Fall is a great time of year for dogs and their people. Pumpkin recipes abound, and it might be a good idea to create a special doggie treat as well. When using safe ingredients and in small quantities, pumpkin spice dog treats can be a simple homemade treat.
Remember, not all pumpkin spice products are dog friendly! Sugar, butter, salt and a number of spices will typically be found in human desserts made from pumpkin. Certain ingredients are poisonous to dogs.
Fortunately, you can create a dog-friendly version at home easily. This recipe calls for regular pumpkin and little cinnamon instead of a pre-made pumpkin spice mix.
Pumpkin Spice Treats are safe for dogs to consume.
They may be, depending on the ingredients.
Plain pumpkin is safe to give most healthy dogs as long as they have it in moderation. Pumpkin is rich in fibre, water and can be utilized as a component of handmade treats.
Dogs don’t require cinnamon in their diet, though it’s not known to be a toxin. In excess, cinnamon can cause mouth and stomach irritation.
It is safest to stick to a simple recipe and to only add a little bit of spice.
Here is a simple dog treat recipe you can use to make pumpkin spice treats for your dog.
This recipe is simple to prepare at home, and also doesn’t include sugar.
Ingredients
1 cup of plain pumpkin puree
- 1 egg
- 2 cups oat flour
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
You can leave out the cinnamon if you prefer. The pumpkin will still add a flavor to the treats.
Don’t use pumpkin pie filling, use plain pumpkin puree.
If you are making your own pumpkin puree, cook pumpkin without sugar, salt, butter or spices, then puree.
Ingredients:
You will need the following ingredients:
Preheat to 350 degrees.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place pumpkin and egg in a medium bowl and mix together.
Place pumpkin puree and egg in a large bowl.
Stir them until they are smooth and well blended.
Add Oat Flour and Cinnamon to the mixture.
Gradually add the oat flour.
Stir in small amount of cinnamon.
Mix until a soft dough has developed.
If the dough is too sticky, add a little more oat flour. Add a little water, if it is too dry.
Fold and roll up the dough.
Fold and roll up the dough.
Turn dough onto to a clean surface.
Roll to approximately 1/4-inch thick.
Make fun shapes with a small cookie cutter.
Bone, pumpkin, leaf and circle are excellent choices for fall.
Step 5: Bake
Place the shapes on a baking sheet.
Bake for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, depending on size and thickness.
The treats should be cooked through and firm.
Step 6: Cool
Take biscuits out of oven.
Wait until they are cool to give to your dog.
DO NOT give a dog a hot treat!
What is so special about using pumpkin in dog treats?
Pumpkin is a popular ingredient of homemade dog recipes.
It is rich in dietary fiber that helps to maintain normal digestion. Pumpkin is also a source of water and nutrients like beta-carotene.
But, pumpkin is not a dog’s complete food.
These biscuits are intended to be used as a treat occasionally. Your dog’s main diet should provide complete and balanced nutrition.
Too much pumpkin can also lead to diarrhea or gas, due to fibre content.
Cinnamon is safe for dogs in small amounts, but is not safe in large quantities.
Dogs can eat a little cinnamon.
But, too much isn’t necessarily more.
Dogs cannot tolerate large amounts of cinnamon powder as it can irritate their digestive system, stomach or mouth. The fine dust may also irritate if inhaled by a dog.
That’s why this recipe calls for just a little.
If you want to make the recipe without cinnamon you can too.
The question here is whether or not you should use pumpkin spice mix.
Unless you have read the ingredient list on each ingredient in a ready-made mix, it’s better to avoid it.
There are a lot of human pumpkin spice blends that feature a number of spices such as nutmeg.
Dogs should not eat too much nutmeg.
There also may be sugar or other unnecessary ingredients in human-made products containing pumpkin.
When you make something at home, you know exactly what your dog is getting and it is a better option.
Puppies are not allowed to eat pumpkin spice dog treats.
A puppy should have a complete and balanced diet for healthy growth, but they may be able to have some plain pumpkin.
Puppy treats can be given as these treats but they should be quite small.
You may also choose to leave out the cinnamon and make plain pumpkin biscuits.
Supervise your puppy when feeding.
If your puppy vomits, has diarrhea, itches or swells, or reacts in some other way, after eating a new food, you should stop feeding the treat and call your veterinarian.
The amount of pumpkin spice treat that can be consumed by dogs is unknown.
The proper dose is dependent on the dog’s size, age, level of activity, health status and its usual fare.
Start with one small biscuit when introducing the recipe.
If your dog does well with it, you can use the treats as treats when needed.
Treats should be a small portion of your dog’s daily calorie intake. Excessive treats may cause an upset stomach or weight gain.
If your dog is overweight, or has a medical condition, consult your veterinarian about appropriate treats and amounts.
Some foods are dangerous for dogs.
Dogs need to avoid some foods.
Avoid using these ingredients in doggie treats:
- Nutmeg
- Chocolate
- Cocoa
- Xylitol
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Onion
- Garlic
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Excess salt
Significant quantities of sugar
Avoid xylitol particularly. An artificial sweetener that can be very toxic to dogs.
Always read the labels of packaged ingredients before using.
Pumpkin Spice Dog Treats are a great treat for your pet and can be kept in the freezer for up to a month.
Cool completely and then store the biscuits.
Store in a clean, air-tight container.
Homemade treats will go bad more quickly than commercially made ones, since they typically have less preservative.
Keep in the refrigerator if necessary. You can also freeze excess treats in little amounts.
When giving your dog a stored biscuit, inspect it for mold, odd odors or unusual texture.
Discard any treat that is spoilt.
What If a Dog Eats Human Pumpkin Spice?
Unless your dog eats it in large quantities, a healthy dog will not have to worry about a small amount of plain pumpkin.
But, desserts made from humans or spices added to a dog’s meal might have unsafe ingredients.
When your dog consumes a chocolate product, a product containing any of the following potentially harmful items, or a product containing more than one of these items, you should contact your veterinarian or animal poison service immediately: Xylitol, Nutmeg, Raisins.
Always retain the product package to be able to give the ingredients list and other information.
Only vomit a dog if a veterinarian has directed you to do so.
Final Thoughts
With safe ingredients, pumpkin spice dog treats can make for a simple fall treat for your dog. Simple pumpkin flour, oat flour, egg and a handful of cinnamon make delicious biscuits.
Don’t copy human pumpkin spice recipes. Avoid using nutmeg, chocolate, xylitol, grapes, raisins, too much sugar or other unsafe ingredients.
Use a small treat and observe your dog’s reaction to it. Don’t overuse homemade biscuits as rewards; use as treats and use complete and balanced dog food throughout the day.
Before giving your dog any treats that are new, please consult your veterinarian if your dog is allergic, has digestive issues, or another health concern.
Many fall desserts for people contain the sugar that can make dogs fat, but you can still treat your dog to something delicious without the sugar by making it with simple ingredients and sensible portions.
