7 easy homemade pup food treats!
Pumpkin is a great addition to doggy snacks, and puppies find it delicious! Plain pumpkin is a source of fiber, water, and a number of nutrients. It can be used in combination with many simple treats in small quantities.
But puppies’ nutritional requirements are different to adult dogs. They should always be fed a complete and balanced puppy diet. Homemade snacks should only be a small part of their daily food.
Learn how to make “7 Easy Puppy Snacks” with simple ingredients and easy preparation at home.
1. Pumpkin Bites, Banana Bites
Easy, fun-to-make soft bites with a few easy ingredients.
Ingredients
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, add the pumpkin puree, and stir well.
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup cornmeal
Instructions
In a bowl, mash the banana. Stir in pumpkin and oat flour. Knead and make a soft dough.
Roll the balls into little round balls and set aside on a baking sheet. Flatten them slightly.
Place in the oven and bake until the treats set, around 350°F (175°C). Don’t give your puppy one until it has completely cooled down.
Ensure that the pieces are too large for your puppy to swallow.
2. These Frozen Pumpkin Yogurt Bites make a wonderful fall snack!
Frozen snacks can be a great help on a hot day.
Ingredients
Packed in a cup, ready to eat, plain pumpkin puree.
Use 1/2 cup plain, unsweetened yogurt.
Instructions
Mix the pumpkin and yogurt together.
Pour into a small ice cube mould or silicone mould. Freeze until firm.
Treat your puppy to a bite and observe him while he feeds.
Use plain yoghurt, rather than sweetened or flavoured.
3. Pumpkin Oat Puppy Cookies
Pumpkin and oats can be used to make these simple cookies.
Ingredients
25g of plain pumpkin puree
- 1 1/2 cups oat flour
- 1 egg
Instructions
Combine all three ingredients in bowl.
Knead a soft dough and roll it out. Cut small shapes using a cookie cutter.
Arrange cookies on a baking sheet and bake until done.
Serve after it has completely cooled.
Don’t add spices, chocolate, butter, sugar or salt.
4. Pumpkin and Apple Treats
For a quick and easy puppy snack, try apple and pumpkin.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain pumpkin puree
- 1 small apple
- 1 cup oat flour
Instructions
Wash the apple well. Core and take all seeds out. Slice apple into small cubes.
Combine the apple pieces, pumpkin and oat flour.
Form into little treats and bake until set.
Avoid feeding puppy apple seeds or the tough apple core.
5. Those feeders are Soft Pumpkin Training Treats!
Little rewards are effective when training your puppy simple instructions.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 egg
- 1 cup oat flour
Instructions
Combine ingredients, knead into a soft dough.
Create multiple small items. Bake until cooked.
After the lard becomes cool, crumble it into small pieces.
You don’t have to reward with a whole cookie each time your puppy performs a command. Small portions make for good training!
6. Mix it up with pumpkin and peanut butter and you have Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Bites.
You should look at the peanut butter label carefully, but peanut butter can be used to flavor homemade puppy snacks.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon of peanut butter (xylitol free) - 1 cup oat flour
Instructions
Combine all ingredients to make a soft dough.
Form small balls, and round them a little.
Bake until cooked through and serve.
Please note: Do NOT use peanut butter with xylitol. Dogs are extremely sensitive to the effects of xylitol.
Use plain peanut butter, which may contain no added sugar or other unnecessary ingredients or chocolate.
7. Simple Pumpkin Frozen Cubes
One of the simplest pumpkin recipes to make is a snack.
Ingredients
- Plain pumpkin puree
- Clean water
Instructions
Add some pumpkin to water.
Pour into ice cube form and freeze.
When it is frozen, treat your puppy a little every now and then.
If the puppy is very young, be sure to break the frozen piece into a small size and not one that is too hard for him.
Can puppies eat pumpkin?
Puppies and pumpkins are safe together?
Most puppies can safely eat plain pumpkin in small quantities.
Use plain cooked pumpkin or plain pumpkin puree. Do not use any foods that have been processed with sugar, salt, spices or other additives.
Pumpkin may not be a meal all by itself for your puppy. A properly balanced diet is essential for puppies to grow properly.
If your puppy has a health problem or is on a special diet, ask your veterinarian before adding new foods.
Just how much pumpkin is safe for a puppy?
Just how much pumpkin is safe for a puppy?
The dosage will vary based on the puppy’s size, age, regular feeding habits, and health status.
When introducing pumpkin for the first time, start out with a very small quantity.
Pumpkin has fiber, which it can lead to diarrhea, gas, or stomach discomfort if it is fed too much.
Homemade treats should also be used sparingly, accounting for no more than 10% of your puppy’s daily calorie intake.
If you aren’t sure, your veterinarian will be able to assist you in deciding how much you should give.
Puppies should not eat pumpkin snacks.
Puppies should not eat pumpkin snacks.
Not all pumpkin snacks are healthy.
Do not add:
- Chocolate
- Xylitol
- Grapes or raisins
- Onion or garlic
- Coffee or caffeine
- Alcohol
Each of the following items contains a lot of sugar: - Artificial sweeteners
- Excess salt
- Spicy seasonings
Steer clear of pumpkin pie filling as well. It is not as plain pumpkin and can have sugar and spices.
Follow these tips to make safe puppy treats.
When making homemade snacks, always use clean bowls, cooking surfaces and tools.
Wash fruits and vegetables before using them. Properly cook eggs and other food items.
Allow baked treats to cool completely before giving them to your puppy.
Refrigerate or freeze homemade treats. Do make small batches so that the treats stay fresh.
Keep an eye on your puppy while she takes the new treat.
If your puppy has a new ingredient that causes diarrhea, vomiting, itching, swelling, or other strange symptoms, discontinue feeding it and call your vet.
Final Thoughts
These easy pumpkin puppy snacks make a great easy treat to give your pup a small homemade snack. Pumpkin can be combined with basic foods like banana, oats, apple, plain yogurt, egg, or xylitol-free peanut butter.
The key is to keep the recipes simple! Steer clear of sugar, chocolate, sugar alcohol, spices and other ingredients that can be harmful.
Keep in mind that puppies require all of the proper nutrients for good development: a complete and balanced puppy food. Home-made snack should be treats, not substitute for their daily meals.
Offer small amounts, add foods one at a time, and consult your vet for any concerns about your puppy’s diet. If you have the right ingredients and the proper portion control, you can make homemade pumpkin treats that will be a treat for your growing puppy.
