The Nutty Diaries

Let’s face it, a lot of ingredients used in store-bought dog treats wouldn’t make it onto your kitchen table - so why feed them to your dog! If you’re looking for healthier, human-grade treats to feed to your beloved pet, then here are four of our favorite homemade dog treat recipes. 

Frozen Peanut Butter Dog Treats

This delicious recipe comes straight from the international dog-guru Cesar Millan himself. Not only is the recipe packed with important protein and healthy fats, but it’s pretty tasty too, and you may have to stop yourself from dipping in and stealing them from your dog. 

To make this frozen peanut butter dog treat, you will only need two ingredients:

• 32 ounces of yogurt (plain or vanilla)
• 1 cup of peanut butter  

Simply melt the peanut butter in the microwave, combine it with the yogurt and then pour the mixture into cupcake papers and place them in the freezer. In just a few hours, you’ll have a tasty frozen treat to feed your dog on warm summer days. 

Pumpkin and Ginger Dog Biscuits

These pumpkin and ginger doggie biscuits are perfect for the fall season but are truly delicious all year round and will make your kitchen smell divine! If your dog is avoiding wheat, then feel free to substitute the wheat flour for rice flour to make this recipe gluten and wheat-free. 

To make the pumpkin and ginger homemade dog biscuits, you will need:

• 3 cups of whole wheat flour or rice flour
• ½ cup of pumpkin puree
• ¼ cup of pumpkin seeds (shelled and chopped into small pieces)
• ½ teaspoon of ground ginger
• 1 large egg 
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil (melted)
• ¼ cup to ½ cup of water 

1. To make the doggy biscuits, preheat your oven to 275°F (130C) and then combine all of the ingredients except the water in a large bowl. 
2. Then add your water slowly until the dough comes together but is not too sticky. 
3. Flour your kitchen surface and roll out your dough until it is ¼ inch thick. 
4. Cut into your desired biscuit shape using a cookie cutter, and then place your biscuits onto a lined baking tray. 
5. Bake for approximately two hours, or until completely hard 

Flaxseed Doggie Cookies

Flax seeds are one of the healthiest seeds for your dog, helping to keep their coat shiny, their joints moving, and their immune system healthy. There are dozens of flaxseed doggie cookie recipes out there, but this is perhaps one of the simplest. To make these flaxseed homemade dog treats, you only need five ingredients: 

• One cup of whole wheat or rice flour
• 1 cup of oats
• ½ a cup of ground flaxseed
• ¼ cup of peanut butter 
• 1/2 cup - 1 cup of water 

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F
2. Combine the dry ingredients (flour, oats, and flaxseed) in a large bowl.
3. Melt your peanut butter in the microwave and add to your dry ingredients. 
4. Slowly add your water until the dough comes together. 
5. Roll out your dough on a floured surface until ¼ inch thick and then cut into your desired shape. 
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until hard and golden brown. 

Peanut Butter and Hemp Seed Dog Treats

Finally, another great seed to include in your dog treats are hemp seeds. Hemp seeds are also packed with essential omega-3’s which support many aspects of your dog’s health. We love this recipe because it is super simple and only requires four ingredients: 

• 2 cups of whole wheat or rice flour
• ¼ cup of hemp seeds 
• 1 cup of peanut butter (melted)
• 1 cup of water 

1. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F.
2. Combine all ingredients except the water together in a bowl.
3. Slowly add the water until the dough comes together but is not too sticky. 
4. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface and cut into shapes. 
5. Bake on a lined baking tray for approximately 20 minutes until stiff and golden. The time needed for your treats to bake can vary if you cut particularly large or small treat shapes. 
6. Allow the dog treats to cool completely before feeding to your dog and store them in an airtight container. 

Unfortunately, many pet foods aren’t formulated to provide all of the nutrients your beloved pets need to thrive. Cats, dogs, horses, rodents, and even feathered pets can quickly end up with nutritional deficiencies leading to a dull and dry coat, but thankfully there’s a tiny seed that can help. 

Feeding Flaxseed For Coat Condition

Flaxseed is derived from flax plants and has very quickly earned itself a reputation as an extremely healthy and nutritious food for both humans and animals. Packed with the essential fatty acid omega-3, flaxseed not only boosts the immune system but also helps with joint inflammation, digestive health and puts a super shine on your pet’s coat.

The Benefits Of Feeding Your Pet Flaxseed

• Flaxseed supports mobility and is a natural joint supplement helping older pets to keep doing what they love. 
• Flaxseed supports healthy skin by encouraging the production of natural oils and can help to treat skin conditions. 
• Flaxseed can visibly improve the coat or plumage of your pet, making it glossy and shiny. 
• Flaxseed supports the immune system helping to keep your pet well. 
• Flaxseed also helps the digestive system, reducing the frequency of upset tummies. 
• Flaxseed nourishes horses’ hooves helping to keep them in prime condition. 

Which Animals Can Benefit From Eating Flaxseed?

Flaxseed is widely beneficial and is fed to many animals to improve their coat and feather condition. Horses, cats, dogs, hens, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, parrots, rats, and racing pigeons are just a few of the most common pets who can benefit from regularly eating flaxseed, but the list goes on. 

How To Feed Your Pet Flaxseed

One of the most common ways to introduce flaxseed into your pet’s diet is as an oil. Cold-pressed flaxseed oil is widely available as a pet supplement, especially in the equine industry, while whole and ground flaxseed can be found in health food stores. Although convenient, flaxseed oil is also the most expensive way to feed flax to your pets; therefore, some owners choose to feed ground or whole flax seeds instead. While ground or whole flax seeds may be a cheaper alternative to flaxseed oil, they are slightly less digestible, and some seeds may pass through the digestive tract whole. If you’re feeding flaxseed oil or flaxseeds to your pet for the first time, then you may want to speak with a veterinarian first to discuss dosage. 

Other Foods That Will Improve Coat Condition 

Although flaxseed oil is one of the best supplementary foods to improve coat condition, fish and fish oils are also excellent sources of omega-3. Fish oil supplements can often be found online, or if your pet likes the taste of fish, then a meal of sardines or salmon once or twice a week can be a tasty alternative. 

Whatever pet you own, if you’re reading this post, then you’re here because you love them. Whether you own a rat, a cat, a dog, or a horse, as their owner, you are in control over the foods they eat. Owning a pet is a great pleasure, but it is also a great responsibility, and it is your job to ensure they are fed the best diet possible, so they receive all of the nutrients they need to thrive.