Page 20 - FWG Issue 2 March 2025

Animals Matter

HOMEMADE TREATS FOR YOUR PETS

Everyone is feeling the pinch these days. As the cost of living rises, many food items are becoming
unaffordable. We find ourselves looking at goods in store and asking whether we need them. Gone are
the days of stocking up on tins of smoked oysters! The cost of pet food and treats is no exception. Prices
of pet food can put a strain on family budgets, especially for those on prescription diets. To lessen the

financial burden whilst keeping your pets smiling with fresher breath, here are some healthy treat recipes
to make at home instead of buying expensive ones in-store. Happy baking!

DOG TREATS SWEET POTATO DOG PUMPKIN AND PEANUT BUTTER

INGREDIENTS CHEWS TREATS
1 cup whole wheat flour
½ cup creamy peanut butter METHOD INGREDIENTS
(NO Xylitol or Birch sugar as Preheat the oven to 130°C 1 cup of oats (old-fashioned, one-minute or instant oats)
these are toxic to dogs) Take two sweet potatoes (one sweet 1 / 3 cup pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie fillings)
¼ cup mashed banana potato takes up approximately one 1 / 4 cup natural peanut butter (NO Xylitol or Birch sugar as
baking sheet, so you would need these are toxic to dogs)
METHOD two baking sheets).
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Slice into coins for small dogs or if METHOD
Stir in all the ingredients well a bigger dog, then slice lengthwise Preheat the oven to 150°C.
until combined to form a dough. for larger chews. Line the baking tray with parchment paper.
Flour your surface and roll Don’t make the slices too thin or Add oats to a food processor and grind until they reach a
out the mixture evenly with a they will get too crispy and not fine powder.
rolling pin (dough should be ¼ be chewy. Make sure they are not Add the peanut butter and blend until a sticky dough is
inch thick). thinner than ¼ inch. formed.
Cut out shapes from the mixture Lay them on a parchment-lined Remove from the processor and roll out on a lightly floured
with a cookie cutter (bone baking sheet in a single layer. surface (use wholewheat, more ground oats or other flour
shapes are fun). Pop them in the oven for 2 ½ - on hand).
Place raw treats on an ungreased 3 hours, flipping once halfway Cut out cookies using a small cookie cutter or cut into
baking tray and bake for 18 through until shrunken, dried out, squares with a knife.
minutes until golden brown. and some pieces are a bit crispy, Lay the treats on a prepared baking sheet and bake for 25 –
whilst others are a bit chewy. 30 minutes until the treats are dry and hard.
Serve and treat your dog! Let cool then store in an airtight Let them cool and keep them in an airtight container. They
container in the fridge for up to will keep one week at room temperature, two weeks in the
three weeks. fridge or you can freeze them.

Fourways Gardens • 18 • March 2025