The dog days of summer are upon us, and we’ve gathered our favorite cooling snacks for dogs that you can make at home. Remember: snacks should only comprise about 10% of a dog’s daily diet, and it is important that you feed them high-quality balanced pet food. Here’s a few of our favorite DIY treats for dogs to reach for when your pup is due for a snack!
Frozen Kong Treats
Frozen Cucumber Yogurt Kong
Wash and peel a fresh cucumber and cut into small chunks. Mix with plain yogurt and freeze inside of a Kong for dog-friendly frozen yogurt fun your pup will love. Be sure to be extra careful with the plain yogurt you select. You’ll want to use a plain yogurt that doesn’t have any additives like the sweetener xylitol, which can be dangerous for dogs. As an occasional snack, a frozen cucumber yogurt Kong can be a great DIY summer treat for dogs.
Frozen Peanut Butter Kong
Fill a Kong with your dog’s favorite kibble, seal the hole with peanut butter, and put it in the freezer for a few hours. Once the peanut butter is frozen solid, offer it to your pup as a long-lasting, cooling treat.
Peanut butter in small amounts can be a fun treat given every once-in-awhile. When you are treating your dog to peanut butter, the healthiest option is unsalted peanut butter (check the label carefully for xylitol), dog-specific peanut butter, or homemade peanut butter.
An occasional frozen peanut butter Kong can keep your dog entertained and work their brains – great for helping to keep your dog happy, healthy, and out of trouble!
Pup Approved “Popsicles”
Cool Carrot Pops
Here’s an easy DIY idea for a tasty and refreshing treat for your dog. Wash fresh carrots and puree to a smooth consistency. Evenly fill an ice cube tray with the pureed carrots and freeze.
When sharing an occasional veggie treat with your dog, be sure to wash any vegetables thoroughly to remove any pesticides or chemicals. Some fresh produce is sprayed with a wax coating to seal the product from oxygen to increase shelf life. Simple lukewarm water followed by a quick wipe with a towel will help remove this wax, along with any other contaminants.
Watermelon Yogurt Pops
Slice a fresh watermelon, remove the rind, and carefully de-seed. Chop watermelon into chunks and mix with plain yogurt. Puree the watermelon/yogurt mix until smooth. Evenly fill pureed mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze.
Given in moderation and properly prepared, watermelon can be more than just a sweet summer treat for dogs; it can also be a nutrient-packed snack for our canine companions. When treating your dog to watermelon, it is important to carefully remove all the seeds, and to cut off the rind. Be sure to only give your dog watermelon in small amounts, and as an occasional treat.
Frozen Fruit Snacks
Frozen Mango Bites
Wash, peel, and de-pit a fresh mango. Cut the mango flesh into small bitesize pieces. If you have a smaller breed dog, be sure your mango chunks aren’t too large. Place mango chunks onto a freezer-safe cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, and freeze. Store frozen mango bites inside an airtight container in your freezer.
When it comes to cool summer snacks for dogs, it doesn’t get much easier than this DIY treat! When giving your dog a mango, always peel the fruit and remove the pit first. Not only do pits present a choking and digestive blocking risk, as a stone fruit, mango pits can also be poisonous for dogs.
Frozen mango flesh chopped in small pieces can be a sweet, juicy, and cool summer treat to give sparingly to your dog.
Frozen Blueberries
Simple and sweet! Since blueberries are so small, you don’t even need to cut them up.
Wash blueberries thoroughly, place onto a freezer-safe cookie sheet and freeze. Store frozen berries inside of an airtight container in your freezer.
Where possible, organic blueberries are best. If organic blueberries are not available, just make sure the blueberries you select are all-natural and do not contain additives.
As with any fruit or vegetable, make sure to thoroughly wash blueberries to remove any contamination before feeding them to your dog. In general, 8-10 blueberries per day is a safe range for most dogs. Consult with your veterinarian on the appropriate number of blueberries to add to your dog’s diet based on their age, weight, breed, and health.
