Delicious Summer Dog Treats to Keep Your Pooch Cool
They call them the dog days of summer for a reason. Heat and humidity are no fun for any of our furry friends, and chances are that on the worst of those 90-degrees-or-higher afternoons, your dog will be sprawled on the coolest tile floor in the house.
Do your pooch a favor and find him or her the ideal dog treat to beat the summer heat. Whatever kind of snack your dog loves, there's probably a frozen form of it. If you're looking for a few recipes that won't cause your dog to gain weight or exhaust your pet, but just give them a simple, cooling pick-me-up, consider these two options.
Dog-friendly fruity ice cubes.
Ingredients: Fruit, cream cheese, water, Dixie cups.
Directions: This one's extremely simple. Take a Dixie cup - or for smaller dogs consider an ice cube tray - and fill it with sliced dog-friendly fruit like bananas or melon. Add a dollop of cream cheese and place it in the freezer. Once frozen, unwrap the wax paper from around the cube of ice and give it to your dog to enjoy. Some dogs might even enjoy a simple frozen banana!
Banana and peanut butter frozen dog treat popsicles.
Ingredients: 32 ounces of plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, 2 tablespoons of honey, ⅓ cup of water, 1 large banana, dog biscuits, dixie cups
Directions: This one's so good that any human may want to try it. Take yogurt, peanut butter, honey, water and the banana (chopped) and place them in a blender or food processor. Purée ingredients together then pour into Dixie cups. Stand dog biscuits in the cups of purée like you would a popsicle stick and then place them in the freezer. Your dog will love you for your culinary creations. They make the perfect after-walk snack or dessert before bed. If you've got kids, they might enjoy setting up a lemonade stand variation near the sidewalk for all those thirsty dog-walkers and overheated pooches!
Frosty & Frozen Tuna Cubes.
Ingredients: One six ounce can of tuna fish packed in water, 8 ounces of plain yogurt.
Directions: This one is very simple to make. All you need to do is mix the yogurt and the tuna in a bowl. Whisk until you get a nice fluffy “batter.” Place into an ice tray and freeze for four hours.
Even better, each of these treats is easily adjusted and improved to your dog's tastes. Just remember that a number of human foods are bad for dogs, so always double and triple check before including what seems like a harmless ingredient in a treat. For more “do it yourself” treat ideas take a look at our DIY Pet Ideas board on Pinterest!
Does your pup have a favorite frozen treat for those hot summer days?
This content is provided by the pet experts at Hartz. Our professional staff is here to keep you educated on the proper grooming techniques while offering tips to keep your pet happy and healthy.
