6 DIY Halloween Treats You Can Make For Your Dog Or Cat

Looking for some frightfully delicious and nutritious, homemade treats to serve your furry friends on Halloween night? This easy-to-make selection of pet friendly Halloween treat ideas are a great way to include your dogs and cats in spooky season traditions (while keeping them away from your candy haul!). There are no tricks with these DIY recipes, just healthy treats with some nutritional tips along the way! After all, ‘A pumpkin a day keeps the witches away’. Remember, you can make half a recipe or double it, depending on how many treats you need. For more information on what fruits and vegetables are safe for your dogs to eat, check out this blog: Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can or Can’t Eat.

What You Need To Make DIY Pet Treats When you make DIY frozen paws or baked biscuits for your dog or cat, you will need a few basic supplies to get started. Nothing is out of the ordinary and chances are you probably already have many of these items lying around the house. Here are a few suggestions of what you may need:

• Ziploc or sandwich bags (to create a piping bag for more precise pouring)

• Measuring cups

• Variety of mixing bowls and storage containers

• Frozen paw molds or ice cube trays

• Blender or food processor

• Cookie cutter (A pumpkin shape is a must!)

• Baking tray

• Halloween spirit!

1. Candy Corn Paws

A delicious, low-sugar classic!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain non-fat yoghurt or Kefir

• 1/2 cup organic pumpkin purée

• 1 - 2 organic bananas

Instructions:

1. Blend each ingredient separately, placing each into their own bowl

2. Cut a corner off a ziploc bag to create piping

3. Spoon each ingredient into its own ziploc bag

4. Pipe a short layer of the yoghurt into your mold and freeze for a small amount of time before adding the next layer of pumpkin on top. Freeze again before adding the final layer of banana on top.

5. Freeze for 4 - 5 hours

Pet Health Benefits:

• Raw kefir - A great source of gut-boosting probiotics, vitamins and minerals.

• Pumpkin - Adding pumpkin to your pet's diet is a great way to regulate their digestive systems, and is known to provide relief to gastrointestinal upsets such as diarrhea and constipation.

• Bananas - A great low-calorie treat for dogs that should be fed in moderation due to it’s sugar content. Bananas are high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper.

2. Jack O’Lantern FroYo

A gut health booster!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup local honey

• 1/2 cup organic pumpkin purée

• 1 cup raw goat milk, kefir or plain non-fat yoghurt

• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger (optional)

Instructions:

1. Blend all ingredients together

2. Cut a corner off of a sandwich bag to create piping

3. Spoon mixture into a ziploc bag and pipe into frozen molds

4. Freeze for 4 - 5 hours

Pet Health Benefits:

• Honey - Immune support from local honey can help to control allergy symptoms, skin issues and maintain a healthy weight. Due to it’s sugar content we recommend using honey in moderation.

• Raw goat milk - Goats milk provides naturally-occurring probiotic support for the gut.

• Pumpkin - Pumpkin provides a great prebiotic to support a healthy microbiome.

• Ginger - An anti-inflammatory that can support pets with gastrointestinal problems.

3. Zombie Gut-sicle

A green superfood smoothie Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup organic apple

• 1/2 cup dark leafy greens (Kale, or broccoli or spinach)

• 1 cup bone broth

Instructions:

1. Blend all ingredients together

2. Cut a corner off of a ziploc bag to create piping

3. Spoon mixture into a ziploc bag and pipe into frozen molds

4. Freeze for 4 - 5 hours

Pet Health Benefits:

• Apples - Apples are a great source of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and antioxidants. They're filled with fiber which is great for assisting with their digestion.

• Dark leafy greens - Leafy greens are considered a superfood since they are rich in nutrients that are essential for pet health. Greens like kale are high in beta-carotene, calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron, which helps to support healthy bones, and a healthy heart.

