22 Aug Dog-friendly Summer Recipes
There’s nothing better than tucking into a refreshing, icy cold treat when the warm weather hits. Share the love this summer and treat your pooch to a frosty snack that tastes great and keeps them cool! If ever in doubt, check with your vet that the ingredients are okay with your dog’s diet and make sure you’re clear on what ingredients not to include in any recipes if you make up some of your own.
Pupsicles
A simple and delicious frozen treat that can be made in a wide range of flavours to keep your pup satisfied, some are tasty for people to enjoy too!
Peanut butter and banana pupsicles
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- A few dollops of natural peanut butter, make sure it’s xylitol-free (xylitol is a sweetener sometimes found in peanut butter which is toxic to dogs)
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 500g of plain Greek yoghurt
- Plastic dog bones or strong chews (optional: to use instead of wooden sticks which can be a choking hazard)
Mix all the ingredients together in a blender until smooth, pour into small disposable cups or an ice lolly mould and add a plastic dog bone or chew to the centre. Let them set in the freezer for 2-3 hours, then remove from the moulds by placing the bases in warm water for a few minutes. These make for tasty treats for people AND pooches, so leave some without dog chews in and use popsicle sticks instead so you can enjoy them together!
Berry pupsicles
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 1 cup of strawberries
- 1 cup blueberries
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 500g plain Greek yoghurt
- Plastic dog bones or strong chews (optional: to use instead of wooden sticks which can be a choking hazard)
As before, mix all the ingredients together in a blender until smooth, pour into small disposable cups or an ice lolly mould and add a plastic dog bone or chew to the centre. Let them set for 2-3 hours in the freezer, then remove from the moulds by placing the bases in warm water for a few minutes. Again, these are people and pooch friendly, so leave some without dog chews in and use popsicle sticks instead so you can enjoy them too!
Chicken stock pupsicles
A more meaty treat, these are full of flavour but low in calories. You can swap out the stock for different flavours to keep things interesting for your pooch.
Ingredients:
- 1 reduced salt chicken stock cube (or stock of your choice)
- 300ml boiled water
Mix the stock cube with the water well and wait for it to cool before pouring into the cups or moulds. Add the dog bones or chews, pop them in the freezer for 2-3 hours and then remove by running the ends of the moulds under warm water. This is a great way to keep your pup hydrated during warmer months!
Fro-Yo Bones
Get yourself a set of fun shaped ice cube trays, like bones or paw prints, to make some tasty pup themed treats for your fluffy friends to enjoy.
Mixed berry fro-yo bones
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of mixed berries
- 100ml water
- 300g Greek yogurt
Blitz all the ingredients in a blender, pour into the moulds and put them in the freezer for 3 hours, then they’re ready to eat! These are great treats for humans and dogs, so enjoy!
Watermelon fro-yo bones
Ingredients:
- ⅓ of a watermelon
- 250g Greek yoghurt
Scoop out the watermelon flesh and mix it in a blender with the yoghurt until smooth. Pour the mixture into the moulds and freeze for 3 hours. As above, these are tasty treats for people and pups, so tuck in!
Frozen Fun
Help your dog chill out and keep them entertained by freezing some of their chew toys. Try putting some xylitol-free peanut butter inside their favourite kong and popping it in the freezer for a couple of hours, or hiding two of the fro-yo bones in a puzzle toy to keep them busy!
Make the most of the nice weather and enjoy yourselves this summer by getting outdoors with your pooches. For the days they’re feeling a little worse for wear, or things don’t quite go as planned, we’re here to lend a helping hand. With a variety of pet insurance plans on offer, we have something suitable for every dog, so you can rest easy knowing they’re cared for if their health hits stormy weathers.