Home Made Dog Treats
As you have probably guessed by now, we have a lot of animals. You’ve already seen the chickens, the ducks and the llamas but we do also have several cats and three dogs too. As an animal owner, I always try to make sure that the food I give my animals, not just the dogs but all of my animals, is as good for them as possible. So, when I found a recipe for dog treats that were made with all natural ingredients I thought it would be a good idea to give them a try. They are the easiest thing in the world to make and have only three ingredients. Sweet Potatoes, oats and coconut oil.
The Science Bit.
I’m not a vet, so I took some time to research some of the benefits of the ingredients in these delicious dog treats. You can check out the website where I found the information HERE, it’s a vet-authored and vet-approved site and well worth a look.
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are one of the best dietary sources of vitamin A. Vitamin A helps to promote healthy skin, coat, eyes, nerves, and muscles in dogs. Vegetables with orange flesh contain beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A and a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent disease and infection. They are also a rich source of fibre, vitamins C and B6, potassium, calcium, and iron, among many other essential vitamins and minerals.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is great alternative carbohydrate for dogs who may be sensitive to wheat or other grains. They are full of linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid that helps keep skin strong and healthy. They are also a good source of soluble fiber, which can help regulate blood glucose levels.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil can aid dogs with everything from itchy or bumpy skin to digestion issues. It can also increase energy levels, improve skin and coat, improve digestion, and reduce allergic reactions.
So, here is the recipe. It couldn’t be simpler.
Ingredients.
- 180g | 2 cups rolled oats
- 100g | ½ cup cooked sweet potato (I baked mine in a moderate over until it was soft and squishy)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 – 3 tablespoons water Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 C / 175 F
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Put the oats into a food processor and whizz up until they resemble course flour.
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Add the cooked sweet potato and the coconut oil to the food processor and whizz again until well mixed.
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Add the water 1 tablespoon at a time and whizz until the mixture can be squeezed into a dough. How much water will depend on how wet the sweet potato is.
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Tip out and knead together until it forms a firm ball.
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Roll out to about 3 – 4 mm thick. If it’s too sticky, sprinkle a little of the ground oatmeal flour on the worktop to stop it from sticking. You could also use a silicone mat to roll out the dough or roll it between a couple of sheets of parchment paper to stop it sticking if you prefer.
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Cut out into cookie shapes using a cookie cutter or just cut the dough into even pieces with a knife or pizza cutter. I make mine into little round balls and then flatten them out into little disks.
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Bake in the oven for 20 – 25 minutes. Keep an eye on them towards the end as they go from ok to slightly over done very quickly.
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place on a rack and once completely cool, store in an airtight container. They will keep in an airtight container for up to 2 months. That’s assuming that your dogs let you hang onto them for that long, mine never do.