• Bone broth - Bone broth provides great hydration and is also packed with vitamins and minerals and is a good source of protein, glycine, collagen, and glucosamine, great for joints and soothing for the GI tract. To learn more about bone broth, check out our blog Bone Broth: 5 Ways It Improves Your Pet's Health.

4. Monster Mash

A juicy, antioxidant smash!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup organic blueberries or blackberries

• 1 cup coconut water or filtered water

• 2 tablespoons of ground chia or flax seed

Instructions:

1. Blend all ingredients together

2. Cut a corner off of a ziploc bag to create piping

3. Spoon mixture into a ziploc bag and pipe into frozen molds

4. Freeze for 4 - 5 hours

Pet Health Benefits:

• Blueberries - Blueberries are a great low-calorie refreshing treat for pets. They contain antioxidants, vitamins C, vitamin K and fiber which support the immune system and contribute to overall health.

• Coconut water - Full of nutrients like potassium, magnesium, calcium and vitamins B & C, coconut water is filled with electrolytes keeping your pet hydrated with an added boost of energy.

• Flax seeds - Flaxseed contains omega fatty acids and is especially high in the omega 3 and omega 6 which is great for keeping your pets skin and coat healthy.

5. Pumpkin Spice Puppuccino

A dairy-free alternative!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 cup coconut whipped cream or whipped coconut milk

• 1 cup organic pumpkin puree

• Honey (as syrup topper) (optional)

• Halloween sprinkles (optional), or dunk your pets favourite treats!

Instructions:

1. Pour pumpkin puree into a cup or bowl and mix with cinnamon

2. Add a layer of whipped coconut cream

3. Top with a dash of honey or halloween sprinkles

Pet Health Benefits:

• Cinnamon -The spice is abundant in anti-inflammatory properties which is great for aging pups with arthritis or muscle soreness. It is also a wonderful antioxidant that can also help regulate blood sugar and may even reduce bacteria and yeast growth in the body.

• Honey - Immune support from local honey can help to control allergy symptoms, skin issues and maintain a healthy weight. Due to it’s sugar content we recommend using honey in moderation.

• Pumpkin - Pumpkin provides a great prebiotic to support a healthy microbiome

• Coconut milk - This dairy free alternative is said to strengthen the immune system, and improve the appearance of the coat.

6. Pumpkin Cookies

Feel good, crunchy goodness! Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup mashed banana

• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree

• 1/ 4 cup natural peanut butter (ensure no xylitol)

• 1/ 4 cup bone broth

• 1.5 cup whole wheat flour

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit

2. Combine the banana, pumpkin puree, peanut butter and flour in a mixing bowl

3. Gradually add splashes of bone broth to the bowl of ingredients while mixing

4. Form mixture into a dough using your hands. (If mixture becomes sticky, add more flour as needed)

5. Once made into a dough ball, roll out using a rolling pin and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes.

6. Place shapes on a parchment lined baking tray and bake in the oven for 18 - 20 minutes until golden

7. Let cool for 5 minutes

Pet Health Benefits:

• Banana - A great low-calorie treat for dogs that should be fed in moderation due to it’s sugar content. Bananas are high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper.

• Pumpkin - Pumpkin provides a great prebiotic to support a healthy microbiome.

• Natural peanut butter - When fed in moderation, peanut butter can be a great source of protein and healthy fats, vitamins B and E, and niacin.

• Bone broth - Bone broth provides great hydration and is also packed with vitamins and minerals and is a good source of protein, glycine, collagen, and glucosamine, great for joints and soothing for the GI tract.

For more homemade and frozen treat ideas for dogs, visit our blog 10 Easy and Healthy Frozen Treat Recipes For Dogs! If you make any of these DIY Halloween treats, we would love to see! Remember, you can post about your pet and RDBK using the hashtag #RedDogBlueKat or #RDBKFamily on social media for a chance to be featured!

** Disclaimer: These treats should be fed in moderation and as beneficial extras as they have not been evaluated for total nutrition. We recommend that they are used to further diversify a varied fresh food diet.**