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DIY Treats to Keep Your Dog Cool In the Heat!

Help your pet beat the excessive heat with some healthy and nutritious frozen treats! If you plan to stay inside today, why not use this time to make something fun for your pooch to snack on?


Need ideas? You're in luck, as we've pulled together a list of frozen treat recipes for all to enjoy.


Safety first! As a rule of thumb, don't let your dog overindulge. If a dog eats or drinks anything too quickly, they can become very bloated. Take care when giving these special treats to your pet!


Before we begin, here are a few ingredients and equipment recommended for these recipe:

  1. Fage Total Plain Greek Yogurt *If your dog is lactose intolerant, please speak with our veterinary staff before making the treats that require yogurt. You may be able to omit the yogurt if it is not absolutely necessary.

  2. Dog bone mold (of course, you can choose whichever mold you would like!): https://amzn.to/2SOijvL

  3. Peanut butter: https://amzn.to/2Y2en8Z *there are various brands that make peanut butter without xylitol or other artificial sweeteners. Visit your local grocery store to find one that's all-natural!

Ready to get started? Continue reading for these quick and healthy recipes we've found!


Yogurt and Berries Dog Treats


Prep Time: 10 minutes, Total time: 4 hours, 10 minutes


Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (8oz/120g) plain yogurt

  • 10 strawberries, diced

  • 20 blueberries

Instructions:

  1. Scatter the blueberries and diced strawberries in a fun dog treat-shaped ice cube mold or regular ice cube tray.

  2. Spoon over the yogurt. Fill evenly and smooth over the top.

  3. Tap the mold on the counter to ensure there are no air bubbles and the mixture is evenly distributed.

  4. Freeze for a minimum of 5 hours or overnight.

  5. To remove the treats, tap the mold on the counter to loosen, and then take them out. If you have any trouble, quickly run the mold under warm water to help make the treats easier to remove.

  6. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

  7. Give our dog a few treats to cool off and enjoy!



Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats


Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 5 hours, 10 minutes (8-10 servings)


Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (8oz/120g) plain yogurt (no sweeteners or artificial flavors)

  • 1/2 cup (4oz/120g) peanut butter, smooth (no xylitol!)

  • 1 ripe banana


Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, mash up the banana until smooth and no lumps.

  2. Stir in the yogurt and peanut butter, mix until evenly combined.

  3. Spoon into dog bone molds (or ice cube trays). Fill evenly and smooth out the top.

  4. Freeze for a minimum of 5 hours or even overnight.

  5. Once ready, tap the mold on the counter to make sure there are no air bubbles and the mixture is evenly distributed.

  6. To remove the treats, tap on the counter to loosen then remove from the mold.

  7. The treats can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

  8. Let your dog enjoy these delicious treats (sparingly, of course)!


Watermelon and Yogurt Frozen Dog Treats (Pupsicles)



Make a big batch of these two-ingredient watermelon and yogurt frozen dog treats! What dog doesn't love watermelon?


Prep time: 5 minutes Total Time: 4 hours, 5 minutes

Servings: 15 treats


Ingredients

  • Special equipment: immersion blender/blender/food processor and silicone treat molds/ice cube tray/mini muffin pan

  • 2 cups chopped seedless watermelon

  • 15 tablespoons (just under 1 cup) plain, unsweetened yogurt (omit the yogurt if your dog is lactose intolerant)

Instructions

  1. Puree watermelon chunks until smooth. Add 1 tablespoon of yogurt to each space in your mold or ice cube tray. (Adjust accordingly depending on the size of your tray.) Fill the rest of the way with the watermelon puree.

  2. Freeze the mold until solid, for about 4 hours.

  3. Remove the treats from the mold* and store in an air tight container in the freezer. *If you have used a muffin pan to freeze the treats, allow them to sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes until you can use a plastic knife or fork to pop the treats out of the tray. Place a single layer on a wax paper covered plate or cookie sheet and refreeze 15-20 minutes before storing in an air-tight container.*

  4. Let your dog enjoy this delicious and nutritious treat!



Pumpkin Banana Pup Pops Hypoallergenic Dog Treat


Ingredients:

  • 1 cup plain yogurt

  • 1 (15 oz) can of pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie mix)

  • 1 teaspoon natural/unfiltered honey

  • 1 ripe banana

Instructions:

  1. Add the banana and pumpkin puree to your blender or food processor and mix until it’s nice and smooth.

  2. If you don’t have a blender, you can mix by hand using a fork, especially if you use a nice ripe banana.

  3. Combine the yogurt and mashed banana/pumpkin mix in a large bowl.

  4. Add the honey and stir until all ingredients are well combined.

  5. Spoon the mixture into silicone molds or ice cube trays.

  6. Freeze overnight (or for a few hours if you’re making it early in the day).

  7. Pop out of the molds and serve on a hot day!


We hope you and your dog(s) have a blast with these great snacks! They're all perfect for staying cool during the hot summer. If you've made these treats for your pet, share a photo and tag us on Facebook or Instagram @streamvalleyvet! We'd love to see your creations!



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