Thanksgiving Day is a special holiday for families and pets, too, can be part of the celebration. You can create simple homemade treats for your dog, rather than sharing food at the dinner table.
Many healthy dogs will have no problem with sweet potato dog treats for Thanksgiving. Cooked sweet potato is a good ingredient to use for homemade dog biscuits, soft bites and easy frozen treats.
The key is to stick to a simple recipe. Common ingredients in Thanksgiving sweet potato recipes are butter, sugar, marshmallows, salt, syrup, and spices. These extra ingredients are not needed for dogs.
This is a tutorial to show you how to create easy homemade sweet potato dog treats, how to serve them, and what you should avoid serving on Thanksgiving!
Are Sweet Potatoes Suitable for Dogs?
Sweet potatoes are suitable for dogs!
Cooked plain sweet potato may be okay when fed in small amounts.
Sweet potatoes are rich in carbs and are a source for fiber, vitamin A, and other nutrients. Dogs do have different nutritional requirements, however, and sweet potato shouldn’t be used as a substitute for their regular complete and balanced diet.
Always cook sweet potatoes before giving them to your dog.
Peel the sweet potato and serve once it has cooled.
Don’t feed raw sweet potato as it may be difficult for dogs to chew and digest.
This recipe is super straightforward and will be a doggy favorite!
This is a simple recipe with readily available ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked vegetables or fruit (preferably sweet potato or carrot)
- 1 egg
- 2 cups oat flour
Water, if necessary, a small amount.
Avoid sugar, salt, butter, milk, syrup or seasoning.
If you know your dog is allergic to a particular food, be sure to verify all of the ingredients before preparing the recipe.
How to Make Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Step 1: Prepare the Sweet Potato
Prepare the Sweet Potato by cooking until it is tender.
Wash the sweet potato.
Cook to soften.
Can be baked, steamed or boiled.
After cooking remove skin and mash contents.
Let it cool before adding to mixture.
Step 2: Combine the Ingredients
Combine the ingredients with the spatula.Use a spatula to mix ingredients.
Mash the sweet potato and set aside in a bowl.
Add one egg and mix well.
Add oat flour, a little at a time.
Combine until a soft dough is formed.
If the dough is still very dry, add some water.
Step 3: Shape the Treats
Turn dough onto clean surface.
Roll out, cut small shapes with a cookie cutter.
The treats can look festive with Thanksgiving shapes like leaves, pumpkins or small circles.
Treats should be small enough for your dog to easily consume.
Step 4: Bake the Treats
Place the treats in the oven for 10 minutes.Bake the treats for 10 minutes.
Place the treats on a baking sheet.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) until well done and set.
The exact baking time will vary based on size and thickness of the treats.
Wait until they are completely cold before feeding them to your dog!
Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Treats for Dogs
People make traditional sweet potato recipes for Thanksgiving.
They may contain:
- Brown sugar
- Marshmallows
- Butter
- Syrup
- Salt
- Heavy spices
- Sweet sauces
Some of these ingredients can cause unnecessary calories and cause stomach upset in your dog.
Rather, cook a small quantity of plain sweet potato, then add ingredients to a human meal.
Easily makes an easy base to make Thanksgiving dog treats.
Sweet Potato Dog Biscuits
Sweet potato can also be used to make crunchy dog biscuits.
So the basic recipe is quite simple:
A combination of sweet potato, egg, and oat flour.Sweet potato, egg, and oat flour mixture.
Roll out the dough, cut up small shapes and bake to set.
You can make the biscuits thinner if your dog prefers crunchy treats.
Never serve baked good while still warm.
Soft Sweet Potato Dog Treats
For some dogs soft treats are better.
When baking treats that are softer, don’t make them too hard.
Make them small and completely cooked.
Dogs should be supervised when eating soft treats, but these can be helpful for dogs that do not chew their hard biscuits well.
Ask your veterinarian if there is a dog dental treat that is suitable if your dog has dental issues or is not able to chew.
Frozen Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Frozen sweet potato can be made to make a simple frozen treat.
Mash and sauté the sweet potato and stir in a little water.
Pour small amounts into moulds.
Freeze until firm.
A small piece of frozen food can be given to dogs as long as they are supervised.
Do not include chocolate, sweetened yogurt, sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Pumpkin and Sweet Potato are great ingredients for a healthy dog treat and they are delicious too.
