It's Chriiiiiistmas! A time for giving, a time for sharing. And while we all love sharing and giving to our dogs, it's important to be aware of the common human foods which are toxic to dogs.
So, with that in mind, we're going to share some dog-friendly festive recipes so you can treat your pup to a safe and delicious Christmas feast!
Common Christmas foods which are toxic to dogs
At Christmas, we all love to indulge in a bit of a constant feast of delicious treats, but the following foods are ones that you need to avoid your dog tucking into.
- Chocolate
- Raisins, sultanas and grapes
- Macadamia nuts
- Xylitol (a sweetener which can be hidden in many foods – check the labels)
- Onions and shallots
- Alcohol
- Sugary or high in fat foods
Keep those mince pies and Christmas puds high up and out of reach of enquiring paws. We don't want your pup to miss out on a bit of joyful indulgence though, so here are some homemade festive dog treat recipes you can give your dog.
Recipes for homemade Christmas dog biscuits
Biscuits can of course be enjoyed by our pups year-round, but with a festive cookie cutter, these easy recipes can be given a sprinkle of Christmas magic.
No bake pumpkin and 'Nuts for Pets' peanut butter baubles
Ingredients: 1/4 cup of 'Nuts for Pets' Peanut butter (Palm oil, xylitol and sugar free), 1/3 cup of canned or pureed pumpkin (you can substitute with sweet potato), 1 cup of rolled oats
Simply mix all these ingredients in a bowl, and roll into balls….. or baubles!
You can pop these in the fridge to set but they really are as straight forward and easy as that.
Super simple 'Nuts for Pets' peanut butter and banana biscuits
Ingredients: 1/4 cup of 'Nuts for Pets' peanut butter (Palm oil, Xylitol and sugar free), 2 small ripe bananas, 1 cup of rolled oats
Method: Preheat your oven to Gas Mark 4/ 175 degrees. Mash the banana, fold in the peanut butter and stir in the oats, then roll out the dough and cut your biscuits.
Lay on a baking sheet and pop in the oven for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
Leave to cool and enjoy! These biscuits are human and dog friendly!
Carrot and apple dog biscuits
Ingredients: 1 1/4 cup of grated carrot, 1 grated peeled apple (apple seeds can be toxic so make sure you remove the core), 1 1/4 cup rolled oats, 2 eggs
Method: Preheat your oven to Gas Mark 4/ 175 degrees. Mix together your carrots, oats, and apple in a bowl. Then whisk your eggs in a separate bowl and combine.
Once mixed, pour your batter into small sections or around 1/2 inch thick on your baking sheet and flatten.
Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes and leave to cool.
Cranberry Christmas cookies for dogs
Ingredients: 2 eggs, 1.5 cups of all purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, 3-4 tablespoons of coconut flour, 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Method: Preheat oven to gas mark 3 / 165 degrees. Mix your coconut oil, cranberries and all purpose flour together in a bowl. Whisk your eggs in a separate bowl and then combine to make your dough.
Add in your coconut flour a bit at a time until your dough is a good consistency and not too sticky.
Roll out your dough and cut with your festive cookie cutter, and lay on your baking paper. Pop in the oven for 15 minutes or until crisp and then leave to cool.
Festive Kong and Lickimat recipes
All of these yummy recipes can be stuffed into your dog's Kong or spread on their Lickimat for a festive treat to keep them busy for a while.
The dog's Christmas dinner
If you're wondering what you can give your dog for Christmas dinner, then look no further! You can buy special pre-made doggy Crimbo dinners, or you can portion up a bit of the leftovers and share.
Suggested Ingredients: Turkey (or whichever meat you enjoy at Christmas), carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and parsnip.
Steer clear of high salt gravy or sugary cranberry sauce, but simply mash up the dog-friendly ingredients from your Christmas dinner and pop them in a Kong or Lickimat to give your dog a taste of Christmas.
Pumpkin, apple and banana surprise
Ingredients: One apple, one banana, and a couple of spoons of canned pumpkin
Core the apple to remove the pips and then grate. Mash the banana and pumpkin and mix together for a festive doggy puree to spread on their Lickimat or pop in their Kong.
Turkey and pumpkin delight
Ingredients: Leftover Christmas Turkey, mashed pumpkin or sweet potato, grated cheese
Simply mash together some leftover turkey and some mashed pumpkin or sweet potato and grate a little cheese in a bowl. Mix well and stuff your Kong or spread on your dog's Lickimat.
So there you have it, seven simple recipes to make your dog's tail wag this Christmas. We'd love to see your pups enjoying their festive treats so, please do hop over to our socials and share your dog's tucking into their festive feasts.
From all of us at Pets, Homes and Gardens, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
