Dangerous Dog Treats Exposed

Not all Christmas dog treats sold in the big box retail stores are safe for your pet. Our underdog mystery shopper was sniffing around in a large pet supplies chain to see what they were recommending to their customers in the way of dog treats and was appalled.

The inviting looking package is colorful and looks quite tasty on display. 



Dangerous dog treats masquerade as acceptable dog gift ideas


 

These are rawhide treats. But we are not going to expound on rawhide for pets. That is not the point of this post.

 

The manufacturer's instructions on the back of the package is what caught our underdog's attention:

 

 

Dangerous dog treats advertise their limitations

 

 

In case you cannot see the warnings, they are pointed out here...

 

 

 

 

 

The consumer is cautioned to: "Remove decorations before giving to your pet."

Furthermore, "Wash hands with soap and water after handling. This product may stain. Use in a stain resistant area."

 

We ask you: Do you want to give your dog or anyone else's beloved pet an edible product in which if you are lucky enough to catch the small print on the back, warns you NOT to eat it??

 

You are cautioned to SUPERVISE: "Recommended size is larger than your pet's mouth."  

 

Plus, you are advised to wash your hands with soap and water as it will stain. What about the pet's digestive system - does that stain red and green as well? Your carpets, couch, car - wherever your pet "enjoys" this treat - will remain decorated for Christmas saving you the effort in years to come!

 

Beware of dog treats like these. Make sure you know what you are giving to your pet.

 

Healthy dog treats will be decorated with healthy decorations that are meant to be eaten, like Fido's Frosting, which is designed specifically for dogs. It will not melt nor stain. It does not have to be removed before the dog enjoys the treat.

 

If the frosting is melting in the package, it is probably full of sugar and fat.

Be savvy and keep your pets safe.

 



 

  

 





Easter Dog Treats

Fun Easter Dog Treats are featured in this post, just to show you some of the cute and creative ideas bouncing around in the Facebook group
"Homemade Dog Treats". 

These cute Easter bunnies for dogs are made by Esther Niederbichler:

Easter dog treats by Esther Niederbichler

These cute little birds and bunnies dog treats are made by Viv Clements:

Easter dog treats made by Viv Clements

The Black Pearl Bakery offers these:

Easter dog treats from the Black Pearl Bakery

Hopefully these wonderful ideas will inspire you if you plan on making your own! Visit me on Pinterest for more great dog treats!

Simple Valentine Cookies For Dogs

You love your dog! Your dog loves you! What better Valentine can you have....

Share your love with Valentine cookies for dogs. All you need is a heart shaped cookie cutter and a basic, easy dog treat recipe. These are peanut butter dog treats baked and decorated by Cathy Mags.

Valentine cookies for dogs by Cathy Mags

Add your own ingredients for different flavors. You can find various recipes on this blog. Feel free to leave a comment about any recipes you are looking for and we will post them! 

When all finished, wrap the dog cookies in clear cellophane so that they are easy to see. Treats this beautiful will make a gorgeous package just by themselves. 

Tie it up with a dog-themed ribbon, such as one with paw prints or bones stamped on, and you will have a cute little Valentine treat package. If you do not have dog-themed ribbon, red, pink, purple, or any combination of those colors suggests Valentine's Day.

If you have young children, this would be the perfect little appreciation gift for them to give to the family dog.

If you have clients who are dog lovers, do the same for them. Dog lovers always appreciate it when someone remembers the dog.

Fido's Frosting Royal Icing for Dogs is used to decorate these Valentine dog treats. It is an all natural yogurt icing that is sugar free, dries hard and shiny, and needs no refrigeration.

Puppy Cakes for Christmas

Make your own puppy cakes for Christmas! So easy, so simple, and you will have a nice treat to share with the furkids.

Follow this example from @CathyMags. She baked some Christmas dog treats for her Maggie and used K9Cakery's silicone paw shaped baking pan to make the little paws which are the perfect size for a puppy cake!

Puppy cakes for Christmas made by Cathy Mags

The dog treats in the middle of the photo are mini dog cupcakes. All are decorated with dog treat icing - Fido's Frosting Royal Icing for Dogs.

These dog cakes are so quick and easy. Use a dog cake mix from K9Cakery or your own dog cake recipe. The cupcakes for dogs will bake within 15-18 minutes. Let them cool and then drizzle some Fido's Frosting on top. You do not have to be a professional cake decorator! Cathy bakes because she loves to and because her pooch loves that she does!

Here are some more Christmas dog treats made by @CathyMags for Maggie:

Christmas dog treats

Let your imagination run wild for decorating. You can find great ideas on Pinterest! 

Make Small Dog Treats From Leftover Cake For Dogs

Make small dog treats from leftover cake for dogs! 

Have leftover dog cupcakes? Dog cake too big and afraid it will go bad before you have a chance to use it? Do you have to throw it out or give it to the birds? Not at all.

You only give your dog a little bit of "dessert". You have an all natural dog cake that is preservative free and you know it will probably mold before your dog can finish it. Try this handy idea mentioned by the Kol's Notes blog, found at www.kolchakpuggle.com - this blog is full of practical advice!

Make dog training treats from
leftover dog cake

Kol's Notes suggest taking leftover cupcakes or cake and cut into 1/2 inch cubes. 

