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Archive for the 'Dog Treat Recipes' Category
Did you know many pets have allergies to wheat, corn and soy? Read your pet’s food and treat labels, this may be the cause for their scratching, sneezing, tear staining, and potty issues in the house.
Dog obesity is on the rise with 41% of dogs either overweight or obese.
There is definitely a rising obesity problem among dogs and with that comes pancretitis, diabetes, joint and hip problems, liver or kidney issues and even heart problems.
I think that some dog owners feel guilty by leaving their dogs at home alone during the day but with this guilt, comes an overindulgence with commercial treats and the convenience of commercial dog food. Owners are actually killing their dogs with this kind of behavior. Commercial treats and food has wheat gluten (even after several pet food recalls), high fat content, sugar additives, chemicals for preserving the product on the store shelves for around a year, large amounts of salt and artificial dyes and flavors.
Some owners think that by giving table scrap, they are not feeding them chemicals or preservatives but on the contrary, they are feeding them high fat, low fiber and probably garlic and onions in some form. Onions and garlic contain thiosulphate, which is toxic to dogs and especailly to cats. Onions are more of a danger because of the amount of thiosulphate but some dogs become violently ill after ingesting garlic.
Commercial treats are full of preservatives, chemicals, wheat gluten, and additives amongst other high fat ingredients. For example, milkbones are one of the best sellers within the commercial dog treat industry, yet dogs that develop allergies, are usually allergic to the Brewer’s yeast that is a main ingredient in milkbones. I have had quite a few dog owners explain to me that their vet says their dog is experiencing allergies. I usually followup by asking if their dog is eating milkbones and you would be surprised at how many say ‘yes’. After I explain about Brewer’s yeast and allergic reactions in dogs, they decide to remove that treat from their diet. Small, independent dog bakeries are trying their best to create dog treats that do not contact yeast, preservatives or chemicals.
We, at The Gourmet Dog Bakery, have the responsibilty to develop recipes that are low-fat, low-glycemic ingredients and we never use garlic. We adapt human diabetic recipes suitable for canine tastes. We limit the use of honey and oil but some is beneficial to the health of your dog, as shown in recent studies. We have shopping categories by the type of issues you are facing, such as ‘Diabetes’ or ‘Skin Allergies’ at http://www.TheGourmetDogBakery.com.
We are currently developing a new treat named Pug Buns, that are carob and cinnamon buns. Soon our newsletter mailing list will receive notification of all new treats that are developed and announced by The Gourmet Dog Bakery staff.
Substitute 3 TBSP. of carob powder (sometimes called carob flour) for each square of chocolate that your recipe calls for.
If your recipe also calls for sugar (which most human desserts do), substitute the sugar for honey. Use equal amounts of honey for sugar (up to 1 cup) and lower the baking temperature by 25 degrees F. Watch it a little more closely because honey does make a recipe brown quicker. If your recipe calls for a cup of sugar or more, you should find another recipe. More than 1/4 cup of honey is not healthy for dogs in treat recipes.
Tip: Always spray (with a spray oil) the measuring spoon or cup when measuring honey. The honey will not stick to the spoon or cup and you will get the exact measurement needed in the recipe.
Check with http://www.TheGourmetDogBakery.com for dog treats that contain limited amounts of honey. Half of our treats do not contain any sugar sources. We try to use low-glycemic vegetables that help maintain a healthy blood sugar level in all dogs whether they are healthy or dealing with health issues.
My sister and I were treated to Frosty Paws last night. We had the peanut butter flavored frozen dog treat and it was HOWLING good. On their website, you can join their Birthday Club and you will receive a Birthday greeting and a coupon for a free box of Frosty Paws frozen dog treats. My Mom checked out their section on party planning ideas, the photo contest and some of the party kits that they have for sale. Check it out at:
http://www.frostypawstreats.com/frostypaws/default.aspx?tabid=43
Dogs and cats love a variety of flavors in their food or treats, just like their owners do. Instead of using garlic in your dog food or treat recipes, try using a herb. You can use dry or fresh herbs but there are so many available now days from purchasing them at the grocery store to growing them in your backyard.Using small amounts of basil, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, oregano, cinnamon or parsley will give your home-cooked food or treats with different flavors. There are many other herbs that can be used in flavoring their food/treats, so limit adding salt or sugar when cooking. Recent studies have shown that cinnamon is good for diabetic dogs, so get creative and use cinnamon in your recipes.
The Gourmet Dog Bakery is developing dog treats with cinnamon, in order to help diabetic dogs benefit from better regulation of their blood sugar levels.
It took me all afternoon but my Mom finally agreed to release my favorite low fat liver treat recipe. They are called Beef BOWnies. She use to sell them at her dog bakery but shipping was too unpredictable so she stopped. Now she only cooks them for my friends and past customers that are hooked on them.
My Mom tells me that these are great for diabetic and overweight fuzzy friends. They are very low in fat, high in needed iron but high in cholesterol too. Use caution about how often we get these. She suggest that these treats be given no more than once or twice per week, if in small bite-sized pieces.
These can be kept in the freezer because they spoil very easily.
- 1 ½ lbs. of USDA beef or chicken liver, pureed
- ½ C. whole wheat flour
- 1 C. white flour
- ¼ C. corn meal
- 1 C. grated parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover cookie sheet with foil, coat with cooking spray, sprinkle lightly with corn meal and set aside.