DIY Frozen Pet Treats
The hardest part is waiting for the treats to freeze!
Ever try enjoying a bowl of ice cream with a dog present? The persistent, pathetic puppy dog eyes sear into your heart. Does your cat get in on the act and stare you down with every spoonful? Mine does!
We may not be able to share our frozen treats but that doesn’t mean we can’t make some for our pets to enjoy. And, unlike our ice cream, we can make theirs healthy while still making them drool!
Today, I started out with a partial can of pure pumpkin puree and some lactose-free plain greek yogurt from a smoothie I was making myself. Both Lucy(our dog) and Hunter(our cat) were VERY intrigued.
And, since I’m always game to spoil my fur babies, I decided it was time to make them some treats. So, I popped out their licks mats and some silicone ice cube trays and got to creating. I don’t have fancy paw mold or bone molds but they may come soon!
I created some treats for both our cat and our dog. I made extra for Lucy because she’s bigger and she’s all about the treats. Hunter wants in on the treat game but his needs are miniscule compared to that of a Labrador.
And, while Hunter was off having a nap when the treats were coming out of the freezer, Lucy was on board with being my official taste tester! So many wags!!
I gave Hunter one to try a little later and it turns out my cat is a huge fan of pumpkin. Who knew?
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Why Frozen Pet Treats?
There’s a few great reasons to create some frozen treats for your pets:
Cool Sensation- The most obvious, perhaps, is to serve your pets some frozen treats when the weather is hot. Frozen pet treats can help lower their core body temperature on those days when the sun is sizzlin’.
Mental Stimulation- The act of licking a frozen treat is self-soothing for your dog and provides them with an outlet for their energy, especially on those super hot days when their activities may need to be limited(or stormy, smoky, or extremely cold days).
As for cats, a slippery ice cube with a treat inside can stimulate their hunting instincts and give them a great mental workout. Hunter chased around his pumpkin treat for several minutes before he dove in for the kill and consumed it.
Hydration- Keeping your pets hydrated is vital for their health and not always easy. Dogs, especially very active dogs, puppies, seniors, or toy breeds, have a harder time regulating their fluid levels.
Because cats evolved from desert-dwellers, they have a very low thirst drive and have evolved to get most of their hydration from their prey. This makes them particularly vulnerable to dehydration, especially when their “prey” is primarily kibble.
Easy Prep Work- These treats are very simple to prepare and don’t require heating up your house to do it. They contain a minimal list of ingredients and can be customized easily with what you have on hand and your pet’s own tastes and needs.
What You Can Use to Create Frozen Pet Treats
Lick Mats -I absolutely LOVE these OHMO lick mats-too cute!
Silicone Molds- These Anaeat silicone molds are highly rated and so adorable with their pawprint and bone shapes!
Spatula or spoon for mixing and spreading
Small mixing bowls
Blender, immersion blender, or just a wee bit of elbow grease to mix ingredients
Canned pumpkin puree(NOT pumpkin pie mix) or you could substitute sweet potato
Natural peanut butter(with no added salt or sugars, especially xylitol-toxic to cats and dogs)
Plain, unflavoured, unsweetened yogurt(Greek or regular)-If you can, use lactose free options as pets are usually lactose intolerant. Lucky for me, so am I, so it’s always on hand.
Low or no sodium broth-Most grocery store broths have onion in them so try a pet-friendly option such as this bone broth powder from Left Coast Performance.
Tuna packed in water(no added salt)
Fresh or frozen berries(frozen wild blueberries are healthy and popular with our critters)
Bananas
Coconut Oil(use sparingly)
Canned wet food(species-specific)-If you feed your pet canned food, it only takes a spoonful or two to cover a portion of the lick mat
Batch Prepping Frozen Treats
Simple to make and refreshing for your pet to eat, these frozen pet treats can easily be stored in your freezer.
Frozen Pet Treat Recipes
I made a few different kinds of treats in preparation for this article. I usually just work with what I have on hand or stick to the ingredients I know my pets love.
The important part is choosing ingredients that are safe for pets and that they will enjoy. Make sure everything you use is safe for pets(such as xylitol-free peanut butter and yogurt, and onion-free broth). You can mix and match ingredients in these recipes and swap things in and out, based on your pet’s preferences.
Use a baking pan under your silicone molds and lick mats so you can easily transfer them into the freezer.
You can make any of these treats in a matter of minutes. The hardest part is waiting for the 3 or 4 hours it takes to freeze everything before you get to try out these treats on your pets!
Just remember, these are treats. Even with healthy ingredients, these are meant to be enjoyed in moderation. Don’t feed too many to your pets or you may have to deal with upset tummies and digestive tracts. Keep them to under 10% of their daily food intake.
Once frozen, the treats can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for at least a month.
Pumpkin and Berry Bites
Canned pumpkin puree(pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix)
Fresh or frozen berries(I use blueberries but you can use chopped strawberries or raspberries)
Add a few berries to 1 cup of pumpkin puree and a little extra water to thin to a smoother consistency, if needed, and then scoop into silicone ice molds. Another method is to add some berries or berry pieces to each compartment of the silicone mold and then put in the pumpkin mixture on top. This ensures berries in every bite. Freeze for 3 to 4 hours. Pop out of mold and store in freezer in an airtight container.
