Like most dogs, our beautiful Alaskan Malamutes, Lila and Rumo, love treats – especially sweet ones! It is not always easy to find dog treats that are healthy that they will both enjoy… They can both be extremely fussy eaters at times (Lila once went through a phase lasting months when she would rather starve than eat a meal without some yoghurt mixed through her food!)
Lila is definitely the most finicky eater of the two, and she has some food allergies, so we have to be careful with what we give her to eat. Yesterday, I decided to experiment in the kitchen with baking some sweet but healthy homemade dog biscuits.
The first recipe I tried out was this one with oats and honey.
Oats contain a high proportion of easily digestible protein, which is great for dogs who are sensitive to wheat and other grains. Oats contain soluble fibre, which is beneficial to the metabolism, for regulating bowels and also maintaining blood glucose levels. They also provide dogs with essential fatty acids which keep skin strong and healthy, as well as antioxidants, zinc, iron, selenium and Vitamins E and B.
Honey is fantastic for dogs as it is naturally packed with nutrients, including Vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E and K. Honey also contains calcium and magnesium. This powerful combination of nutrients and minerals helps dogs fight off infections and aids digestion.
Ingredients
- 100g rolled oats
- 100g wholemeal flour
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp vegetable stock
- 1 large egg
- 75ml semi-skimmed milk
- flour for dusting
Method
- Preheat the oven at Gas Mark 7 / 220C (200C for fan ovens).
- Mix the rolled oats with the flour in a large mixing bowl.
- Combine the honey, vegetable stock, egg and milk in a small bowl.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and knead together into a firm dough. You may need to add extra flour if your dough is sticky.
- Dust your work surface with plenty of flour and roll out the dough until it is approximately 5mm thick.
- Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, slice the rolled out dough into squares. Place on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper and bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Turn out onto a wire cooling rack to allow the biscuits to sufficiently cool down before offering any to your dog!
