Healthy dog biscuits come in very handy when you want to give your dog a treat while training him, or you just want to make his meal a little more interesting and tasty. You can buy dog biscuits from a store, paying attention to ingredients, or you can simply prepare them at home. Whenever you are unsure about what ingredients are best, you can ask your veterinarian for advice.
How to Choose Commercial Dog Biscuits
The biscuits for your dog should be chosen so that they provide the healthiest nutrition for your dog. You will want biscuits that are easy to digest and provide the right nutrients, while not causing weight problems in the long term. When reading the label of commercial biscuits, there are a few things to watch out for:
- The biscuits should contain a protein source. If your dog's coat is shinny and healthy, this is a sign you are feeding him high quality proteins.
- Commercial food will contain all sorts of preservatives; biscuits that are preserved naturally, using phosphoric acid, sorbic acid or salt are healthier.
- Avoid added fat and animal byproducts (animal digest).
Cooking Homemade Dog Biscuits
Baking dog biscuits is no different from baking any other kind of biscuits. There are many simple recipes you can find and you can buy homemade dog biscuits at a local bakery. The benefits are that while spending a lot less on your dog's treats, you also make sure you know exactly what he is eating. There are even recipes that may help repel fleas or ticks, and ones to improve breath or digestion.
Common ingredients of homemade dog biscuits may include:
- Flour: Whole wheat flour, rice flour or barley flour are ingredients you should consider having in the home once you decide to home cook your dog's treats.
- Meat: Chicken, beef, salmon, liver or venison can be used.
- Vegetables and fruit can also be included.
- Peanut butter is an ingredient dogs love.
- Brewer's yeast added to a dog biscuit recipe can be a natural flea repellent.
- Garlic is often mentioned as an ingredient to put in dog biscuits in order to keep ticks away. However, garlic can be poisonous for dogs, so if you want to try a garlic recipe, first discuss this with your veterinarian.
Ingredients to Avoid
- Garlic and garlic powder can appear in many recipes, just as mentioned above, but this is an ingredient that may be toxic.
- Chocolate
- Macadamia nuts
- Raisins or grapes
- Avocado
- Onions
- Artificial sweetener (Xylitol)
Healthy Dog Biscuits Recipe
You need:
- Beef broth or chicken broth (can be replaced with milk): 1-1/2 cups
- Whole wheat flour: 2 cups
- Peanut butter: ¾ cups
- Baking powder: 1 spoon
Mix the ingredients just as you would with any biscuits. Add more flour or more broth if the dough is not of the right consistency. Spread flour on a cutting board and knead the dough. Roll the dough and cut it into shapes. Grease the cooking pan. Preheat the oven. Put the cookies in the oven for about 20 minutes.