Creating homemade animal treats with nuts and seeds can be a fun way to give your pets nutritious snacks!
Making homemade treats for your pets also offers several benefits including:
- Control Over Ingredients: You know exactly what goes into your pet's treats, allowing you to cater to their specific dietary needs, allergies, or preferences. Store-bought treats often contain preservatives, artificial colors, flavors, or added sugars. Homemade treats let you skip all of that.
- Improved Nutritional Quality: By including wholesome ingredients like seeds, nut butters, fruits, and vegetables, you can create nutrient-packed snacks that support your pet’s health, providing extra vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats.
- Cost-Effective: Using simple pantry staples like oats, nut butters, and seeds can be more cost-effective than buying premium pet treats. You can make large batches and store them for later, saving money in the long run.
Below are four safe and pawsitively delicious plant-based recipes for your dogs and cats that will have their tails wagging all day!
READ MORE: Nuts and seeds for your pets: The good, the bad, and the healthy
homade pet treats
Pumpkin & Sunflower Seed Dog Biscuits
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (unsweetened)
- ½ cup oat flour
- ¼ cup ground sunflower seeds
- 2 tablespoons almond butter (unsalted, natural)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (pre-soaked)
- 1 tablespoon flaxseed (ground)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a bowl, mix pumpkin puree, almond butter, oat flour, ground sunflower seeds, soaked chia seeds, and ground flaxseed until a dough forms.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into shapes using a cookie cutter.
- Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until firm.
- Cool completely before serving.
Chia & Flaxseed Cat Treats
Ingredients:
- ½ cup cooked and mashed sweet potato
- ¼ cup oat flour
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (pre-soaked)
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds (ground)
- 1 teaspoon catnip (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Combine mashed sweet potato, oat flour, soaked chia seeds, ground flaxseed, and ground pumpkin seeds in a bowl. Add catnip if using.
- Form small, bite-sized pieces and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until treats are dry and firm.
- Let cool completely before serving.
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Almond & Carrot Dog Chews
Ingredients:
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup almond flour (use sparingly)
- ¼ cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter (unsalted, natural)
- 1 tablespoon water (as needed)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix shredded carrots, almond flour, rolled oats, ground flaxseed, peanut butter, and hemp seed hearts in a bowl. Add water as needed to create a sticky dough.
- Form dough into small chew shapes or patties.
- Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 25-30 minutes or until firm and golden.
- Cool before serving.
Sunflower & Flax Cat Bites
Ingredients:
- ½ cup canned pumpkin (unsweetened)
- ¼ cup oat flour
- 2 tablespoons ground sunflower seeds
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Mix pumpkin, oat flour, ground sunflower seeds, and ground flaxseed in a bowl. Add olive oil if desired for extra shine and moisture.
- Shape into small balls or use a spoon to create small bite-sized pieces.
- Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until firm.
- Let cool before giving to your cat.
tips for safety, preparation and storage
Customizable: Customize these recipes with ingredients you already have, i.e using peanut butter instead of almond butter. Or leave out a specific seed and double up on another. Pet treats are fairly forgiving, and you'll soon figure out what your pet likes or not!
Introduce Slowly: Introduce new treats gradually to monitor any reactions, especially with new ingredients like nuts. Too much fiber all of a sudden could also cause some digestive troubles.
Portion Control: Treats should be fed in moderation and should not make up more than 10% of your pet’s daily calorie intake.
Ask The Experts: Whenever you are unsure of any ingredients or notice any negative reactions, contact your trusted vet.
Safe Storage: Store these treats in an airtight container for up to 1 week or make big batches and freeze them for longer storage.
Avoid Salt and Coatings: Ensure nuts and seeds are raw, unsalted, and free of any coatings that could harm your pets.
