Pet Love

THESE VET-APPROVED IDEAS TURN TABLE SCRAPS INTO TREATS—AND HELP KEEP YOUR PUP HAPPY AND HEALTHY ALL YEAR.

•Turn food scraps into tasty, healthy dog treats.

If you’re a pet owner, a simple way to reduce kitchen waste is to turn excess food into delicious, nutritious dog treats.

It’s a win-win situation, helping to eliminate food waste while providing pups with easy, healthy treats they’ll love.

Jessica Vogelsang, a San Diego-based veterinarian and author of All Dogs Go to Kevin, whips up special treats for her dogs—a 1-year-old labradoodle and a golden retriever puppy—so they get nutrient-dense foods at snack time.

“I’m one of the 90 percent of pet owners in the U.S. who feed their pet a commercial food versus making all their food fresh, so this is one way I can introduce fresh, wholesome foods into their diets,” Dr. Vogelsang says.

One of her mainstays is pup pops, a DIY version of frozen dog treats. “I make my yogurt-based recipe and throw in ¼ cup of whatever berries I happen to have handy,” Dr. Vogelsang says.

“It’s a great way to use up ripe fruit, including almost-brown bananas.” (Always check with your veterinarian about your pet’s specific dietary needs.)

Homemade dog biscuits are another go-to, she says. “Try my standard biscuit base recipe, then use any veggies you have on hand. It’s super easy to add shredded carrot, diced carrot tops, chopped apples, green bean pieces, or whatever pet-friendly vegetable pieces you may have left over from cooking.”

For a beneficial boost of omega-3 fatty acids, you can incorporate high-fat fish like salmon, mackerel or sardines into your homemade treats. New Jersey veterinarian Paul Sova says, “Those are highly recommended, because many commercial dog foods are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids.”

To help Fido’s smile shine, toss him bite-sized chunks of broccoli stalks, cauliflower stems and other crunchy, pet-friendly veggies. These will give oral health a natural boost and provide a healthy dose of delicious nutrients at the same time.