Incredibly Easy Holiday Pumpkin Dog Treats
Pumpkin is great for dogs and humans. This year more and more are turning to making gifts and planning dinners around the table with friends and family.
Dog lovers here is your chance to make a dog treat that is not only really healthy for any dog, but is so easy to make you’ll find yourself with a thoughtful gift for even those you wish you could have given something to in years past but the budget didn’t stretch that far.
The big bonus…. the pumpkin treats are great for humans too!
Health Benefits of Pumpkins
Pumpkin is loaded with Beta carotene and anti-oxidants especially vitamins C and E. These vitamins help to lower heart disease, cancer and cataracts. Pumpkin is a great aid for dogs in weight loss and for tummy issues like diarrhea. Read more on the healing properties of pumpkins and you’ll find yourself the hit of the holiday new recipe dishes and your dog lover friends will not only get a really cool gift but dogs will love it and add health to their diet.
Pumpkin Dog & Human Treat Recipe
The instructions are simple. So simple you’ll find it’s very easy to get creative and make thoughtful homemade gifts, appetizers or a little treat any time for dogs and for people.
- Turn the oven on to about 350 F.
- Put the pumpkin in the oven on a baking sheet.
- Cook until a knife punctures the pumpkin easily, usually about 45 minutes.
- When it’s done, slice it up, remove the seeds and cut into small cubes.
- Keep the seeds to roast alone. The health benefits of the pumpkin seed are amazing as well.
That is an incredibly easy recipe. Plain pumpkin cubes. Your dog will love them. It’s easy, its good for your dog and for you.
Simplicity Packaging
Use a small paper bag and tie ribbon around the top. Or go green and beautiful and use a Ball glass jar with the seal-able lid. Tie your holiday wishes to it if it is a gift or just simply put it in the refrigerator and dole treats out for any good reason. *make sure to add a note if it is a gift that these treats need to be refrigerated.
The More Difficult, More Yum Pumpkin Treat Recipe
Same as above. Once you have cut the pumpkin into cubes drizzle Manuka honey, or raw honey over the pumpkin. Use these treats as an eat right out of the oven appetizer or side dish.
Your dog only needs a few. Probably the same for you. Put on a dish or flat pan, cover with saran wrap and refrigerate for later.
But wait. Is honey good for the dog?
For thousands of years, honey has been recognized as one of the most natural home remedies to treat a wide range of ailments and complaints including yeast infection, arthritis pain and fungal infections like athlete’s foot. The antiseptic properties inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and aid external wounds to stay clean and free from infection. Antibacterial properties prevent infection and functions as an anti-inflammatory agent, reducing both swelling and pain, and even scarring. It is widely believed that Manuka is the preferred honey for wound dressing due to its strong antibacterial property even when taken internally.
The inclusion of a teaspoon of honey to the dog’s daily regimen is proven effective in alleviating pain associated with arthritis. The enzymes in raw honey aid in maintaining the dog’s stable digestive system. The rest of the anti fungal, yeast infection fighters also apply when ingested by your dog.
Unlike other human foods, honey can be easily digested by dogs. Dog are not inherently allergic to this insect-made substance. However, too much of anything including honey can be a dangerous thing. Dogs should get small doses off honey. A few pumpkin treats drizzled with honey should do the trick to super duper your dogs immune system.
Enjoy each and every moment of the holidays and remember: Joint consumption doesn’t create intimacy. Only joint creativity and gifts create intimacy and connection. Occupy Love.
Aloha wags!
Thanks for reading. My hope is to give you inspiration and thought provoking ideas to take your very next step in creating your own paradise from where you are now! Please subscribe to Big Island Dog and follow me on Twitter. Retweets are cool too.
As a 9 time Ironman finisher, change maker and author and creator of 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs and K9 Cross Fitness Classes in Kailua Kona Hawaii I encourage you to make that change you want so badly today!