CWith dogs so much a part of family life today, they are included in seasonal celebrations and now even have their own Christmas pudding recipe.
It's actually surprisingly easy to create a Christmas pudding that dogs can eat, as they need lots of different foods in their diets. By using healthy ingredients such as yoghurt, xylitol-free peanut butter, and eggs, you can whip up a pud that your pooch will love.
To give things a seasonal twist, you can use a few dried cranberries for decoration. These fruits are safe for dogs to eat in small amounts, and provide fibre and nutrients. Yoghurt is another food that is safe in small amounts, as long as your dog doesn't struggle with digesting lactose. If you are unsure, you can give your dog a tiny portion to try ahead of Christmas day, to make sure that they enjoy it and can digest it comfortably. Another good idea is to double check any potential festive treats with your vet.
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To give these treats the look of a Christmas pudding, make them in small round moulds, or roll them into balls, and then add the yoghurt on top at the end. This way, they will look like classic Christmas puds with icing on top.
Ingredients:
- 60g peanut butter
- 7 table spoons wholewheat flour
- 1 egg
- Yoghurt and cranberries
Method:
- Melt the peanut butter until it softens, then take it off the heat and mix it with the flour in a bowl.
- Add the egg, and combine the ingredients into a dough.
- Roll the mixture into balls and place it on a baking tray.
- Bake the treats at 175°C for 25 minutes or until they look crispy.
- Allow them to cool, and then add a spoonful of yoghurt and some dried cranberries on the top as decoration.
Mark Spurlock, Head of Technical Services at Bob Martin says:
"Christmas is a lovely time to share food with family and friends, and involving your pets in the festive meal can make it so much more fun. But it's important to only use ingredients that your pooches can comfortably digest.
"So, make sure that the peanut butter you use for dog treats is xylitol-free, as this can be harmful. Stay well clear of foods like grapes, raisins, dark chocolate and any other foods that may be toxic to dogs. Then, check any recipes with your vet if you are unsure about whether they will suit the animal's diet. Making treats yourself can also be a great way to be in control of the recipe so that you can include things that will suit your four-legged friend.
"Having these treats as part of a balanced diet will ensure that your pet not only has fun over the festive season, but has all the nutrients that they need as well."
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