 tsp Organic Turmeric
- 1 tsp Organic Cinnamon
- 1 ⅔ cups Coconut Flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, peanut butter, coconut oil, and eggs until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add in the cinnamon, turmeric, and coconut flour. Whisk until the mixture is well combined. Allow the mixture to rest for 10 minutes to thicken. Coconut flour needs time to absorb the liquid.
- To prevent the dough from sticking, layout a piece of parchment paper and place the dough on top. Then place another piece of parchment on top of the dough. Roll the dough between the parchment paper until it is approximately 1/4” thick.
- Remove the top layer of parchment paper, and then cut out your desired shape using cooking cutters. Remove the excess dough, and transfer the parchment sheet with the cutouts onto a large cookie sheet.
- If you have lots of excess scraps, combine them, roll them out and cut them into your desired shape.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the cookies are dry and firm. Allow them to cool completely before removing from the baking sheet.
- Store the treats in an airtight container; they are good for up to a month.