Every year since my Boston terrier Ollie was a tiny pup, I’ve celebrated his birthday in some way—whether it was having a puppy pool party, making him a chicken and rice dinner, or baking him a dog-friendly cake. This year, he’s getting extra lucky with a supply of homemade dog treats without peanut butter.
The peanut-free choice was deliberate. Ollie’s turning 15. His stomach has gotten tender as he’s aged, so he’s sensitive to a lot of foods, peanut butter included. (Though to be fair, he mostly stopped taking peanut butter from me after I tried—once—to hide a pill in it.) That said, my situation isn’t as unique as you might think. There are many reasons why someone might want to skip peanut butter for their pups.
Why You Might Want to Avoid Peanut Butter
Using peanut butter is one of the easiest ways to make dog treats, but it comes with a lot of caveats. You have to make sure you’re using the right peanut butter, so nothing with xylitol or artificial sweeteners. And for houses where someone has a peanut allergy, it’s not a good idea to have any peanut butter in the house even if it’s just for the pets.
Luckily, there are some great healthy substitutions that dog owners can feel good about giving their pets, like greek yogurt (plain and nonfat), bananas, and pumpkin. Read on for three dog treat recipes without peanut butter that show you how to use these substitutes for a satisfying snack.
How to Store Your Homemade Dog Treats
Often, the nature of your dog treats will dictate how they’re stored (like the frozen pup cups). But if that’s not the case, grab some airtight containers like the Pet POP line to store them in. To help maximize freshness, stash your treats in a room temperature or slightly cool spot, out of direct sunlight. That way your homemade dog treats without peanut butter will stay fresh longer, usually one to two weeks.
Want more fun ways to celebrate the dogs in your life? Head to the OXO blog for some ideas.
