homemade holiday treats your pet can eat

The holidays are upon us, which means fun hangouts with family and friends, sweet gifts, and all the homemade goodies we can eat. While sharing these festive foods with our lovely pets is tempting, most human eats are big no-nos for our dogs and cats. (Stay clear of garlic, onion, grapes, chocolate and other foods listed here.) 

If we’re being honest, it’s safer to purchase treats specifically formulated for pets. But if you can’t resist preparing homemade treats — keep reading! We’ve got pet-friendly recipes that are easy to make. 

(Please note: Many of these ingredients can be high in fat or calories. Whether purchased or homemade, treats should be a tiny part of your lovebug’s diet, especially if your cutie is small or prone to GI upset. If your pet is on a special diet or they have a chronic disease, please talk with your veterinarian first.)

Peanut butter pumpkin cookies for dogs

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cup flour
• ½ cup peanut butter (no xylitol)
• 1 cup plain canned pumpkin 

Directions

1. Thoroughly mix all ingredients in a bowl and add flour slowly. You may only use some of the flour. (You only need enough to make the ingredients stick together and create a dough-like consistency.)
2. Form cookies into whichever shape you’d like.
3. Put cookies on a parchment-covered cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until they’re firm.
4. Let them cool, and hand one to your sweet lovebug when ready! 

Please note: Cooking time and temperature vary depending on your oven and the size of the treats. 

Beef biscuits for dogs

Ingredients 

• 2 jars (2.5 oz) beef baby food
• ¼ cup dry milk powder
• ¼ cup cream of wheat 

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients and mix well.
2. Roll into balls and place on a well-greased cookie sheet.
3. Flatten slightly with a fork and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until brown.
4. Cool on a wire rack and then store in the fridge or freezer.Give to your furball and watch them do a happy dance. 

Holiday delights for dogs

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 4 tablespoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 

Directions 

1. Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly to combine.
2. Roll out dough on a floured surface to about ¼-inch thick.
3. Using a cookie cutter, cut into desired shapes.
4. Combine dough scraps and continue to roll out and cut into shapes until all dough is used.
5. Place cookies on an ungreased foil-lined baking sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.
6. Share with your cutie patootie. 

Tuna yums for cats

Ingredients

• 1 pound raw tuna cut into 1” cubes (please wash your hands after handling!)

Directions 

1. Cut the cubes in half. (Cubing the yums makes them thin enough to dry thoroughly without burning.)
2. Put the cubes in a single layer on a greased oven-safe pan.
3. Bake at 200 degrees for 2 hours or until dry and jerky-like.
4. Turn the yums once to make sure they’re evenly dried. 

(Please note: Tuna yums aren’t shelf stable. They can stay fresh for weeks in the fridge. You can keep a large number of tuna yums in small batches in the freezer. You can also make chicken yums using plain, skinless chicken breast or fish yums using a firm, non-flaky fish.)