Summer is coming, and so is the heat! Hot weather can be pretty hard on our canine pals. After all, Fido does have a fur coat on! In this article, a local Tampa, FL vet tells you how to keep your pup cool and happy this summer with some yummy cold doggy treats.
Toy Prize
Fill a Kong toy with peanut butter, water, or sodium-free broth, and pop it into the freezer. Instant tail wags!
Cold Apple Bites
Add sliced apples, bacon bits, canned or shredded chicken, and cheese to an ice cube tray. (Note: only use the fleshy part of the apple: the seeds or pips aren’t safe for Fido.) If your pet doesn’t like apples, use cooked peas, carrots, and/or green beans instead. Pour sodium-free chicken broth over them, and freeze.
Pupsicles
You can use an ice cube tray or wax paper cups to make this summertime classic into a doggy delicacy. Pour water or sodium-free broth over bits of kibble, cooked bacon strips, chew sticks, or store-bought doggy treats. For extra tail-wags, add shredded meat or chicken, bacon bits, or cheese.
Burger Bits
Add sodium-free broth or water, cheese, and bacon bits to plain cooked hamburger. Portion the mixture out, and then freeze.
PB Chicken
Mix natural peanut butter with chicken stock. Add some parsley if you like. Use an ice cube tray or cute bone mold to freeze.
Doggy Ice Cream
Ice cream is just as fun for dogs as it is for us! For the base, you can use ripe bananas, natural peanut butter, pureed pumpkin, plain yogurt, or sodium-free broth. Mix two or three of these together. You can also add organic baby food. Next, add pet-safe fruits, like blueberries or strawberries, bacon bits, tiny meatballs, cheese, shredded meat or chicken, bits of kibble, or dog biscuits.
No-Muss Snack
Pick up a pre-cooked roll of lamb, pork, or sausage, and freeze it. Just slice off a piece when you want to give Fido a treat.
Tips
Make sure to only offer Fido dog-safe foods. Some things to avoid include garlic, onions, and chives; pitted fruits; chocolate; caffeine; meat on the bone; grapes, currants, and raisins; nuts; chocolate; pitted fruits; junk food; and anything containing xylitol. Ask your vet for more information.
Please contact us, your Tampa, FL pet hospital, for all your dog’s veterinary care needs. We’re always happy to help!
