Holiday Cookies for Dogs

The holiday season is officially here! If you like baking, you may be in the kitchen quite a bit, whipping up special season treats for your family and friends. Of course, your dog is part of the family as well! Why not make him some snacks as well? Here, an Oconomowoc, WI vet lists some holiday cookies for Fido.

Feel free to experiment and/or mix and match the below recipes. Just be sure to only use pet-safe ingredients, such as plain yogurt; peanut butter; pureed pumpkin or squash; bananas; eggs; whole-wheat flour; sodium-free broth; cooked, boneless meat, fish, or poultry; canned tuna or chicken; bacon fat; cheese; bacon bits; organic baby food; and wheat germ oil. Many veggies, such as cooked green beans, carrots, and peas, are also safe. Never give Fido anything that contains garlic, onions, or chives; avocados; chocolate; nuts; caffeine; alcohol; pitted fruits; grapes, currants, or raisins; or xylitol.

Natural peanut butter and yogurt mixed together are the base for this treat. You can add mashed banana or pureed sweet potato if you like. Divide into small bits, and cook at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Instant tail wags!

Mix eggs and whole-wheat flour with wheat germ oil for a base. You can customize Fido’s cookies by using some of the ingredients listed above. Divide into small portions, and cook at 350 for 30 minutes.

Combine whole-wheat flour, eggs, and beef liver. Use a food processor to mix the ingredients into a batter. As with the biscuits above, you can cook them at 350 for 30 minutes.

Mix cooked, boneless turkey with cheese, bacon bits, bacon grease, and/or spinach. Pour it into a cupcake mold or divide into smaller portions, and bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

While Fido probably won’t care—or even notice—what his doggy treats are shaped like, there’s no reason you can’t make them look nice. Consider getting a bone-shaped cookie mold. This also makes it easy for people to tell the difference between people snacks and doggy treats! If you want to make some snacks for your friends’ or family members’ pups, put them in a pretty jar and tie a ribbon around it to make it look festive.

Happy Holidays! Please contact us, your local Oconomowoc, WI pet clinic, for all your dog’s veterinary care needs.