Recipes for Summer Cool Treats for Hot Dogs

When the temperature outdoors rises, your dog may become hot even after a good grooming. Heatstroke is only one of the numerous summer dangers that our pets may face. Dog treats that are chilled or frozen are a pleasant surprise for your dog. They will not only keep your dog cool, but they will also keep it entertained when it is pent up indoors. Here are some healthy, chilly treat options that your dog will enjoy:

Ice "Cream" for Dogs

Real ice cream is delicious to dogs, but it is bad for them. Sugar raises the calorie count, and too much dairy can lead to vomiting or diarrhea. "Lick-a-lots" and "Frosty Paws" are two brands of nutritious dog ice "cream" that dogs like. However, if you want to save money or don't want to go to the shop, you may build your own version at home. Here's what you'll require:

• 1 banana, ripe
• 4 oz. plain yogurt 
• 1 tbsp. peanut butter 

In a blender or food processor, combine all of the ingredients. Pour the mixture into three or four small containers and place them in the freezer overnight.  Keep the goodies in the container and give one to your dog, but keep an eye on him. If you don't take them out of their containers, they'll last longer. Experiment with finely sliced apples, carrots, or lean meat as add-ins.

Puppy Popsicles

All you need is one ingredient to make quick and easy frozen pops that dogs will love: chicken broth or beef broth. Look for one that is fat-free, unsalted or low-sodium, and doesn't include onion.

Freeze the broth overnight in ice cube trays or mini-muffin pans. You can give a few to your dog as treats on their own. To add taste, sprinkle the pops on top of kibble or in the water dish. Experiment using other ingredients, such as finely sliced carrots, apples, or lean pork.

Try freezing diluted juice with no extra sugar for a delicious pop. A watermelon can also be chop into bits and frozen. On a hot day, dogs adore these gently sweet frozen treats, and you might as well.

Kong Stuffing (Frozen)

The Kong is a fantastic stuffed dog toy that can occupy almost any dog when properly filled. There's almost no limit to what you can do with this toy. Fill it with a mushy mixture of foods and freeze it (the longer it sits in the freezer, the firmer it will freeze, but you may eat it as soon as two hours after stuffing it). Fill a frosting piping bag with the mixture for easy stuffing. If you don't have this, fill a plastic zip-top bag with the ingredients and snip one of the bottom corners off. Fill the Kong or similar stuffed toy with the contents of the bag. Before serving, freeze for at least two hours (overnight is preferable). This will keep your dog preoccupied for a long time.

Popsicle Baby Food

Go to the shop and get some baby food (the kind in plastic containers is a safer bet). Formulas with beef, chicken, sweet potato, and fruit perform particularly well. Freeze overnight in the packing before serving.

Caution!

• Make careful to select a formula that doesn't include any potentially harmful chemicals (like onions).
• When offering these treats to dogs, keep an eye on them to make sure they don't chew or consume the container.
• When giving your dog treats, keep in mind that treats should never account for more than 10% of your dog's daily food consumption.