Most owners consider their pets to be close members of the family, so it makes sense to want to indulge them during the holidays. Unfortunately, this doesn’t include sneaking them scraps of turkey or stuffing under the table. That’s why we’ve gathered some delicious holiday pet treats that your fur pal will find both filling and satisfying.
Before the Goodness
Weight gain during the holidays isn’t restricted to humans. A decline in outdoor exercise paired with tasty holiday indulgences can add a few pounds to your pet’s waistline. If you have doubts about your pet’s weight or diet, please let us know. We can help develop a plan to support your companion’s seasonal wellness.
A Veritable Cornucopia
A discussion of holiday pet treats wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention the use of pumpkin. This Thanksgiving, show your pet how grateful you are for him or her with this crowd-pleasing pumpkin pup treat:
- Mix 2 cups rice flour with ½ cup natural, Xylitol-free peanut butter, 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pie filling), 2 eggs, and 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
- Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness and cut with a favorite cookie cutter
- Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes
- Store in the refrigerator for up to one week
Looking for something to occupy your dog while you cook or entertain? Cut a sweet potato into thick slices and bake at 200 degrees until thoroughly dried out. This will keep your dog busy chewing for a few hours while you focus on party prep!
For the Fluff
Your cat may or may not partake in the treats we’ve covered so far, but if you want to indulge Fluffy, this fishy treat can’t be beat:
- In a food processor, mix 1 can of tuna (drained) with 1 egg, 1 ¼ cup flour, ½ cup of water, and a dash of parsley (or catnip)
- If dough appears too sticky, add small amounts of flour until corrected
- Roll out dough on a flour-dusted surface; about ½-inch thickness
- Using a bottlecap, cut out treats
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes
- Cool and serve or package to give as presents
Holiday Pet Treats
It’s easy to get caught up making cookies or prepping for a big holiday dinner. Pets can easily take advantage of this opportunity to get into trouble. Whether it’s seasonal decor or toxic food, do your best to avoid certain disaster this holiday season. Try one of these tasty, healthy holiday pet treats to distract and satisfy your curious companion:
Sometimes, it’s fun to farm-out the task of baking holiday pet treats. Luckily, we have our share of delightful local pet bakeries:
Getting Real
Our veterinarians and staff admire your commitment to your precious pet. Remember that while the holidays are full of wonderful moments, they also contain less-than-wonderful dangers for your pet. By giving Fluffy or Fido their own healthy holiday pet treats, you’re not only showing affection, you’re also helping to prevent an accidental pet poisoning.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about our holiday pet treats.
“Bone” appetit and happy holidays!