The summer heat can leave your pets feeling lethargic and unlike themselves. Fortunately, preparing frozen dog treats is one way to help them escape the relentless heat. Made from dog-friendly ingredients such as peanut butter and broth, dogs will slowly lick the iced snack, protecting them from heatstroke. The moisture from the icy concoctions will help with hydration, while ingredients such as chicken broth provide nutrition in a small snack. To learn all about these flavorful foods, here are four DIY frozen treats for dogs.
What You Will Need to Prepare Frozen Dog Treats
To start making your frozen DIY dog treats, preparation in the kitchen will keep you organized. The first step is to purchase an ice tray or silicone mold if you don’t have one. Many dog owners prefer the silicone mold because it won’t break the treats as you pop them out. The silicone molds allow you to get creative with shapes such as hearts, dog bones, and more.
Consider the size of the mold based on the size of your dog. Obviously, a large dog with a huge appetite won’t appreciate a tiny treat made for a small dog, like a Yorkshire Terrier. It could also pose a choking hazard, so be careful!
The next stage is to have measuring cups, spoons, and a blender on hand to combine ingredients such as peanut butter and water. Once you’re all set, it’s time to get those dog treats ready!
1. Frozen Chicken Broth Cubes
Very few dogs can resist chicken broth, so why not make a cool and scrumptious treat out of this simple and nutritious food? It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare frozen chicken broth cubes. To start, you’ll need an ice cube or silicone tray. Secondly, you’ll need to prepare the broth by using fresh chicken or a powdered broth mixture. Using fresh ingredients is always best, but you can also use stock or broth blends that are formulated for dogs.
Once thoroughly cooked, strain any chicken and vegetables you’ve added, pour the liquid into the tray, and pop it into the freezer. If you use store-bought chicken broth, look for a product free of garlic, high sodium, onion, and preservatives.
Ingredients such as onions and garlic are harmful to dogs and should be avoided at all costs. If your dog has bad breath, you can sprinkle some parsley in the mixture as a natural form of odor control.
2. Peanut Butter Pupsicles
Whether baked, frozen, or straight out of the jar, peanut butter is a real treat for pups of all ages. Being such an irresistible snack, freezing peanut butter to make “pupsicles” for those hot days will keep your pooch busy, cool, and hydrated. Be sure to choose a peanut butter that doesn’t contain any added sugar or synthetic sweeteners such as xylitol, which is harmful to dogs.
Because peanut butter is too thick to pour into the mold, you can add yogurt or broth to improve the consistency. Take around 120 ml of peanut butter and combine it with 60 ml of plain yogurt and 90 ml of water. This should create a runny mixture to fill your tray. Place the filled tray on an even surface in the freezer to prevent spilling the mixture. Once it sets, offer Fido a delicious snack they can’t refuse!
3. Frozen Yogurt and Fruit
Another yogurt recipe consists of double cream plain yogurt with added berries. You can also add blueberries and strawberries, two of the healthiest foods for dogs. Another sweet fruit that adds a creamy texture, potassium, and fiber is banana. When you’re ready to make the treat, prepare half a cup of yogurt and a quarter cup of water. At this point, you can cut the berries into smaller chunks to sprinkle into the mold.
If you want to use banana to add a creamier texture, combine it with the yogurt. Blend the yogurt and water until you achieve a smooth, light, and runny mixture. If you’ve added banana and the blend is too thick, add small amounts of water until you achieve the desired consistency. Pour the liquid to half-fill each mold, and then sprinkle the berries into the mixture. Top up the mold with the remaining liquid and set it in the freezer.
4. Shredded Ice
On days when it is unbearably hot and you want to give your pooch a refreshing treat, shredded or crushed ice is the perfect option. Not only does shredded ice avoid the possibility of them choking on it, but it also protects them from dental disease. The crushed ice is safer and easier for small dogs to consume.
You don’t have to add any flavors or colorants to the ice for your dog to enjoy it. These additives can trigger intolerances, causing skin irritation and an upset stomach. Plain ice that is chopped into pieces can be fed to dogs to keep them cool and hydrated.
Frozen Treats to Avoid
Understandably, who wouldn’t want to share a sweet ice cream or snow cone with their dog when it’s hot outside? The problem with these cool treats is that they contain high amounts of sugar, including toxic sweeteners. Dogs aren’t meant to eat sugar, and frequently feeding these sweet ingredients increases their risk of diabetes and pancreatitis.
DIY frozen treats for dogs are an easy way to keep them stimulated and cool when it’s hot outside. These no-bake recipes don’t take much time to prepare, and with a variety of flavors to choose from, your pup will be spoiled for choice. Once you’ve decided on their favorite ingredients, get creative with these tasty and nutritious iced snacks.
