Pumpkin is a superfood for our canine companions. It's a beneficial ingredient to add to any of your homemade dog food or treats, and most dogs find it to be delicious. Whether you choose to cook and prepare your own pumpkin or you purchase the canned variety, this fruit (yes, pumpkin is considered a fruit) is safe and healthy for your Fido.
The flesh and seeds of a pumpkin are known for aiding in urinary tract health. If your pet suffers from urinary incontinence or frequent urinary tract infections, adding pumpkin to his regular diet is a natural way to help.
Of course, you don't want to try to treat any health issues on your own without consulting your veterinarian.
Pumpkin is also a great source of fiber, which is beneficial for digestive health. Just one tablespoon of pumpkin added to your pet's diet each day can help with constipation, diarrhea and just keeping your pooch regular. It may also ease stomach issues if your pup isn't feeling well.
Did you know pumpkin is low in calories as well? It's great to add to homemade treats, like these dog biscuits, because it adds flavor without unnecessary calories. I also add peanut butter to these treats, as it is a great source of protein and will usually entice even the pickiest eaters.
MORE RECIPES HERE: Homemade Dog Food & Treats Recipes
Pumpkin Peanut Butter Homemade Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 3 cups brown rice flour (or gluten free flour if your dog has allergies)
- 1/2 cup oats (you can substitute an extra 1/4 cup of grain free flour instead)
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 eggs
- 3 tbsp. all natural peanut butter
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350°.
In a small bowl, combine the flour, oats and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, eggs and peanut butter. When both are well mixed, stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients slowly.
As you'll see in my video, I add about 1/4 of the dry ingredients and blend thoroughly. Then add another quarter and stir until that is completely mixed. Continue until you've created a large ball of dry dough.
On a floured surface, roll out the dough until it's about 1/4″ thick. You can use cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes or just use a butter knife or pizza cutter, like I did, to cut out small squares.
We have a chocolate Lab and a Beagle mix. I like to cut small treats for our Beagle and larger treats for our Labrador. That's the best thing about making homemade dog treats – you can cater them to your dog's needs.
Once you've cut out the treats, place them on a well-greased cookie sheet and bake them in the 350° oven for about 30-35 minutes. You'll know when they are done, because they'll turn a nice shade of golden brown.
When the treats are cool, you can feed them to your pooch. Store any left over treats in an airtight container for about 7-10 days. You can also store the dough or the baked treats in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
READ NEXT: 11 Best Superfoods for Dogs That May Improve Their Health
