More Delicious Treats For Your Pet

With the holidays nearing quickly, many people begin baking holiday treats for friends and family. Don't forget your four-legged friends! Cats and dogs enjoy yummy treats just as much as we do. Rather than buy manufactured, sugar-laden, unhealthy snacks for your favorite pet, you can bake some wholesome, healthy treats that will he'll love even more.

Many pets have allergies or food sensitivities. Common culprits are dyes, flavorings, preservatives, carbohydrates and protein sources. If your pet is sensitive to any of these components, look for treats that are hypoallergenic, and have minimal or no dyes or preservatives. There are a number available in your local pet store. If you'd prefer, you can bake some flavorful treats that are even better.

Many pets love rice, popcorn and pasta. A bit of a rice cake or some air popped popcorn is a great substitute for a high fat treat. Cooked rice can be added for bulk to a weight control diet. It's a way of giving your pet more food without adding a lot of fat calories. Cooked pasta is also great. Many pets relish a few elbow macaroni or other plain pasta.

A cooked egg white is a great protein treat, hard boil a few and keep them on hand. (The yolk has all the fat!) A little dab of cottage cheese or plain yogurt make great substitutes for licking that ice cream bowl!

The holidays are just around the corner, so here are some great recipes for your pets too!

Pumpkin Wafers Dog Treats

One 15 oz. can mashed pure pumpkin (NOT the spiced pie filling)
3/4 cup cream of wheat (or rice cereal if wheat-sensitive) You can mix this dry--no need to cook it first
1/2 cup dry powdered milk

Preheat oven to 300 F. Mix all ingredients together. Drop small spoonfuls (I use about half of a tablespoon) onto a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 15-20 minutes. If you'd like to make bite sized cookies for small dogs, as training rewards or just small treats, you can use a pastry bag and squeeze out rosettes about the size of a dime for tasty bite sized cookies!

Tooty Fruity Cookies

8 ounces canned unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup applesauce
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cups white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a mixing bowl combine pineapple, applesauce, egg and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda in a separate bowl. Add this into the wet mixture and stir well. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Cool and serve. Makes 20 treats.

Here's a yummy kitty breakfast:

2 boiled or (plain) scrambled eggs
2 tablespoons milk powder
4 drops of fish oil (or olive oil)
1/2 piece of dry toast

Mash eggs well with a fork or in the food processor until completely mashed. Add garlic powder and the powdered milk to the eggs. Blend all of the ingredients together in a bowl or in food processor. Break up the toast into small pieces and crumbs and combine with the egg mix. To avoid the mixture being too dry add a few drops of fish oil (preferably salmon) or olive oil. In a pinch you can also just add water.

Chef’s Tip: Always use completely fresh ingredients to make the tastiest and healthiest meals for your cat.