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1 November 2016
5 MINS READ
5 Healthy Treats for Dogs You Can Make With Ollie Ingredients
Healthy dog treats combine irresistible flavors with powerful nutrition. These recipes are sure to satisfy your pup’s cravings and your desire to nourish them with the healthiest ingredients available.
On the canine food pyramid, dog treats are equivalent to candy on the human food pyramid. Treats are fun to eat and tasty but often lack nutritional value. Although your pup is oblivious to the ingredients used in their commercial brand treats, treats you make with real whole foods are a healthier way to celebrate your dog’s good behavior and complement their health.
To show you how easy, beneficial, and pup-pleasing DIY treats can be, we prepared a few healthy homemade treats for dogs using our Ollie recipes’ wholesome ingredients.
The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out MyOllie.com.
1. Sweet Potato Fries
Dogs love fries. Fortunately, this baked recipe excludes fast foods’ grease, guilt, and health hazards. Sweet potatoes are low in fat but high in vitamins and dietary fiber, which help control your pup’s blood sugar level, helping them feel full longer than after they eat unhealthy treats. By feeding your pup these baked sweet potato fries, you can indulge their begging without guilt while you limit their serving to just a few treats. All you need to make sweet potato fries is one sweet potato, olive oil, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. While your oven preheats to 425 degrees, wash and peel the sweet potato and slice it into sticks or wedges. Lightly coat the sweet potato fries in oil and cinnamon by tossing together all three ingredients in a mixing bowl. Place the coated fries on a baking sheet and put them in the oven for 30 minutes. Flip the fries after 15 minutes to ensure even cooking. Remember to let the fries cool before serving to your pup—or trying them yourself. These treats are healthy for humans too! Ollie Recipe Spotlight: Beef Dish with Sweet Potatoes2. Blueberry and Coconut Oil Cubes
This simple recipe features two pup superfoods: blueberries, which contain powerful antioxidants, and coconut oil, which can help soothe a dog’s sensitive skin, improve their digestion, and lower their risk for certain cancers. In addition to the ingredients, you’ll need a small saucepan and an ice cube tray. Place one or two frozen blueberries in each ice cube well. Heat the coconut oil on the stove until it liquefies. Cool the oil slightly, and carefully pour it over the blueberries. Refrigerate the filled tray for approximately an hour, or until the treats solidify. Pop the cubes out of the tray and store them in the freezer. Ollie Recipe Spotlight: Fresh Turkey With Blueberries3. Sweet Potato and Pea Treats
This recipe takes a little more effort, but we believe the resulting treat is worth it—and your pup will too. In addition to nutrient-packed sweet potatoes, this treat features peas, which help maintain healthy gut bacteria, and eggs, which are a highly digestible protein source. To prepare sweet potato and pea treats, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine ¾ of a cup of sweet potato puree with one beaten egg. Gradually add 1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups of whole wheat flour until the mixture is thick. Use gluten-free flour if your dog has a wheat sensitivity. Stir in the peas until combined. Roll the dough into a quarter-inch thick disc. Use a cookie or pizza cutter to cut the treats into shapes, or simply roll the dough into balls. Place the dough on parchment paper and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Allow the treats to cool thoroughly before serving. Bone appetit!4. Blueberry-Apple Oat Biscuits
Fresh or frozen whole blueberries are a great single-ingredient dog treat, but combining them with apples and oats adds flavor and nutrients. Apples contain vitamins A and C for a great energy and immune boost, while oats are a safe grain and gluten-free carbohydrate source. Bake up these biscuits by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Pulse 2 ½ cups of oats in a food processor to create oat flour. Combine the flour with two eggs and ½ of a cup of unsweetened applesauce and stir until the mixture is moist. If the dough seems dry or crumbly, add two tablespoons of water and mix. Add one tablespoon of water at a time until the dough reaches the right consistency. Scoop or roll small- to medium-sized dough balls and place them on a nonstick baking sheet. Gently flatten the balls into discs, and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned. Ensure the biscuits are completely cool before indulging your pup.5. No-Bake Peanut Butter and Jelly Squares
No better flavor combination than PB and J exists in the universe. For this dog-friendly version of the classic pairing, you combine mixed berries (i.e., blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries) with probiotic-packed Greek yogurt, a potassium-rich banana, and irresistible peanut butter for a refreshing frozen layered treat. Create these cool treats by blending ¾ cup frozen mixed berries and ¼ cup low-fat Greek yogurt. Gradually add ¼ to ½ cup water until the mixture is smooth. Half fill each ice cube well with the berry mixture and freeze. After you wash and dry your blender, combine one banana, ¼ cup xylitol-free peanut butter, and ½ cup Greek yogurt. Pour this mixture over the frozen berry layer and return the ice cube tray to your freezer until the mixture freezes solid. Store these treats in an airtight container in your freezer for up to one month—if they last that long! 10 Healthy Foods to Fill Your Dog’s Kong ToyHow to Safely Introduce New Treats to Your Dog’s Diet
Before you start blending and baking, remember that not all dog-friendly ingredients are appropriate for every pup. Like people, our pups can be allergic or sensitive to certain foods, while others may suffer digestive upset after eating too many tasty treats. Introduce new treats gradually by limiting your pup to one or two per day. Observe your dog for allergy or intolerance signs such as vomiting, loose stool, diarrhea, gas, facial swelling or hives, and itchy skin. Discontinue feeding the new treat if your pup exhibits any of these signs. If the signs persist, contact your veterinarian. Treats are a great way to reward your pup’s good behavior, bond with them, or simply show your dog you love them. Although these Ollie-approved homemade dog treats are a healthy alternative to your pup’s former favorites, too many treats can lead to undesirable weight gain. Indulge your pup guilt-free by limiting their treats to no more than 10% of their daily caloric intake.
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Written by:
Jaime Bast is a registered veterinary technician from Saint Louis, Missouri. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in theatre and english from Saint Louis University in 2008 before falling in love with veterinary medicine, pivoting her career plans, and completing her veterinary technician education and licensure in 2012. A lifelong learner, Jaime’s participation in dog sports and training led her to become a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner (CCRP) through the University of Tennessee in 2017 and a certified professional dog trainer (KPA-CTP) with Karen Pryor Academy in 2018. Jaime has a love of writing that has never waivered, and she joined Rumpus Writing and Editing as a veterinary copywriter in June 2021. Jaime is owned, loved, and trained by her cocker spaniel sidekicks, Tutti Fruitti and Luigi.
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