Find recipes to bake holiday treats for your dog

Posted November 11, 2015 10:00 pm

By Ellaine Kiriluk

Thanksgiving is about giving thanks, family, tradition and food. Cooking for family and friends may be the focus for several days, and this can also include making a special treat for our dogs.

We're all becoming more concerned with what our dogs are eating. A lot more people are starting to cook for their dogs, whether that means feeding them a complete homemade diet or occasionally baking a batch of treats. Because of this new trend, there are a lot of recipes available.

I enjoy baking, especially this time of the year. I found the following recipe for dog treats that includes pumpkin, which is good for your dog's digestion and appropriate for the season. (As always, consult your veterinarian with any questions regarding diet and nutrition for your dog).

Fall Bites

• ½ cup pumpkin puree (made from 1 lb/450g fresh pumpkin, cooked and mashed) or canned pumpkin - not pumpkin mix

• 4 tbsp. blackstrap molasses

• 2 cups (9 oz/250g) wheat flour

• 4 tbsp. water

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil

• ¼ tsp. baking powder

• ¼ tsp. baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Blend together the pumpkin puree, molasses, water and vegetable oil.

Stir in the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda to form a soft dough.

Roll the dough into balls, put on a baking sheet, flatten them and prick with a fork.

Bake for 25 minutes or until hard and crisp.

Fall Bites will keep up to two weeks in an airtight container.

This recipe is from "The Healthy Dog Cookbook" by Jonna Anne, with Mary Straus, canine nutritionist, and Shawn Messonnier, DVM, veterinary consultant.

In addition to healthy foods for our dogs, there are foods that can be dangerous to our pets, including alcoholic beverages, chocolate, any candy containing the sweetener Xylitol, grapes and raisins.

Thanksgiving Dinner festivities and guests may be stressful on our dogs, so provide them with a calm and safe place with food, water, toys and soft music. After the festivities, take him for a nice, slow walk around the block.

Dogs are great company when you want to reflect and give thanks. Happy Thanksgiving!

• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit (501c3), all volunteer, no-kill animal shelter. Call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.

Lana, a 16-pound Jack Russell mix, is about 10 months old. Courtesy of The Buddy Foundation

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