Find recipes to bake healthy treats for your pooch
This time of the year, we're all thinking about giving thanks, family, tradition and, of course, food. With people staying in more, that means they are cooking and baking more than ever.
That may also include making a special treat for their dogs.
We're all becoming more concerned with what our dogs are eating, so pet owners are taking matters into their own hands by feeding their pups a complete homemade diet or occasionally baking a batch of treats. There are a plethora of recipes for cooking for our dogs 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, remember there are foods that can be dangerous to our pets, including alcoholic beverages, chocolate, any candy containing the sweetener Xylitol, grapes and raisins.
Between Thanksgiving and the start of the Christmas holidays, take your dog for a nice, slow walk around the block. Dogs are great company when you want to reflect and give thanks.
• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 shelter. Call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.