Celebrate National Pumpkin Day

Looking for creative ways to celebrate National Pumpkin Day? Here are some fun, and healthy, dog treat recipes you can make to celebrate with your pup!

REMEMBER: When buying canned pumpkin, make sure it’s plain pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling contains spices that your dog shouldn’t have. If you feel more comfortable buying a brand that was made to be consumed by cats and dogs, here are a few brands:

• Weruva Pumpkin Patch Up! Pumpkin Pouches for Dogs & Cats
• Nummy Tum Tum Pure Pumpkin For Pets
• Fruitables Weight Loss Supplement for Dogs and Cats | Pumpkin and Oatmeal SuperBlend Food Supplement

1. Dog-Friendly Pumpkin Pie Bites

Ingredients
16 oz. canned pumpkin (plain pumpkin– do not use pie filling)
½ banana
¾ cup flour
½ cup oatmeal
¼ – ½ cup water
¼ cup plain low-fat yogurt
Cupcake or muffin tin
Cupcake liners

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Mix oatmeal and flour together in a large bowl.
3. Add enough water to get the dough to form a ball. Add water slowly, too much will make it too sticky, not enough and it will crumble
4. Line cupcake tins. Take a chunk of dough and press into bottom of cupcake liner. Dough should go up sides a bit, about a 1/2″
5. Bake crust for 8 mins, until firm and slightly brown.
6. Carefully take crusts out of the tin, cool on the rack. When cool, remove liners.
7. Mix pumpkin, banana and half of the yogurt together
8. Fill each crust with pumpkin banana mixture
9. Freeze until firm. Serve Frozen

2. Banana Pumpkin Dog Treats

Ingredients
2 Large Bananas (spotted/brown are best)
3tblsp Xylitol-Free Peanut Butter
3tblsp Coconut Oil

Directions
1. Mix bananas in a stand mixer until they are broken down but not a purée. You can also use a hand mixer or a masher.
2. Slowly combine peanut butter and coconut oil until texture is smooth. A few chunks are ok!
3. Pour into your favorite silicone mold.
4. Freeze for 3-4 hours or until firm.

3. Cranberry Pumpkin Pie Bites

Ingredients
2c Whole Wheat Flour
1c Rolled Oats
1c Whole Fresh Cranberries (Frozen works, just make sure they’re thawed)
16oz Pumpkin
1½c Chicken, Beef, or Vegetable Stock

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350℉.
2. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. If the mixture is too dry you can add some more stock.
3. Roll into 1-1½in sized balls and place on a lined cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 50 minutes.
5. Let cool and serve!

What’s your favorite pumpkin dog treat recipe? Let us know in the comments below.