A Variety of Treats
Pumpkin and Berry bites on the left and Peanut Butter and Yogurt bites on the right.
Peanut Butter and Yogurt Bites
Natural peanut butter
Plain lactose-free Greek yogurt
Blend equal parts peanut butter and yogurt and pour into molds. Freeze for 3 to 4 hours. Pop out of mold and store in freezer in an airtight container.
Blueberry Pupsicles
Frozen or fresh blueberries
Water or pet-friendly chicken broth
Place 3 or 4 berry in each compartment of silicone mold. Cover with water or pet-friendly chicken broth. Freeze for 3 to 4 hours. Pop out of mold and store in freezer in an airtight container.
Cat Treat Cubes and Berry Pupsicles
On the left, we have ice cubes with chicken liver bites inside, and, on the right, ice cubes with blueberries.
Cat Treat Cubes
Cat treats or freeze-dried liver bites(pick your cat’s preferred treat)
Pet-friendly chicken broth or water
Place a couple of your cat’s favourite treats in each portion of the silicone mold and cover with broth or water. Freeze for 3 or 4 hours. Pop out of molds and store in freezer in an airtight container.
PB Yogurt-dipped Banana Treats
Banana
Plain, unsweetened yogurt
Natural Peanut Butter
Blend equal parts peanut butter with yogurt. Cut banana into thin slices and dip into yogurt mixture. Allow excess to drip off and then place on a piece of parchment paper on baking sheet. Place in freezer for 3 to 4 hours or until completely frozen. Store in freezer in an airtight container.
Frozen Tuna Kitty Treats
Canned tuna packed in water(no salt added)
Extra water if needed
Blend a can of tuna packed in water in blender. Add a small amount of water to mixture if it seems to lumpy. Pour into silicone mold and freeze for 3 to 4 hours or overnight. Pop out of mold and store in freezer in an airtight container.
Watermelon Pupsicles
Watermelon
Plain Greek yogurt
Frozen blueberries(optional)
Blend 3/4 cup of watermelon chunks(seedless or seeds removed) with 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt until combined and smooth. Pour into silicone mold and freeze for 3 to 4 hours. Pop out of mold and store in freezer in an airtight container.
Frozen Chicken Catnips Cubes
Pet-friendly chicken broth
Dried catnip
Blend 2 tbsp. dried catnip into 1 cup broth. Pour into silicone mold and freeze 3 to 4 hours. Pop out of molds and store in freezer in an airtight container.
Tasty Treats!
Don’t feel if your pet treats don’t look this fancy. Your pet will love them anyway!
Raspberry Coconut Melts*
Organic coconut oil
Raspberries(fresh or frozen)
Gently melt ½ cup coconut oil in the microwave in 15-second intervals to melt it. The idea is to make it a liquid but not let it get hot. In a separate small bowl, mash ¼ cup fresh or frozen raspberries until they’re a pulpy consistency. Add together the raspberries and the melted coconut oil until well combined. You can also leave the mixture not all combined so you get some swirls of red, pink, and white. Pour into the silicone mold and place in the freezer for about an hour, or until the melts are completely solid. Pop the melts out of the mold and store them in an airtight container in the freezer.
*Be aware that coconut oil is fat. While it’s considered generally safe for pet consumption, and offers benefits like a shinier coat, soothing for dry skin, and improved digestion and hairball relief, too much coconut can cause stomach upset or pancreatitis in your pets.
Use these treats sparingly! It’s the reason why I suggested making such a small recipe batch compared to the other treat recipes.
A Frozen Sampler for Pets!
Lick mats are silicone mats with patterned grooves. You spread soft foods across the surface, embedding the food into the grooves. Freeze the mat and it provides an even greater challenge for your pet to both enjoy the taste and the mental stimulation.
Lick Mats
If you have extra ingredients left over from your frozen treat creations, or just want to create some extra mental stimulation for your pets, try lick mats.
You can spread wet canned food, peanut butter, pumpkin puree, plain yogurt, mashed bananas, treats softened and blended with water
or any other spreadable treat onto a lick mat. Freeze it for an hour or so and serve to your pets or store in the freezer. I slide them into a large freezer bag for quick storage.
Final Thoughts
Making your own frozen pet treats is both simple and rewarding.
The ingredients are healthy, basic, and easy to turn into delicious snacks.
You have the control to adjust the recipes to include your pet’s favourite foods, to omit things your pets don’t like or can’t tolerate.
You can use ingredients that you need to use up like the last bit of plain yogurt in the container or that leftover pumpkin puree or that last banana that’s about to get too ripe.
They’re refreshing, easy to prepare, can be done in batches, big or small, and store well in your freezer for at least a month or more.
They make wonderful, healthy, portioned snacks and your pets will love being spoiled with the treats you made just for them!
