As anyone who owns a dog should know, chocolate is off-limits. Usually, that’s not such a problem, but with Easter just around the corner, there’s about to be a lot of chocolate lying around the house. What’s the best way to keep your dog from accidentally eating something they shouldn’t?
While you should obviously be very careful to keep chocolate out of paw’s reach, it’s also good to find other ways to let your pup feel included. You can play fun Easter games, arrange a dog-friendly Easter egg hunt, and, while you’re at it, why not try your hand at dog baking? Baking for dogs is a fun and rewarding activity for you, your family, and most importantly, your beloved pet. That’s why we’ve put together this list of our four favourite ingredients to use in your tasty treats.
Peanut Butter
What dog doesn’t love peanut butter? What human for that matter! Peanut butter is a source of sweet and salty goodness and adds great flavour to everything from crunchy biscuits to satay sauce.
It should come as no surprise, however, that most of the peanut butters in the supermarkets are full of salt, sugar, and preservatives. While no peanut butter is ever going to be particularly healthy (for humans or dogs) some brands are better than others and there are a few you should never give to dogs.
If you’re planning to use peanut butter as the main flavour for some homemade dog biscuits we recommend checking for things like ‘no added sugar’ and low salt or fat content but the real ingredient you have to be wary of is a chemical called Xylitol.
Xylitol is a natural sweetener, sometimes used as an alternative to sugar. Although xylitol is fit for human consumption, it’s highly toxic for dogs and can even be fatal.
The good news is that most popular brands of peanut butter do not use xylitol but a few do, so you should always be careful to check the label.
Sweet Potato
Now let's move on to something a little more nutritious.
Sweet potato is a tasty snack your dog will love. It’s healthy, filling, and easy to cook and season. You can include it as part of a recipe or serve it on its own.
The most important thing to remember with sweet potato is to always make sure that it’s fully cooked and that the skin is removed. Uncooked sweet potato could upset your dog's tummy but when cooked properly it can help contribute towards a happy and healthy pup.
Carrot and Apple
This flavour combo is a match made in heaven, particularly if you like making cakes. Even better, there are a ton of dog-friendly cake recipes online and with just a little tweaking, these two ingredients will be right at home.
And, of course, carrot and apple cake is also a great choice for your dog’s birthday.
Eggs
Last, but certainly not least, we have eggs. It wouldn’t be Easter without eggs and while chocolate eggs are certainly off the table, chickens' eggs are fine to use when baking for dogs.
There are a few health conditions where chicken eggs are unsuitable but other than that, they are a great choice for dogs plus they are really healthy as they include protein and vitamins.
One last thing to mention is that all of these ingredients should be given in moderation. While none of them are explicitly bad for dogs, they are treats and should never replace a regular healthy diet.
Finally, however you celebrate, we’d like to wish you and your pet a happy Easter!