Everyone loves pumpkin, even dogs, just ask mine! They went crazy for these healthy pumpkin dog treats and yours will, too!
You could say our dogs are kind of spoiled. Even though they do sleep in kennels at night, {let’s face it, sometimes it’s the only way to insure they don’t get into trouble}, they are full-on house dogs during the day. It’s rare that they spend the whole day outside, but when they do, you can bet that my Luci is taking plenty of leisurely dips in the pool.
We do buy them snacks regularly, but, sometimes I like to spoil them with homemade dog treats. Since I’m a pumpkin lover for sure, {as in, I love to eat it year-round}, I decided it would be fun to use it on some treats for them. As it turns out, pumpkin is actually good for dogs {and cats}.
Why pumpkin dog treats are good for dogs:
- good for both diarrhea and constipation, but be sure to stay away from raw pumpkin and sugary, spicy pie filling.
- loaded with fiber and beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. But beware, too much vitamin A is highly toxic to dogs {a couple of teaspoons a day for little pups, or a couple of tablespoons for large dogs, will help keep them on track. These pumpkin dog treats only have 1/2 a cup of pumpkin in a whole batch, so 1 or 2 a won’t harm your little buddy}
- low in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol
- recommended by some vets for weight loss in dogs, because it’s a great source of fiber, so it helps your pup stay fuller, longer. Be sure to consult your vet for proper substitution amounts
- roasted pumpkin seeds are full of antioxidants that promote urinary health. In addition, the healthy vitamins and fatty acids found in pumpkin seeds can make your dog’s coat softer and shinier
These pumpkin dog treats would even make a great gift for someone who just got their first dog. Plus, you can roll some of the leftover scraps and cut them into tiny squares, like I did, and give them to your cat. Or, in my case, my daughter, who has a cat. {Secret: when he was a kitten, I would hold him and sing Soft Kitty to him. He loved it}.
Everyone loves pumpkin, even dogs, just ask mine! They went crazy for these healthy pumpkin dog treats and yours will, too!
10 minPrep Time
40 minCook Time
50 minTotal Time
Save Recipe5 based on 1 review(s)
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups flour {I used whole wheat. You can also use 50/50 wheat and spelt)
- 2 cups quick-cooking oats
- 1/4 cup flax seed
- 2 1/4 cups warm water
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
- 1/4 cup bacon fat
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350*F
- Combine flour, oats and flax seed in a large bowl
- Stir in water, pumpkin and bacon fat
- Knead dough on a lightly floured surface, mix in more flour {about 1/4 cup} as needed until dough is no longer sticky
- Roll dough to 1/4? thickness
- Cut with cookie cutters into desired shapes and place 3/4? apart on greased cookie sheets
- Re-roll scraps and repeat
- Bake 40 minutes; turn oven off and leave biscuits in oven until cooled
Notes
*yield depends on shape of your cookie cutter
- Calories 3941
- Total Fat: 89 g 136.92%
- Saturated Fat: 27 g 135%
- Cholesterol: 49 mg 16.33%
- Sodium: 108 mg 4.5%
- Potassium: 2037 mg 58.2%
- Total Carbohydrate: 614 g %
- Sugar: 20 g
- Protein: 161 g
- Vitamin A: 300%
- Calcium: 362 mg 36.2%
- Iron: 44 mg 244.44%
Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and MyPlate Info
Are these pumpkin dog treats making you crave pumpkin?
Check out these other delicious pumpkin recipes you can enjoy!
#PumpkinWeek day 3 recipes:
- Chicken Mushroom and Pumpkin Stew from Making Miracles.
- Curried Pumpkin Waffles from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures.
- Healthy Pumpkin Dog Treats from {i love} my disorganized life.
- Pumpkin Banana Biscotti with Maple Syrup Glaze from Kudos Kitchen by Renee.
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars from The Crumby Cupcake.
- Pumpkin Cobbler from Love and Confections.
- Pumpkin Curry Pizza from The Spiffy Cookie.
- Pumpkin Risotto from My Catholic Kitchen.
- Pumpkin Waffles from Recipes Food and Cooking.
- Pumpkin Yeast Bread from A Day in the Life on the Farm
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