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Treating your dog out of love is common amongst all dog owners, but this kind act you display out of love may be posing a serious threat to your dog’s health. A study by the journal of the American veterinary Association showed more than 90% of the dog food recipes found online, may be bad for your dog. This being said, buying store bought manufactured dog treats contain high quantities of salt, sugars, and preservatives, which too can contribute to inadequate nutrition and sickness of your dog. “So how do I treat my dog without contributing to poor health?” you’re about to find out.
Avoid harmful and unhealthy ingredients.
Humans and dogs have different palettes hence they appreciate different foods, what may be delicious and healthy for you may disgust your dog. It is important to educate yourself on what is healthy and tasty for your dog to eat, so include ingredients such as:
- Pumpkin
- Summer
squash
- Broccoli
- Cucumber
- Zucchini
- Brussel
sprouts
- Spinach
- Kale
- Pears
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Bananas
The ingredients listed above are some yummy yet
healthy ones to cook some goodies with for your dog, referring to recipes
online can be helpful, but ensure you tread cautiously, as it is necessary to
double check the ingredients included. Now, “which ingredients should I avoid?”
you ask? the list includes:
- Onions
- Garlic
- Chocolate
- Raisins
- Ingredients
containing xylitol
- Baking
or cooking equipment containing BPA, as it is linked to cancer
Always ensure to cook your homemade dog treats to a
temperature enough to kill harmful organisms present, as foodborne diseases can
be uncomfortable and sometimes fatal.
Healthy and heart homemade treats for your dog
Once you have
learnt about the do’s and don’ts to cook or bake healthy and delicious treats
for your furry friend, it’s time to head into the kitchen. Here are some
healthy and hearty treats to make for your dog:
- Homemade peanut butter dog treats – these are a doggy speciality. Your dog will be overjoyed eating one of these. Make sure the peanut butter used does not contain xylitol.
- Anti-inflammatory dog biscuits – the perfect mix of healthy and tasty. Just like humans, anti-inflammatory foods are great for dogs, especially dogs with joint pains and arthritis. Ingredient include: oats, ground flaxseeds, turmeric, eggs and water.
- Strawberry and banana dog treats – this one’s for the fruit loving dogs. Ingredients include: strawberries, bananas, eggs, peanut butter and oats.
- Oats and apple dog biscuits – these are an easy yet delicious treat to whip-up. Ingredient include: apples, oats, flour and eggs.