DIY Tasty Holiday Dog Treats

The following post was originally published by Karen on KP’s Dog Blog.

Did you forget to buy a holiday gift for Fido or Fluffy this year? How about trying your hand at these luscious goodies instead? They will not be disappointed.

Jones and Ellie’s Holiday Biscuits

Jones and Ellie secretly slip these delicious biscuits into the other PETA office dogs’ stockings around this time every year!

1 cup cornmeal
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 Tbsp. garlic powder
4 Tbsp. Bac-Os vegetarian bacon bits
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.Combine all the ingredients.
• Roll out the dough and cut with cookie cutters.
• Bake 35 to 45 minutes.

Makes 2 dozen medium-sized biscuits

Molly’s Peanut Butter Popsicles

Molly recommends these on a hot summer day, but December works too.

1-2 Tbsp. peanut butter
Boiling water

• Mix a tablespoon or two of peanut butter with boiling water (just enough to make it a little soupy) in a small plastic dish (e.g., a used margarine tub).
• Freeze until solid.
• Serve outdoors (it’s too messy for indoors!).

Makes 1 popsicle

Astrid’s Frosty Banana Treats

Astrid’s mom says, “We live in the South, so we have hot, humid summers, which aren’t great for dogs with lots of fur like Astrid. Even when she is shaved, her coat is too heavy for her to play outside for long periods during the hottest months. One of the treats that we really like to get her is the Frosty Paws that they sell at the grocery store (little tubs of doggie ice cream). A few years ago, I decided to make my own doggie ice cream instead of paying $4 for a four-pack and a ton of packaging. I freeze them in small bowls, but you can use an ice cube tray or a wide-mouth plastic container like margarine comes in. I like reusable containers because they make this a waste-free treat.”

1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
3 cups water
2 very ripe bananas

• In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix the peanut butter and the water until well blended.
• Mash the bananas into the peanut butter mixture and blend until smooth.
• Divide the mixture among six containers of your choice.
• Freeze until solid.

Makes 6 servings

Mante’s Peanut Butter Bliss

According to Mante’s mom, “Mante goes bananas over these biscuits. When he sees me pull out the fixin’s and cookie cutters, he sits at the edge of the kitchen, patiently waiting for the biscuits to be cool enough to eat. Whenever he gets these, he does his “happy dance.” He’ll carefully take the biscuit from my hand, then set it on the ground while he play bows and runs laps around it, all while leaping through the air. It is so silly and incredibly cute!”

3 cups oat flour or whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup organic creamy peanut butter
Egg-replacer equivalent of 1 egg
Water to moisten

• Preheat the oven to 325°F.
• In a large bowl combine all the ingredients. Add enough water to form a slightly sticky dough.
• On a floured board, roll the dough to a 1-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes.
• Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until the biscuits are well browned. Cool.

Makes 1 dozen biscuits

Bakers, Beware!
When doing your holiday baking, keep in mind that if a dog eats uncooked dough, the consequences can be very serious indeed- even life-threatening. Warm dough can expand to many times its size and, in the process, also produces alcohol, so dogs can fall victim to both severe stomach distension and alcohol toxicity. Symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, disorientation, and depression. If the dog does not receive emergency veterinary care, which can include surgery to remove the dough, in short order, death can result, so do keep your dough out of your dog’s reach.

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