Preparing treats for your pets

Are you a cook at heart? Did you know you can prepare recipes adapted for the entire family, including your four-legged friends? Just follow these basic tips for spoiling your pets, while keeping them safe.

Like humans, dogs are carnivores with omnivore tendencies. It’s therefore possible to include foods from different food groups when preparing their treats. Cats, however, are strict carnivores, and they have pretty “refined tastes.” Pieces of meat and fish cooked in the oven are excellent treat choices that are easy to prepare.

It’s important to understand that these cooking tips should be applied only to treats and not regular food. Treats should not exceed 10% of a pet’s daily calorie intake, and portions should be adjusted if your pet is overweight. A high-quality, well-balanced diet should remain a primary food source to ensure that your pet is receiving all the vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health.

A few ingredients to include in biscuit, cake and cookie recipes for your pet

Fruits and vegetables

• Pumpkin puree, grated zucchini or carrots, broccoli, spinach, green beans, peas
• Apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries

Protein

• Egg, fish, chicken, turkey, beef
• Yogurt, cottage cheese, various cheeses (in moderation, with a preference for lactose-free and low-fat options)
• Kidney beans, black beans, soy beans, chickpeas

Starch

• Flour (wheat, corn, oat), rolled oats
• Rice, barley
• Potatoes

Fat

• Nut butter, fish oil, safflower or other vegetable oil (in moderation, since excess fat can predispose dogs to such health problems as diarrhea or pancreatitis)

If your pet has a sensitive stomach, it’s preferable to choose foods that are more easily digestible. Consider chicken, beef, fish or egg combined with rice, rolled oats or potatoes. Choose carrots and other vegetables instead of sweeter fruits.

Here’s a quick tip for pets with allergies or special diets: prepare cookies by grinding their regular dry food into a powder using a food processor and then adding water. Once the mixture resembles cookie dough, shape as desired. Bake in the oven at 350°F for 30 minutes.

You can also use regular canned pet food. Place the contents of a can in a blender and puree. Shape your cookies and bake in the oven at 350°F for 20 minutes.

Keep in mind that some of the foods we eat can be harmful, even toxic, for animals. They include:

• Chocolate: the higher the percentage of cacao, the more toxic it is.
• Coffee can cause signs and symptoms that are life threatening for your pet.
• Grapes: no established dose. Some dogs don’t seem to be affected, while others’ lives are at risk if they eat just a few.
• Onions and garlic are also toxic for pets. Avoid sauces, vegetable purees and store-bought broths that might contain some!
• Avocados can also be harmful for animals’ health.
• Xylitol, a sugar substitute used mainly in chewing gum and candies, is harmful. Although it’s less often used in cooking, this is still a handy thing to know!

Here’s a simple recipe for dog biscuits:
1 cup of any of the following ingredients:

• pumpkin puree
• grated zucchini
• unsweetened applesauce
• yogurt
• cottage cheese
• ground turkey or beef

½ cup peanut butter
2 eggs
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 cups wheat flour
½ cup rolled oats

Depending on the first ingredient, adjust the consistency as needed by adding a bit of water. Shape the biscuits as desired, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in the oven for 15 to 18 minutes.

BONUS!

Here’s a cupcake recipe from blogger Cynthia Kost, owner of two dogs:

www.lamademoisell.com + @cynthiakost on Instagram

PREPARATION

Cupcake
½ cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Grated carrots (or other vegetables)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or broth WITHOUT onions or garlic)
1 egg
2 ounces meat (chicken, beef, etc.)

Topping

3 tablespoons vegetable puree (your choice, but WITHOUT onions or garlic)
Dog biscuit (for decoration)
Bake in the oven at 350°F for 35 minutes.

INSTRUCTIONS

Cupcake
Mix the flour and baking powder.
In a separate bowl, combine the carrots, egg and broth.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and then add the chosen meat.
Bake in the oven at 350°F for 35 minutes.

Topping
Cook a carrot until it is softened.
Add a bit of broth and mash the carrot.
Place some of the topping on each cupcake, and garnish with a small dog biscuit.

Using these few tips, you can now lovingly and wisely prepare treats for the entire family. Enjoy!