Going Vegan with Your Furry Friend
Written by Aleksandar Mishkov, owner of The Daily Tail
We have spent centuries of domesticating dogs. While dogs began as carnivores, centuries of domestication have made canines enjoy veggies. Dogs have adapted to our lifestyle. While they still retain some of their wolf-like instincts, nowadays, puppies enjoy vegan dog treats as much as meaty treats.
There are countless videos of dogs chewing on broccoli, cabbage, carrots, and so on. Now, while going full vegetarian is not something we would advise, giving your pooch some vitamins through homemade dog treats made with fruits and vegetables is an amazing option.
Let’s check some of the recipe ideas.
Why You Should Cook Treats At Home?
Before we begin with some of the healthy dog treats recipes, let’s quickly explain why you should cook at home. For starters, it is hard, almost impossible to find vegan dog treats in the market. The benefits of making them at home are many, but let’s stick to the most important:
- You know exactly the natural ingredients you put into the treats
- They are cheaper than store-bought treats
- You can customize them any way your furry friend likes them
How Commercial Treats Might Be Harmful?
There is another huge reason to opt for homemade dog treats. Commercial options might contain harmful chemicals and ingredients. Here is a summary of the harmful ingredients found in commercial products:
- Artificial preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and more that studies prove can cause health issues in dogs
- Artificial colors and flavors can cause an allergic reaction in some dogs
- Contain high levels of sugar and fat, which can contribute to obesity
- Rawhide treats can be contaminated with chemicals such as bleach or formaldehyde
- Store-bought treats often contain wheat, corn, and soy, three common allergens in dogs that cause digestive issues
Top 7 Vegan Dog Treats
Now let’s talk about some vegan dog food. How much of these treats should you give to your furry friend? Well, stick to the 90-10 rule. That means 90% of calories should come from dog food, and 10% should come from treats.
Now let’s go over some of the best treats you can prepare for your pooch.
1. Pumpkin Treats
Pumpkin Treats
Equipment
- 1 Rolling Pin
- 1 baking tray
Ingredients
- Pumpkin puree - homemade or canned, but with only pumpkin as the ingredient
- Peanut butter
- Flax meal
- Chickpea flour
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients together, and you can add some cinnamon or ginger if you like for extra healthy benefits
- Roll it out, cut it into biscuits or cookies
- Bake for 15 minutes on
350 °F. You can bake for longer if you want them to be crispier. Just make sure not to overdo it and burn them - Store them in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months if you like
2. Peanut Butter & Banana
Peanut Butter & Banana
Equipment
- 1 Rolling Pin
- 1 baking tray
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- ½ cup of peanut butter
- 2 and a half cups of chickpea flour
- ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients together, make sure the banana is mashed, and form a dough
- Roll it out on a floured surface
- Cut into shapes you like
- Preheat oven to350 °F, and then bake for 20 to 25 minutes. You will notice they get golden brown color
- Remember they will be hot when they come out of the oven, so let them cool before feeding them to your dog
3. Sweet Potato Treats
Sweet Potato Treats
Equipment
- 1 baking tray
Ingredients
- 2 sweet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
Instructions
- Start by slicing the sweet potatoes into thin rounds
- Mix the slices with coconut oil and cinnamon
- Preheat the oven to250 °F, and then lay the slices out in a single layer on a baking sheet
- Bake for two hours or until they get crispy
4. Carrot & Oatmeal
Carrot & Oatmeal
Equipment
- 1 baking tray
- 1 Silicon baking mat
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup of water
- ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup of grated carrot
Instructions
- Preheat oven to350 °F
- Mix all ingredients until you form a dough
- Roll it out on a floured surface and then cut it into shapes
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes
5. Carrot & Zucchini
Carrot & Zucchini
Ingredients
- 1 large carrot
- 1 medium zucchini
- 1 tbs of olive oil
- 1 tsp of turmeric/cinnamon/ginger
Instructions
- Start by cutting carrots and zucchini into thin rounds
- Preheat oven to200 °F
- Mix slices with olive oil and the spice your dog loves. The spice is there only for masking the flavor of zucchini and carrots
- Bake for 3 hours, or until the slices are crispy
6. Apple & Oatmeal Biscuits
Apple & Oatmeal Biscuits
Equipment
- 1 cookie cutter
- 1 baking tray
- 1 Silicon baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ cup chopped apple
Instructions
- Preheat oven to350 °F
- Mix all the ingredients together and form a dough
- Roll it out on a floured surface and cut using a cookie cutter
- Bake for 25 minutes or until you notice a golden brown color of your healthy dog treats
7. Banana & Blueberry Cookies
Banana & Blueberry Cookies
Equipment
- 1 baking tray
- 1 Silicon baking mat
Ingredients
- 1 mashed ripe banana
- ½ cup blueberries
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- ¼ cup chickpeas flour
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to350 °F
- Mix all the ingredients together and form a dough
- Drop spoonfuls of the dough onto a baking sheet
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes
Why Your Dog Should Have Vegan Treats?
We have to remember that dogs are carnivore animals. You should never opt for a fully vegan diet. However, dogs cannot live only on meat. Yes, wolves are 100% carnivore animals. Yet, dogs have been domesticated and their digestive system now benefits from consuming fruits and vegetables.
Yes, dogs are primarily carnivorous. They do not need a large amount of plant-based foods. But these treats can come in handy when you want to reward good behavior. Some reasons for including more fruits and vegetables in your dog’s diet include:
- They are rich in vitamins and minerals that support the immune system and bone health
- Contain fiber that can regulate digestion and promote bowel regularity
- Rich in antioxidants that protect cells from damage
Just remember to use fruits and vegetables that are safe for dogs to eat. Some examples of safe options include carrots, sweet potatoes, bananas, green beans, apples, broccoli, and more.
