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Recipe for Healthy Dog Treats

by Liz Ward

Overview

Because dogs are part of the family, their health is usually of importance to their owners. Finding a healthy treat is also important. Treats should never make up more than 10 percent of your dog's total diet. Even if it's a healthy treat, the amount should be monitored. Making treats that are tasty, healthy and that don't add to weight issues doesn't have to be that difficult. Knowing what harmful ingredients to avoid is the first step to making healthy treats.
Ingredients to Avoid

Like people, dogs can have food allergies and sensitivities. Ingredients to avoid are turkey, wheat, pork and sugar. Ingredients difficult for a dog to digest include corn, wheat and soy. These grains have less nutritional value because the nutrients aren't easily absorbed. They can also cause allergic reactions. Never feed your dog raisins, chocolate, onions or grapes because they can cause diarrhea, vomiting or death. Always contact your veterinarian before changing your dog's diet.

Meat Treats

To make baby food dog cookies, combine three jars of meat or chicken baby food (make sure it has no onion added), ¼ cup cream of rice cereal and ¼ cup dry non-fat milk. Roll dough into balls and flatten slightly, place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. After they're cooled store them in the refrigerator. Make barley beef biscuits by mixing together 2 cups beef broth, ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, 4 tablespoons parsley, 2 cups barley flour and 3 to 4 cups rye flour. Heat the broth until it's hot (not boiling) and add olive oil and parsley. Mix in barley flour and wait until it's cool enough to work, before adding the rye flour. Knead the dough on a floured surface until it's smooth. Roll and cut the dough with cookie cutters and place it on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Other Treats

Pumpkin treats are made by combining a 15 ounce can of pureed pumpkin (pure), ¾ cup cream of rice cereal and ½ cup dry non-fat powdered milk. Mix the ingredients together and drop by the spoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. To make cheesy bones mix together 1¼ cup cheddar cheese, 2 cups rice flour and ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil in a food processor. Mix until it's the consistency of cornmeal. Slowly add four ½ tablespoons of water until it forms a ball. Roll out dough, cut with cookie cutters and place it on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until brown. Keep leftovers in the refrigerator.