February Newsletter

How to Make Valentine’s Day Pet Treats

How to Make Valentine’s Day Pet Treats

Show your pet just how much you love him or her this Valentine’s Day by cooking up a special treat. These recipes are healthy (no preservatives) and easy to make. Your pet’s delight will make it worthwhile.

Pet Treat Tips

  • If you are not sure your pet can tolerate something other than his normal food and treats, check the ingredients with your veterinarian.
  • Whole wheat, brown rice, or soy flour can be healthy choices.
  • Keep in mind that these treats are baked without preservatives. That means what you don’t offer within a few hours must be refrigerated or frozen.
  • Special treats such as these can be used as rewards after your pet behaves through a toothbrushing session.
Tuna Treats

For Your Cat — Tuna Treats

We can’t forget our favorite feline friends on Valentine’s Day, and this mix of catnip and tuna will have Kitty purring.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Yield: 1 pound

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup soy flour
  • 1/2 cup wheat germ
  • 1/2 cup dried catnip
  • 1/4 cup canned tuna (water packed), drained
  • 1/2 cup juice from drained tuna – add water if needed
  • 1/2 cup corn oil
  • 1 egg, lightly whisked

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix.
  3. Add in wet ingredients and stir until the mixture becomes stiff. If the dough feels too sticky, add more whole wheat flour.
  4. Mold the dough into a large ball and place it on wax paper.
  5. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough to a thickness of 1/4 to 1/2-inches.
  6. Score into bite-size squares for a cat.
  7. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for about 25 minutes.
  8. Cool and store in a tightly sealed plastic bag in the fridge until treat time.
Cupid's Canine Cookies

For Your Dog — Cupid’s Canine Cookies

Everyone loves an extra treat for Valentine’s day and Fido is no exception. But don’t overfeed: Think of each treat as the canine equivalent of a nutritious candy bar.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 25 to 35 minutes

Yield: 2 pounds of heart-shaped dog treats

Ingredients:

  • 5 cups whole-wheat flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1/2 cup corn oil
  • 2 eggs
  • + heart-chaped cookie cutter

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet using either 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
  2. Combine the remaining ingredients and mix well.
  3. With clean hands, roll the dough out to 1/4 to 1/2-inch thickness and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter in honor of the holiday. If you have a small dog or a large cookie cutter, perforate the cookies with a fork down the middle to break apart easily after baking. Instead of a cookie cutter, you can roll the dough into 1/2 to 2-inch balls and place them one inch apart on the greased cookie sheet.
  4. Bake for 25 - 35 minutes until they turn golden brown. Baking times will vary based treats’ size, the altitude, and your oven.
  5. Cool cookies on wire racks, as far away from your dog as possible.
  6. After treating your dog, store the rest in the refrigerator or freeze until the next visit from Cupid.

Cookies and treats aren’t the only way to show pets how much they mean to us. If you have a dog or cat that hasn’t been microchipped, make an appointment to visit the veterinarian soon.

Written by Ariel Waters (Pet Baking Enthusiast)