When I overfill my glass with ice and it comes tumbling onto the floor, my dog cannot get to it fast enough! She loves ice and will happily make a game out of chasing a cube as it goes skittering across the floor. I think it’s part the adventure of catching the cube, and part the refreshing coolness of the ice once she finally gets it in her mouth.
It seems as if we are caught in the middle of an endless summer, and if we feel the heat, we have to know our pups are feeling it twice as much. In their furry coats, they are seeking a reprieve from the high temperatures every bit as much as we are!
If you haven’t tried the latest craze that is pupsicles...now’s the time! While you can purchase these frozen treats at the grocery store, it is way more fun (and personalized!) to make them yourself.
Dog treats you can make with a blender...
It’s as easy as tossing the ingredients and some liquid (try water or chicken broth) into your blender, pureeing the mixture, and spooning the puree into single-serve containers. Freeze and enjoy!
The combinations are endless, but here are a few to try...
- peanut butter and apples
- soy nut butter and banana
- carrots, cooked white meat chicken and broth
Be creative, but remember certain foods are toxic to dogs. Avoid chocolate, coffee, garlic, onion, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, mushrooms, and artificial sweeteners. Be especially careful with peanut butter, as some brands can contain xylitol, a sugar substitute that can cause hypoglycemia in dogs.
No blender, no problem
Layer your ingredients in a paper cup, stick a dogbone in to use as a “handle” and freeze. Once frozen, hold the pupsicle by the bone and let your dog lick to his heart’s content!
Again, go with the foods your dog enjoys most. You might like to try…
- layers of peanut butter and yogurt
- hard cheese and chicken broth (your dog has to “lick his way” to the cheese treat)
- canned dog food
Beat the heat, but be safe
Treating your pup to one of these pupsicles is a great way to break out of the mold of the dog days of summer! Pupsicles will keep your pup busy and entertained, while cooling him off at the same time! Of course, it is important to keep your eye on your dog while he is enjoying the pupsicle and to use other means to keep your pet cool in the heat!