Bake at 200 degrees F for approximately 3 hours. Make sure they are dry all the way through.

Use these delicious bit-size crunchy morsels to teach a new trick! Your dog will work hard to learn the behavior to get one of these tasty pieces. 

The treats are coming from leftover cake, so they may not necessarily be the lowest in calories. But they will be yummy! So use them to reward extra special behaviors!

Click here to read more about the characteristics of good dog training treats for ongoing training.

Gingerbread Dog Treats

Remember the dog with gingerbread dog treats! 

Gingerbread men are a Christmas holiday favorite. The spicy aroma suggests winter holiday time! So why not include the dog too? Their heightened sense of smell will not let you get away with baking gingerbread men and not giving them a taste. 

Tammie's Homemade Pet Treats makes these gingerbread Christmas dog treats and finishes them with Fido's Frosting brand Royal Icing for Dogs.  

Gingerbread dog treats decorated with Fido's Frosting  
Royal Icing for dogs by Tammie's Homemade Pet Treats

Gingerbread treats are typically made with ginger and molasses or honey instead of sugar. Make them as a biscuit or a loaf cake. Ginger is used to alleviate nausea associated with motion sickness in humans and reportedly has similar effects in dogs. Honey and molasses are used frequently in recipes for dog treats as well. If you have any concerns about feeding your dog these foods, please talk to your vet before doing so.

Ginger root, molasses, and honey are natural ingredients.

Gingerbread biscuit recipes for dogs can be found around the internet. Beware of recipes that list nutmeg and garlic as ingredients for dog biscuits. These are two ingredients that can be toxic to dogs in large amounts. 

Very simply, to make your own gingerbread homemade dog treats, add the following to your regular biscuit dough:

• 1/2 teaspoon ginger 
• 1/2 cup molasses 

Remember, dog treats are not a substitute for a meal. Even though your dog will beg for more, do not give in!

Preservatives for Dog Treats

Q: I'm looking for ways to naturally preserve my dog treats. Is citric acid a good preservative? What about dried egg?

A: Bakers use various compounds as preservatives. Technically, there are no true natural preservatives. The definition of preservative implies that it is a chemical. The following substances are actually antioxidants but are used because they act like preservatives and prevent the spoilage of fat so baked goods have a longer shelf life.

Citric Acid

Commonly referred to as "lemon salt" or "sour salt". It is found in fruits and berries and used as a preservative or flavor enhancer. Bakers use it in place of lemon juice because it has a tart taste. It is also commonly put on fresh cut fruit to keep it from browning.

Ascorbic Acid and Vitamin C

Ascorbic acid is a synthetic form of Vitamin C, which is a naturally occurring anti-oxidant found in fruits and vegetables and helps to prevent the growth of mold in a homemade dog treat recipe. The structural integrity of VItamin C is detroyed by heat. Therefore, if you plan to bake the dough (which you most likely are going to do), the chemical bonds of the compound will come undone and it will be useless. This is why bakers use ascorbic acid. Amount to use: 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon per 1 cup of dry ingredients.

Powdered ascorbic acid

Rosemary Oil Extract

Rosemary oil acts as a natural antioxidant. However, it does have its own aroma  and this aroma will permeate the dough, so keep that in mind when using it. 

Use 1 3/4 teaspoon to 5 pounds of butter or oil.

Dried Egg

Dried egg is processed with potassium sorbate.  Potassium sorbate is used as a food preservative to extend shelf life by preventing the growth of mold, yeast and bacteria. It is naturally occurring in many plants and is the most widely used food preservative and commonly referred to as a "mold inhibitor". Use 2 teaspoons liquid potassium sobate to 5 pounds dog treat mix.

Vitamin E

Also referred to as "Mixed Tocopherols." Vitamin E works as an antioxidant which keeps fats from spoiling. It is used to enhance the shelf life of baked goods. Either Vitamin E oil or Vitamin E powder is good. 1/4 teaspoon per batch of treats is recommended by a baker of dog treats who says that it can be found in a natural health store. It is especially useful if you are using a recipe that contains oil.

 Vitamin E Liquid - 2 fl oz (Google Affiliate Ad

Dog Bakery Treats For Halloween

Dog bakery treats for Halloween are popping up! It is October and time to get ready for this "holiday" which is becoming more and more popular in the United States.

Halloween is a family oriented holiday, and family includes you know who...the dog. 

Have some fun and send some Halloween cheer to your friends who are dog lovers with dog bakery offerings such as these gorgeous decorated dog treats made by My Doggy Delights, a dog bakery located in Hollywood, Florida:

Dog bakery treats for Halloween from My Doggy Delights

Get a variety of 6 Halloween Happiness treats available in Bacon Cheddar, Cinnamon Apple, Honey BBQ and Peanut Butter flavors!

These dog treats were decorated with K9Cakery.com's award-winning dog treat icing: Fido's Frosting brand Royal Icing For Dogs. It dries hard and smooth, and will not melt. This dog icing requires no refrigeration, so there will be no worry about passing these treats out to trick-or-treating dogs.

To see more treats from dog bakeries, visit K9Cakery on Facebook. You can find dog treat recipes at DogCakeWorld.com.