How To Make Large Ice Cube Dog Treats

by Nancybinspired

Table of Contents

Intro

Why Make Homemade Dog Treats

Benefits of Homemade Dog Treats

What you Will Need

Recipes

How To Serve Large Ice Cube Dog Treats

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Intro

As the summer heat intensifies, it’s not just humans who crave a refreshing cool-down—our furry friends do too! One of the best ways to keep your dog hydrated and entertained is by making large ice cube dog treats at home. Not only are these treats a fun and healthy way to beat the heat, but they’re also incredibly easy to make. In this blog post, we’ll explore why homemade dog treats are a fantastic option, the benefits of making them yourself, the tools you’ll need, and some delightful recipes to get you started.

Let’s dive into how to make large ice cube treats for dogs at home. All the options and sizes available the will be sure to delight your four legged family member!

Why Make Homemade Dog Treats?

There are several reasons why you might want to consider making your dog’s treats at home:

1. Control Over Ingredients: You know exactly what’s going into your dog’s treats, ensuring they’re free from preservatives, artificial colors, and other potentially harmful additives.

2. Customization: You can tailor the treats to your dog’s dietary needs, preferences, and any allergies they might have.

3. Cost-Effective: Homemade treats can often be cheaper than store-bought options, especially if you use ingredients you already have at home.

4. Bonding Activity: Making treats can be a fun activity that allows you to bond with your pet and create something special for them.

Benefits Of Homemade Dog Treats

Making large ice cube dog treats at home offers several benefits:

• Hydration: These treats help keep your dog hydrated, especially during hot summer days.

• Mental Stimulation: Using ice cubes as treats can engage your dog’s mind, particularly if you freeze them with toys or other interesting objects.

• Cooling Effect: Ice treats can help lower your dog’s body temperature, making them feel more comfortable in the heat.

• Dental Health: Chewing on ice cubes can help clean your dog’s teeth and gums, promoting better dental health.

Blueberry Frozen Ice Cube Treats= Fresh Blueberries, blueberry juice and water.

What You Will Need

Tools You’ll Need

Making these treats is simple and requires just a few basic tools:

• Large Ice Cube Trays or Molds: Silicone molds work best as they make it easy to pop out the frozen treats. You could even use your dog’s bowl for an extra large treat shown in images above.

• Dog Toys for Inserting Treats: Toys like KONGs are perfect for hiding the ice treats, providing an additional challenge for your dog.

• Blender or Food Processor: To puree ingredients for smoother, more uniform treats.

• Measuring Cups and Spoons: For precise ingredient measurement.

Recipes for your Large Ice Cube Dog Treats

Here are some easy and delicious recipes to get you started:

1. Peanut Butter and Banana Ice Cubes

• Ingredients: One ripe banana, two tablespoons of peanut butter (ensure it’s xylitol-free), and one cup of water.

• Instructions: Blend the banana, peanut butter, and water until smooth. Pour the mixture into ice cube molds and freeze for at least four hours.

2. Chicken Broth and Carrot Ice Cubes

• Ingredients: One cup of low-sodium chicken broth and one small carrot, finely chopped.

• Instructions: Pour the chicken broth into the ice cube molds, add the chopped carrot, and freeze for at least four hours.

3. Apple and Yogurt Ice Cubes

• Ingredients: One apple, cored and sliced, and one cup of plain yogurt.

• Instructions: Blend the apple slices and yogurt until smooth. Pour the mixture into ice cube molds and freeze for at least four hours.

4. Blueberry Ice pops

Ingredients: Fresh blueberries, juice from fresh blueberries, water.

Instructions: Puree some blueberries to make juice. Add fresh blueberries to each cube section, add equal parts water and blueberrie juice. Freeze

Serve: Be careful if you sever these just as an ice cube as the blueberries will most likely stain, carpet, rugs, etc. Best idea is to place the cube in a ice cube treat toy shown below.

5. Freeze Dog Bowl

Fill your dog’s bowl with water, tiny dog treats, and bits of fruit. Bananas, watermelon, strawberries, blueberries and peanut butter drops. Freeze entire bowl and serve at once outside on a hot day. It’s sure to be a refreshing treat for your pup.

6. Peanut butter, yogurt milkbone treat.

Ingredient, banana, yogurt *dog friendly yogurt small milk bone treats.

Instructions:

Blend/puree bananas, peanut butter and yogurt to a semi-think consistency. Insert milkbone and freeze. If too it’s watery, freeze 30-45 minutes and then insert milk bone. Refreeze.

How To Serve Dog Treats

You can serve these treats in several ways:

• Handheld Treats: Simply pop out a frozen treat and hand it to your dog. They’ll love licking and chewing on it directly.

• Toy-Inserted Treats: Insert the frozen treat into a toy like a KONG. This adds an extra layer of fun and mental stimulation as your dog figures out how to get the treat out.

• Bowl Treats: Place a couple of frozen treats in your dog’s water bowl for an added splash of flavor and fun.

Summary

Making large ice cube dog treats at home is an enjoyable and beneficial way to keep your dog cool, hydrated, and entertained during the summer months. With just a few simple ingredients and tools, you can create a variety of healthy and refreshing treats that your dog will love. So, get creative and have fun making these summertime delights for your furry friend!

Enjoy the process, and watch your pup savor every icy bite!