Healthy Easy Homemade Dog Treats

We love our dogs; incredibly, about 89.7 million dogs live in the U.S. as pets. That adds up to a lot of wet noses, paws and hungry mouths to feed! While it was once considered okay to give dogs any type of dog treat, dog goodies are much more complicated today.

Not all dog treats are healthy. Dog treats, especially the ones made in China, have been reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a number of concerns, including:

• Dangerous additives
• Banned antibiotics
• Mold
• Melamine
• Fillers
• Salmonella
• Toxic mold (aflatoxin)
• Metal shards.

The FDA continues to warn dog owners about pet treats that include ingredients made in China. The FDA has received 5,000 reports of illnesses linked to jerky pet treats, including more than 1,000 canine deaths. Most complaints relate to products containing chicken, duck jerky, sweet potato jerky and treats with meats wrapped around sweet potatoes or dry fruit. If you purchase dog treats, make sure they are labeled “Made in the USA”.

Homemade treats offer an alternative that is safe, healthy and delicious. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when it comes to making your own treats.

2. Pay attention to your dog’s reaction to make sure he or she is not allergic to an ingredient in your treats. The most common culprits include:
   • Beef
   • Chicken
   • Chicken eggs
   • Corn
   • Dairy products
   • Fish
   • Lamb
   • Soy
   • Wheat
3. Symptoms of food allergies include:
   • Itchy skin and excessive scratching
   • Chronic or recurrent ear infections
   • Hair loss
   • Hot spots
   • Skin infections
   • Excessive bowel movements

3. People food that’s toxic to dogs
   • Alcohol
   • Apple seeds
   • Apricot pits
   • Avocados
   • Bread dough and pizza dough, raw
   • Caffeine
   • Cherry pits
   • Chocolate
   • Cooked bones
   • Corn on the cob
   • Fish, raw
   • Grapes and raisins
   • Liver, in excess
   • Macadamia nuts and macadamia butters
   • Onions and chives
   • Pits and seeds
   • Processed foods
   • Xylitol

4. People food that’s safe for dogs
   • Apple slices or applesauce
   • Apricot pieces (no pits!)
   • Banana pieces
   • Bell pepper pieces
   • Berries
   • Broccoli
   • Cantaloupe
   • Carrots
   • Cheese
   • Eggs, cooked
   • Green beans
   • Lean meat and poultry
   • Lettuce
   • Oatmeal
   • Peanut butter
   • Pumpkin
   • Spinach
   • Strawberries
   • Sweet potatoes (or yams), cooked
   • Watermelon
   • Winter squash
   • Zucchini

When you make your own dog treats, you can select the healthiest ingredients possible. Just remember that homemade treats do not contain preservatives, so it’s best to store them in the refrigerator or freezer until you’re ready to feed it to your pooch.

Check out the recipe below for a treat that is super-simple to make and is guaranteed to be loved by your dog.

Click here to download your FREE healthy dog treat recipe and please share with a friend!

What is your favorite dog homemade treat recipe? Please share in the comments below. 

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Sources:

“Number of Dogs in the U.S.” Statista, www.statista.com/statistics/198100/dogs-in-the-united-states-since-2000/.

“Dog Dies Less Than 24 Hours After Eating This Coveted Treat.” Mercola.com, 2 July 2018, healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2018/07/02/toxic-jerky-pet-treats.aspx.

Department of Health and Human Services. “Audit (A-01-07-01503).” Office of Audit Services | Reports & Publications | Office of Inspector General | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 12 Aug. 2009, oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region1/10701503.asp.