Ah, November! Falling leaves, early evenings, brightly lit kitchens, stoves laden with bubbling saucepans, and ovens breathing out fragrant warmth. This year, why not include your beloved pooch in the festivities by making a dog-safe Thanksgiving fare just for her? Baking dog treats is a fun activity for the whole family and your four-footed companion(s) will be sure to thank you!
Celebrate Thanksgiving with healthy a treat for your pup
Though many of the ingredients in your traditional Thanksgiving feast are safe (if not exactly healthy) in small quantities, many common spices and flavorings are actually toxic to your dog. Besides this, too much rich human food can upset their stomach. When feasting with your dog, be sure to avoid the following dangerous items:
- Onions
- Garlic
- Raisins
- Grapes
- Xylitol (artificial sweetener)
- Coffee
- Chocolate
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Raw bread dough
- Macadamia nuts
- Raw bones
- High-salt snacks
- Cloves, nutmeg, allspice
- Limes
- Rhubarb
Additionally, many pets suffer from food sensitivities and allergies to nuts, eggs, certain meats, wheat, and dairy. When in doubt, consult your veterinarian before sharing human foods with your dog.
Thanksgiving pumpkin pie dog treats
Thankfully, you can make a dog-safe Thanksgiving treat just for your pooch! While pumpkin is very healthy for dogs, traditional pumpkin pie filling is too rich and contains spices that are toxic to dogs in large quantities. The recipe below is simple and quick to make with only four easy-to-digest ingredients. I tested it on my own dogs. They all gave it four paws up and begged for seconds!
You will need: One 24-cup mini muffin tin
Ingredients:
1 & 3/4 cups oat flour (you can pulse rolled oats in a food processor until they reach a floury crumble)
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 banana, mashed
3/4 cups unsweetened, cooked winter squash or pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)
low-fat plain yogurt for topping
Instructions for crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a non-stick mini muffin tin. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together oat flour and applesauce until they form a firm, sticky dough. Drop a ball of dough into the bottom of each muffin cup. Using your floured fingers or a spoon, gently press to fill the sides of the cup. Alternatively, you can make slightly larger pies using a standard muffin tin. Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until crusts are firm and separate themselves from sides of the muffin cups. Remove from oven and cool before removing to a plate.
Instructions for pie filling:
Mix the mashed banana with pumpkin/squash puree. Spoon filling into the pie crusts. These treats do not need to be baked, so they can be served immediately with plain yogurt for topping, or chilled in the refrigerator for later.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your pups from all of us at Rescue Ranch!
