Homemade Dog Treats (guaranteed to freshen breath!)

This week, I was browsing the dog treat section of my grocery store; on the hunt for something to freshen Hank’s breath. I adore Hank, just not his breath - ever. Aside from plaque buildup, let's not discuss why a dog's breath can sometimes level a human. And I mean, put a guy out. We need to combat that crap now. And I meant to say crap (better than the other option). 

I spent a decent amount of time scouring labels, looking for something, anything that was wholesome and simple. I'd would have taken one or the other (wholesome or simple), but it didn't exist. Every treat had a lengthy ingredient list; most of which I didn’t understand (unless it said oats, corn...). No joke, I stood in the aisle Googling. 

Why don't YOU do it Robin? As I was standing there, kind of annoyed with my selection, I thought to myself, “You’re a nutritionist and chef, just make your own treats for Hank.” And then I stopped daydreaming, "Don't be an idiot - you barely have time to brush your teeth." 

But that other voice in my head was loud: My alter pet ego was persistent, so I decided to research foods that promote oral health (for dogs and humans) when I got home. 

And here's what happened: That research turned into one amazing treat, even for those that walk upright. And I must confess, this was one of my favorite recipes to create.

Why these are incredibly healthy treats: First, they are wheat-free (which is as important for some dogs as it is for some humans). Second, they're crammed with dog-friendly ingredients that promote good oral hygiene. Here’s what I included and why: 

• Oats: Abrasive texture helps clean teeth
• Brown rice flour: Plenty of dogs are sensitive to wheat
• Parsley: Freshens breath
• Cinnamon: Freshens breath
• Coconut oil: Not only boosts the immune system and digestive and metabolic health, it combats bad breath
• Green tea: Kills the microbes that make stinky breath, lowers bacteria in the mouth and reduces the acidity of saliva, which reduces dental plaque
• Peanut butter: Dogs love it

About the shape of the bones: I chose to free-form "bones", but you can certainly use cookie cutters. Just roll the dough out until it's 1/2-inch thick and cut out any shapes you want.

So now you have the backstory - let's make those treats! 

Homemade Dog Treats (guaranteed to freshen breath!)

2 cups rolled oats (not instant)

1 1/2 cups brown rice flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup fresh parsley leaves, rinsed and patted dry

1 cup brewed caffeine-free green tea

1 large egg

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1 tablespoon coconut oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet (or two) with parchment paper (the space you need depends on how big your treats are). 

In a food processor, combine the oats, brown rice flour, baking soda, cinnamon. Process until blended. Add the parsley and process until blended. Add the tea, egg, peanut butter, and coconut oil and process until the mixture comes together to form a dough (if the mixture is still crumbly, add a little water and process until a dough forms). 

Shape the dough into 32 bones (or any shape you want), about 1/2-inch thick. If the dough starts to dry out, use water-moistened hands. Transfer the treats to the prepared pan(s). 

Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until the treats look dry and are just starting to turn golden brown. 

Cool completely before delighting your dog.

Look at Hank's tongue! He was saying, "TAKE THE PICTURE MOM! I WANT ONE!"

Finally...

Happy Hank 

Makes 32 treats