Pet-tastic Recipies

Story by Elizabeth Starr | Design by Lizeth Valdez | Photos by Angela Kyle

Pets love to beg for table food, but there are a lot of ingredients that can be harmful to these beloved furry friends.

Kayla Robinson, a nurse at Valley Veterinary Hospital, shares her expertise about which foods are pet friendly and which aren’t. Robinson mentions that, per UC Davis Nutrition Support Service, none of these foods should replace an animal’s meal, but you can give your fuzzy companion less than 10% of their daily caloric intake. 

In the pet friendly snacks brochure by the Animal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) provided by Robinson, some pet friendly snacks include: apples, bananas, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cheese, popcorn, strawberries and xylitol-free peanut butter. These treats, when unseasoned and shared in moderation, can keep your pet happy and healthy. 

On the other hand, according to the ASPCA, if your pet ingests any of the following: alcohol, avocados, chocolate, coffee, garlic, onions, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, xylitol (a sugar free sweetener), or raw yeast bread dough, they recommend calling the emergency pet poison line at (888) 426-4435 or contacting your veterinarian. Robinson also advises against giving your pets too many treats with high sodium content.

If you want to give your pets a home baked treat, PULSE consulted experts and the web to find these two recipes containing safe ingredients that are sure to make your pups' tails wag and cats weave between your legs in satisfaction.

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats

PULSE found this recipe for Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats from the Dog Treats section of the Cardamom & Coconut website. These simple treats look dog-gone delicious, so bone appétit furry friends.



Ingredients:

  • 1 cup wheat flour

  • ⅓ cup xylitol-free peanut butter

  • ½ cup pumpkin puree

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. Mix the ingredients in a large bowl.

  3. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper, big enough to roll the dough out onto. Layer another sheet of parchment paper on top. Roll the dough ¼ inch thick with a rolling pin or to desired thickness.

  4. Remove the parchment paper from the top and cut out fun shapes, either with a cookie cutter or a knife.

  5. Line the treats on a nonstick or foil lined baking sheet.

  6. Bake for 22 minutes for softer treats or 35 minutes for crispier treats. Cooking times may vary based on oven, altitude or thickness.


Carrot and Catnip Kitty Cat Treats

PULSE found this recipe for Carrot and Catnip Kitty Cat Treats under Tina’s Recipes, in the Pet Treats section on epicuricloud.com. These treats are a purr-fect pick me up for kitties and easy to make at home.



Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons of oil

  • 1 ¼ cups flour

  • 1 tablespoon dried catnip

  • ¾ cup shredded carrot

  • 1 large egg lightly beaten

  • Cold water as needed

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  3. In a medium bowl, add oil and mix in 1 cup of the flour until the mixture looks sandy.

  4. Stir in the catnip and carrots.

  5. Mix in the beaten egg. Add a little water if the mixture looks too dry and isn't holding together. Add a little flour if the mixture looks too wet and sticky.

  6. Sprinkle a flat surface with a little additional flour and roll or pat out dough to ¼ inch thickness. Sprinkle the dough with additional flour as needed.

  7. Prick the dough all over with a fork. Use a pizza wheel to cut dough into ½ inch squares.

  8. Arrange squares on the prepared baking sheet.

  9. Bake for about 12 minutes or until starting to brown. (Bake longer for a drier texture.)

  10. Cool on the baking sheet.

  11. Store in an airtight container for several days or freeze for longer storage. (If baked to a softer texture, store in the refrigerator.)

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