Homemade Frozen Treats for Your Dog

I often feel bad for my furry friend in the summer heat. He'll lie on the kitchen floor panting in front of the fridge. I know some days I can barely stand the heat and I'm not covered (well not completely) in hair.

We have an ice dispenser on the front of our refrigerator. The dog will wait patiently for the ice to miss the glass and hit the floor. He loves ice cubes. I thought why not make some frozen treats for him? I have seen the Frosty Paws for dogs (a frozen treat you can buy) but I will not spend that amount of money on my pet's treats when I can make them for less.

I fill my regular ice cube trays with chicken broth (low sodium) and water about half and half. He loves these any day sun or snow!
I thought I was the only one making pooch-cicles but then I found a
website devoted to dogs. Their recipe list is quite extensive, including:

Frozen Banana Treats,

1 banana
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup chopped peanuts

Mash banana's and peanut butter, stir in wheat germ. Chill 1 hour. With wet hands, solid. Place in container, store in refrigerator or freezer.

Some of the other recipes include ingredients like tuna and yogurt. Very nutritious and economic. I plan to try several of them this summer for my dog, Buddy.

Just as we enjoy a cool breeze on those dog days of summer, so do our canines. Placing a floor fan out for them to lay in front of also helps puppy cool down. Ice cubes placed in the water dish (which I'm sure you know to keep full at all times) is a great way to treat your pet. Our dog does not mind water or getting wet, so a plastic kiddie pool is one of his main hang outs in the summer. Ending our days with a ride in the car, windows down and ears flapping in the wind, gives Buddie one last cool down for the hot day.

Try to think of your pets through your busy summer plans. Treat them to some of these ideas and remember that they get hot too.