December 4th is Cookie Day! Fido may know these yummy snacks as treats or biscuits, but he’d still be happy to help you celebrate. If you enjoy baking and cooking around the holidays, as many do, you may want to try making your pet’s holiday treats. A Columbia, TN vet offers some advice on this below.

Choose Safe Ingredients

First and foremost, only use ingredients that you know are safe for Fido. You’ll want to start with a base. Some of the things you can use include sodium-free broth, wheat-germ or olive oil, liver powder, minced or shredded meat, egg, whole-wheat flour, bacon fat, pureed pumpkin, whole-wheat flour, oats, ripe bananas, fat-free Greek yogurt, or natural peanut butter with no xylitol.

Customize

One good thing about making your canine buddy’s treats is that you can customize them to suit his tastes and/or dietary needs. You can add things like bacon bits, peas, shredded cheese, kibble, or shredded meat. Other options include spinach, egg, blueberries, strawberries, green beans, and plain, boneless canned fish or poultry.

Use A Mold

Fido really won’t care if his cookies are shaped like bones, hearts, or uneven blobs. However, picking up a cute bone-shaped mold isn’t a bad idea. You can also use it to make cute dog treats for your friends’ pets. Plus, this also makes it easy to distinguish between your dog’s treats and people cookies!

Know What To Avoid

Not everything we like to eat is safe for Man’s Best Friend. When cooking for Fido, never use garlic, onions, scallions, or chives; caffeine; chocolate; macadamia nuts; avocado; grapes, currants, or raisins; alcohol; or xylitol. Ask your vet for more information.

No Dough

For many people, the raw cookie dough is just as much of a treat as the cooked version. However, this does not apply to dogs. Don’t let Fido have any uncooked dough or yeast. This is very dangerous, as it can expand inside your pup’s gastrointestinal system, which can spell big trouble.

Give The Gift Of Tail Wags

Homemade cookies can also be a great gift for the other canines in your life. Put them in mason jars, and use a pretty ribbon or bow as decorations, and give them to friends and family to offer to their dogs. Happy Holidays! Contact us, your Columbia, TN animal clinic, anytime. We’re always happy to help!