Beat the Heat Dog Treats

In case you haven’t noticed by stepping outside, it’s hot! With the blazingly warm, it’s hard to remember our 4-legged-friends can overheat too. Dogs are pretty amazing animals, but if it is too hot for you, remember it is too hot for them. One tip to test if it is too hot to walk your dog outside is by placing the back of your hand on the pavement for 5 seconds. If you can’t handle it, then it is too hot for your dog to walk on. But don’t worry! HSNEGA has you covered with ways to beat the heat! Here are some pretty cool homemade dog treats you can make to help keep your pooch chill. Maybe you’ll even like one too!

1. Frozen Chicken Broth Ice Cubes

Pour low sodium chicken broth or beef broth and into an ice cube tray. Wait until the cubes are completely frozen and pop one out whenever you want to give your dog a quick treat. If you want to make your ice cube totally pawesome or make sure you don’t accidentally put one in your drink, you can buy an ice cube tray shaped like a bone like the picture above.

http://fab.com/product/freezy-pups-kit-171877

2. Frozen Chicken Broth Ice Treats

This treat will be sure to keep your dog cool and busy, but make sure you give it to them outside or it will be a big mess! First, water down some low sodium chicken broth and pour it in a container with dog treats or toys. The key is to freeze the mixture in layers so you can freeze treats and toys in different layers and keep your dog busy for hours.

http://crafthomeandgardenideas.com/craft_private/dog_freezies

3. Strawberry & Blueberry Frozen Yogurt

This easy recipe can be found here:

http://doggydessertchef.com/2013/09/02/strawberry-blueberry-yogurt/

All it takes is some blueberries, strawberries, and some plain yogurt. Mix them together and let them freeze for a few hours and your pup will have a nice yummy treat. You also can put this treat in a popsicle mold if you want one for yourself!

4. Peanut Butter Pup-sicles! (Frosty Paws)

This recipe includes yogurt, a banana, peanut butter, and honey. Blend all the ingredients and place in small containers like mini cupcake tins. Let them freeze for about 30 minutes and add a milkbone or other dog treat in the center laid flat for some flair or sticking straight up to create a stick to hold them. Put them back in the freezer until they freeze completely. This recipe can be found here:

http://gooddogsco.com/2014/06/homemade-frosty-paws/

5. Frozen Kong Treats

Kongs are a great way to keep your dog entertained, but freezing them also keep your pup cool and gives them a challenging snack. The best thing about Kong frozen treats is that there are several different recipes you can try to find the one your dog loves Blueberry Yogurt, Peanut Butter and Cheese,Cheesy Potato Pie, and several other recipe are available via this link:
http://www.k9instinct.com/blog/frozen-kong-dog-treat-recipes

Remember, if your dog has any health concerns or dietary restrictions, be sure to check with your veterinarian before introducing a new treat. Also, safety first! Never leave your dog unattended with treats and be sure to give your dog treats outside to avoid a mess.

Written by J. Martin, HSNEGA Communications Intern