Cool Treats

Nothing is quite as refreshing on a hot summer day as a delicious frozen treat, whether it be ice cream, popsicles, or sno cones. While these treats aren't exactly pet friendly (or healthy), you've no doubt found that your dog can barely resist the temptation of that dripping ice cream cone. Well you and your pet are in luck - here are some pet friendly options for cool treats to help refresh your dog on a hot summer day.

Frozen Kong.Put a twist on your dog's favorite chew toy. Fill a Kong (or other similar product) with peanut butter, freeze for a few hours and voila - frozen peanut butter Kongsicle! Sass it up and keep it more interesting for your dog by layering the peanut butter with kibble, small dog biscuits, or banana slices and then freezing it. Try to find low or no salt peanut butter that has no added sugar in it for a healthier treat.

Doggie Ice Cream. There are many choices for dog ice cream widely available in stores, like Yoghund and Frosty Paws, but you can make your very own homemade ice cream treats with ease. Simply blend 1 cup of plain, low fat yogurt with 1/4 cup of peanut butter and 1 banana, divide into reusable containers (about 3oz size) and freeze for at least 30 minutes. Get creative with the flavors! Instead of peanut butter and banana you can do blueberry and apple or even carrot and sweet potato - the possibilities are endless. Just be sure that the ingredients you are using are dog safe and low in salt and sugars - the more whole foods you can use the healthier it is for your dog.

Sno Cones. Lots of dogs enjoy chewing ice, but whole ice cubes have the potential to break a dog's teeth - so why not crush it and make them their very own doggie sno cones?! Start by simply freezing low sodium chicken or beef broth in an ice cube tray. When it's time for a frozen treat, take a moment and run a couple of cubes through the blender and there you have it - doggie sno cones. You can even mix frozen peas or blueberries into the crushed ice as an added bonus! Your dog will love the taste of this cool, refreshing treat.