Homemade Birthday Treats for Pets

Dogs are members of our families. Whether you know your dog's actual date of birth or are celebrating the day it came into your family, birthday treats can make the day seem more special for you and your pup. Bake canine confectioneries to serve to your dog and its puppy pals on its special day, and accompany them with treats for the pups' human companions.

  1. Ingredients

    • Choose ingredients that are safe for your dog to eat, but are something it would not get on a regular basis. Ingredients like bananas, apples and honey add an extra taste of sweetness to the birthday treats and are not often found in regular treats. Grapes and raisins should be avoided due to a toxicity leading to kidney failure.

      Pureed meat can also be used in the baking of dog treats. Chicken or beef liver is something many dogs salivate over, but is not OK to feed on a regular basis due to the potential for an overdose of Vitamin A.

      In addition to extra additives, you will also need the base ingredients. Eggs, flour and water are a must for treats. Baking powder is used in "pupcakes" and "cookies," enabling them to fluff up. Yeast can be dangerous when baking for dogs. If it is not cooked thoroughly, the yeast can puff up within the dog's stomach. In the least dangerous situation, this can cause an upset stomach. In the worst, it may mean a trip to the vet.

    Types of Treats

    • Nearly everyone is familiar with the standard dog biscuit treat. This style of treat is sometimes called a "cookie" and is one of the easiest treats to make. Examine commercially available treats for ideas that deviate from the standard. Cupcakes that are safe for dogs, called "pupcakes" are not dissimilar in preparation from human cupcakes. More elaborate variations on canine confectioneries include full-sized birthday cakes and dog-safe ice cream.

    Preparations

    • Just like in human-oriented baking, it is advisable to mix wet and dry ingredients first. If your wet ingredients are extremely bulky or oddly shaped, you may wish to run them through a blender or food processor for ease of digestion later.

      For cookies, you'll want to knead your batter into a dough and roll flat. You can then use bone or fire hydrant shaped cookie cutters to create fun shapes for the birthday treats.

      When baking "pupcakes," procure a miniature cupcake baking pan and tiny cupcake wrappers. Bake the "pupcakes" as you would normal cupcakes.

    Embellishments

    • Low fat cream cheese makes a rich, but doggy safe icing. If your cookies or cupcakes still look plain, crush up a hand full of kibble to use as "sprinkles." Stay away from chocolate or ingredients containing chocolate. While these ingredients are appealing to canines and humans, chocolate is deadly for dogs. Carob is a chocolate alternative that does not contain theobromine, the toxic ingredient in chocolate. Carob has a similar taste to chocolate and makes a wonderful additive to doggy birthday treats.