Sweet potato and plain pumpkin will work well together for a homemade dog treat.
You can mix:
Plain cooked sweet potato
- Plain pumpkin puree
- Egg
- Oat flour
Prepare small treats, and bake to cook.
Use plain pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, when using canned pumpkin.
There may be additional ingredients in pumpkin pie filling, including added sugar.
Can Puppies Eat Sweet Potato Dog Treats?
Yes, puppies can eat sweet potato dog treats.
Puppies require complete and balanced puppy food.
Some puppies may be able to eat a small amount of plain cooked sweet potato, but it should not be used to replace their normal puppy food.
Create super mini treats for puppies.
Add ingredients one at a time.
Your puppy may have allergies, digestive issues or special dietary requirements, so consult with your vet before using a new homemade recipe.
How Many Sweet Potato Treats Can Dogs Eat?
How many sweet potato treats can dogs eat?How many sweet potato “treats” can dogs have?
All healthy foods should be limited.
The appropriate dosage varies with the size, age, activity level, health and habitual diet of your dog.
Give one of the small treats first, particularly if your dog hasn’t tried sweet potato before.
Treats and additional food items should be a small percentage of your dog’s calorie intake.
Too much treats can cause weight gain or stomach upset.
Your dog’s basic complete and balanced diet should be the primary source of nutrition.
Benefits of Homemade Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Homemade Sweet Potato Dog Treats offer several advantages.There are a number of benefits to homemade Sweet Potato Dog Treats.
Homemade treats have one advantage: You can control the ingredients.
To prevent any unnecessary:
- Sugar
- Salt
- Butter
- Sauces
- Artificial sweeteners
- Heavy seasoning
Each treat can be sized as well.
But not all homemade can be healthier. The ingredients and the amount of each are still important.
A home-made treat should be easy to make, and served as a treat.
Thanksgiving Foods to Avoid for Dogs
Even though Thanksgiving is a time to share, there are foods that you should avoid giving your dog.
While making your dog’s sweet potato treats, remember that many Thanksgiving foods can be unsafe for dogs.
Try to avoid giving these foods to your pet:
- Chocolate
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Xylitol
- Onion
- Garlic
- Alcohol
- Macadamia nuts
- Cooked bones
- Turkey skin
- Very fatty foods
- Sugary desserts
Onion, garlic, salt, and large quantities of fat may also be found in stuffing and gravies.
Don’t assume that a Thanksgiving dish is safe because one of the ingredients is safe.
Read the complete recipe.
How to Store Homemade Sweet Potato Dog Treats
You can freeze homemade sweet potato dog treats, which are typically stored in tinfoil in the freezer or in a freezer bag.
Allow baked goods to cool thoroughly before storing.
Put in a clean airtight container.
Home-made treats may not last as long as some commercial treats, since they typically have fewer preservatives.
Keep refrigerated as needed.
Treats can be frozen in small portions, too.
Look for mold and any strange odors or consistency before eating.
Discard any treats that are spoiled or have an unpleasant smell.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats Bad Thanksgiving Food?
Call your veterinarian or animal poison service as soon as possible after your dog has consumed chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol, cooked bones, or another food item that may have been harmful.
Be sure to have the food package or recipe information handy if you know what your dog ate.
Inform the veterinarian what was ingested, the quantity and when.
Never force a dog to vomit unless directed to do so by a veterinarian.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a special dog treat to taste for the holidays, sweet potato dog treats are easy to make.
Baked plain sweet potato can be used to create sweet potato pumpkin treats, baked sweet potato soft treats, frozen sweet potato bites, and biscuits.
Simplicity is the key when it comes to ingredients. Avoid sugar, butter, marshmallows, syrup, salt, chocolate, onion, and garlic.
Preheat and cook sweet potatoes before eating; peel sweet potatoes; and cool homemade treats before serving.
Try offering a small amount at first; see how your dog reacts to a new ingredient.
Keep in mind that treats are supposed to be an additional food given to your dog. Most of their daily diet should be complete and balanced dog food.
Please consult your vet before trying new foods if your dog suffers from allergies, sensitive stomach or has some medical conditions.
Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate, but it can be easy to include your four-legged family member on the holiday menu when food is prepared with safe ingredients, small amounts and proper care.
