When the summer heat hits, everyone wants to find new ways to keep cool and that includes your favorite four-legged family members. When your pup is panting in the warm sun, he deserves a cool snack to feel better. Check out these summer treats that you can make for your dog.
1. Dog-Friendly Fruit Salad
While there is a big list of things your dog can’t eat, there’s also plenty of fruits dogs can eat. Cut up small portions of apples (avoid the core, which has traces of cyanide in it that can be dangerous for dogs), bananas, cantaloupe, and cucumbers. Add a few blueberries and give your dog his own fruit salad. Other fruits that dogs can eat include oranges, mango, raspberries, and strawberries. Avoid avocado and grapes, both of which are dangerous for your pup to eat.
2. Yogurt Popsicles
Grab a nylon dog bone to use as dog-safe popsicle sticks. Grab a blender and mix together a banana, some peanut butter, and some dog-safe yogurt (plain is best). Pour the mixture into some small dixie cups, add the bone to use as a stick, and freeze the mixture. Once it’s ready to be taken out of the freezer, you can peel off the paper dixie cup and give the pupsicle to your dog. Consider giving it to him outside or on a paper plate since it may get messy.
3. Frozen Soup Bones
When you want your dog to have something to cool down but don’t have a lot of fruit on hand, try a soup bone. It not only helps your pup to cool down on hot summer days but will keep them occupied by allowing them to explore something new. Lay down a towel because this can get messy. All you need to do is toss some of your dog’s favorite bones into a soup broth in a Ziploc bag. Let it freeze overnight, then give your dog the entire mixture and let him lick his way through the broth and to his bones
4. Strawberry and Peanut Butter Treats
Your dog will love peanut butter and strawberry jam treats and as an added bonus, they’re super easy to make. All you need is a cup of strawberries, 1/4 cup water, and a few dollops of xylitol-free peanut butter. Wash the strawberries and slice off the tops, puree them with water in the blender, and pour the mixture into ice cube trays. Add a bit of peanut butter to each one and let them freeze completely. Serve them to your pup once they’re frozen.
5. Cantaloupe Ice Cream
Everybody deserves some ice cream in the summer, including your pup. You can make dog-safe ice cream with two cups of diced cantaloupe and two tablespoons of plain yogurt. All you need to do is blend the cantaloupe with the yogurt and freeze it in ice cube trays, small cups, or even a bowl. Once frozen, serve to your pup.
6. Frozen Bananas
Who says you need to put in a ton of work to make a treat that your pup will fall in love with? If you’re short on time or ingredients, all you need to do is cut a few pieces of banana up, freeze them on a plate, and then let your pup eat them. He’ll love the treat and you’ll love the lack of time it takes to make them.
7. Frozen Kibble
Do you want something even easier? Grab some kibble and bowl. Fill the bowl about halfway with kibble and finish filling it up with water. Freeze the kibble and water mixture. Once frozen, give it to your dog. He’ll spend all his time licking the water to try to get to his frozen kibble.
This summer, don’t let your dog suffer in the heat. Make these frozen treats and let your pup enjoy a cool treat while he relaxes on the deck with the rest of the family.
