Providing our dogs with healthy food is a top priority of dog ownership. Dogs need a variety of nutrients to stay happy and in good health.
Turkey is a great food option to give your dog as a treat. There are many different ways to prepare turkey for your pup to enjoy a delicious snack.
If you want to know some of the best ways to create homemade turkey treats for your dog, continue reading below.
Is Turkey Healthy?
When deciding on meat to include in your pup’s meal or give as a treat, you might be wondering, “is turkey good for dogs?” The answer to that query is yes. Turkey is an excellent meat option to give to your four-legged companion.
Turkey contains numerous macronutrients and micronutrients. These nutrients include protein, riboflavin, and phosphorus, among others.
Turkey is a very lean meat. This means that turkey contains less fat content than other meats, like beef or pork.
Turkey can make up to 10% of your dog’s daily calories. You can feed the turkey to them raw or cooked. You can also feed turkey giblets to your pup as a tasty cooked treat.
Use Turkey in a Bland Diet
Turkey is an excellent meat to use in a bland diet. Turkey is a protein source and packed with other beneficial nutrients.
If your dog has a rough time keeping food down, you want whatever bland food you feed them to be filled with many nutrients to make up for what they are missing.
Turkey can be used in a bland diet by baking it or boiling it until fully cooked. You can choose to either cut it into chunks, shred it, or puree it before feeding it to your pup.
If your dog has an upset stomach, feed small amounts until they build up the ability to keep food down. Gradually, you can add more and more plain turkey until they feel better.
Make Turkey Jerky
Turkey jerky is a fun treat to prepare for your pup. It is crunchy and packed full of the healthy nutrients that turkey is full of.
To make this delicious snack, you will need some turkey breasts. Cut the meat with the grain to create strips of turkey meat. Then, trim those strips to the length you desire.
Longer strips are a great option for larger dogs. Lay the strips out onto a baking tray. You can use an oven or a food dehydrator for the next part.
If using the oven, preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the turkey strips in and bake them for one hour. When they are dried out, you can place them in a plastic bag and freeze them.
If you want to use your food dehydrator, place the strips of turkey on the trays and stack them. Put the temperature of the food dehydrator to 145 degrees Fahrenheit and dry the strips for one hour. Put the dried strips together, add more raw strips, and dry for another hour until all strips are dried.
Turkey and Sweet Potato Treat
If you are looking for even more of a nutrient boost to feed your pup, try combining turkey and sweet potato for a tasty and healthy snack. You will only need four ingredients and have homemade treats ready for your dog in no time.
You will need about a half cup of plain mashed sweet potatoes, two cups of flour, two cups of chopped cooked turkey, an egg, and three-quarters of a cup of water. Mix all ingredients together and drop the batter onto a baking tray to make drop biscuit dog treats, or spread it onto a parchment-lined baking sheet to make rectangular dog treats.
Put the batter in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake them for 30 minutes. Let them cool and store them in your refrigerator or freezer.
Turkey Meatballs for Dogs
If you are looking for a classic food item that makes a great dog treat, turkey meatballs are a fantastic option. You will need some cooked turkey, a half cup of oats, two eggs, two spoonful of plain low-fat yogurt, and a cup of mixed vegetables.
Grind the cooked turkey and oats in a food processor. Dump it into a bowl, add the eggs, yogurt, and vegetables, and mix them together to combine. Form the mixture into one-inch balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the meatballs for 20 minutes. Do not add any seasoning to the meatballs, as they could be unhealthy for your pup to consume.
Making homemade dog treats for your pup is a great way to ensure that the snacks you are feeding them are healthy.