I was at my local pet store the other day and it led me to this post. It’s a great place in town that offers all kinds of different raw foods, raw meaty bones, and various natural supplements. Now that the summer is here, they also have their popsicles for dogs in stock.
I’ve bought “pupsicles” there before, and my girls love them. But, I’ve always been one to try out new recipes, both for myself and my pups, and that includes popsicles. I’ve made them many times before, using all kinds of fresh ingredients.
I like the ability to choose exactly what does into them. Sometimes I’ll even add supplements (CBD is an easy one with popsicles) to the recipes to up the health component. But really, making your own treats gives you control, and I really like that. Plus, you can make them with whatever you’ve got on hand, and whenever you want, no shopping required.
If you haven’t tried yet, for whatever reason, there’s no better time than now. And, to make it easy, I’m sharing some of my girls’ favorites.
Popsicles for dogs: 4 Easy Recipes
All of these recipes are healthy, using fresh foods that have tons of benefits for your dog. If you can, opt for organic ingredients.
1. Easy Beef Smoothie
Sorry, the name sounds gross, but your pups will love this cool, meaty treat.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 cups of ground beef
- Green beans (chopped small)
- Water – enough to make it a smoothie-like consistency, or a little firmer
Take your ingredients and toss them in the blender. Start with a little water, then add more to get it to a think, yet pourable, consistency. Then, fill your molds and freeze. That’s it!
Tip: When I make this recipe, to clean the blender, I rinse it, then add some soap and water and put it back on the blender base (don’t forget the lid). Give it a good blend, then rinse really well again. This gets all the meat out of the nooks and crannies.
2. Banana Blueberry Pops
Easy, delicious, anti-oxidant rich bites!
Ingredients:
- 2 bananas
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup kefir
Again, just like the beef one, add all your ingredients to the blender and give it a good blend. Once it’s smooth, put it in your molds and freeze until solid.
3. Chicken Broth Pops
This one takes a little more time, but not much more effort!
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 2-3 cups of water (this really depends on the size of your crockpot – you want the chicken breasts completely covered)
- A handful of chopped parsley
Add the water and chicken broth to your crockpot and leave it to cook. Once the chicken is cooked, remove the pot, let it cool on the counter, then transfer it to the fridge. You want to let the grease harden and collect on top so you can scoop it off and toss it.
Once you’ve ditched the grease, break up the chicken. It should be pretty tender, so a fork should do the trick. Stir in your parsley. Take your molds and scoop some of the broth into each section. Make sure you get some of the chicken in each cup!
Once filled, set the molds into the freezer, and that’s it!
4. Chill Tropical Treats
Cool treats with a tropical twist!
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup pineapple
- 1/3 cup cantelope
- 1/4 cup kefir
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
Again with the blender. These treats are great for those of you who have it hidden away in the back of the cupboard, never seen or heard from. Toss all your ingredients in, blend it up, then pour in your molds and freeze.
Popsicles for Dogs: FAQs
Here are some questions you may have when it comes to these treats:
How long will it take these popsicles for dogs to freeze? Typically between 4-6 hours. You can always check then to make sure.
What’s the best way to store them? Once mine are completely frozen, I transfer them to a container with an airtight light and keep them in the freezer. Since they’re popsicles, I want to keep them frozen – that’s the point!
How long will they last in the freezer? That depends on how often you give them to your pups, but after about the 3 month mark it’s time to toss any leftovers and make a new batch!
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