By Leanne Welch
In honor of International Biscuit Appreciation Day
If your veterinarian has prescribed a special diet for your dog, you may be finding it difficult to find ways to reward him. As tempting as it may be, it is very important that you feed only the specific diet that has been recommended and avoid other foods, treats & table scraps unless approved by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian has recommended this food because he or she feels it is in the best interest of your pet’s health.
Prescription Treats
We sell treats that are compatible with some of our prescription diets. These can be purchased at Neffsville Veterinary Clinic or on our Online Store.
Dry Food
Give your dog his dry kibble as treats. Measure out the daily amount of food. Put a portion of the food where you normally store your biscuits and use throughout the day. Most dogs don’t care what you’re giving them, as long as they’re getting something!
Home-made biscuits using prescription food
-Place 2 cups of dry food into a blender or food processor. Grind to a powder. Pour the dry powder into a mixing bowl and add 1 1/4 cup of water. Stir until a dough forms. Using a table spoon drop dog cookies onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350° F for 30 minutes. Cool completely before serving to your dog. Store in the refrigerator for one week.
-Place bite sized pieces of canned dog food on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350° F for 30 minutes. Cool completely before serving to your dog. Store in the refrigerator for one week.
-Roll small balls of canned wet food and place on a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Place in the freezer until solid. This makes for an excellent summer treat!
-Open a can of wet dog food. Cut into bite sized pieces for your dog. Microwave them on a microwave safe plate for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. The treats should come out chewy and crispy. Cool completely before serving to your dog. Store in the refrigerator for one
Kong
This is a great way to keep your dog entertained! You can get creative using dry and canned food.
Fill a Kong 1/2 to 3/4 full with dry food. Then top with wet food. Freeze until solid.
Gravy
Make pet food gravy to mix with the dry food by adding a few tablespoons of warm water to the equivalent canned dog food. Spoon the gravy over the dry food and serve. Be sure it is not hot before serving to your dog. This is a helpful trick for picky eaters!
Homemade treats should not exceed 10% of your pet’s total daily intake. Heating food alters its nutritional characteristics. Make sure that all treats are cut into sizes that are easy for your pet to chew and swallow.
For questions or more suggestions please contact Neffsville Veterinary Clinic, our team members would be happy to assist you!
