“‘Scuse me? Where can I find dental dog treats without all the BS, like citric acid, GLYCERIN, animal by-products, and processed sugar.” Oh, you were wondering that, too, huh? No worries, I came up with my own treat recipe you can feel good about giving your dog.
My eldest pup (not pictured in this post) has a slew of health problems, from a chronic skin condition where he is highly allergic to ME – yes, it’s a real thing – and sensitive to staph, has a history of muscle spasms, a genetic heart condition, double luxating patella (it’s an arthritic knee thing) and poorly structured teeth (making him prone to periodontal disease and other health problems). Yaaay.
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I have been beside myself in figuring out ways to help my now-9-year-old-dog live his healthiest life…when I already thought I had been doing all the right things. Yet what I’ve taken away from having worked at a Veterinary practice for 10 years, as well as doing my own, ongoing research, is that true healing begins at the source. And I am so sick and tired of only being told and given ways to mask the symptoms instead of actually treating/healing the source. This doesn’t just apply to oral health, but skin, joint, organ, etc..
[Related Read: Drool-worthy oven-baked dog biscuits made with peanut butter]
And oral health is a source for so many ailments in dogs (read my other post on how you can take better care of your dog’s teeth). I was one of those who looked at that idea completely naive because, well, my dog is still young and I don’t need to worry about that yet. I get it – brushing their teeth every day and being more conscious about something humans only concern themselves with but once or twice a year can be difficult and time-consuming. But – fact – oral health dramatically impacts a dog’s overall health, and my dog’s mouth is a true testament to that.
Post update as of 2024: My little man is going on 13 this year and since I wrote this post has had more than HALF his teeth taken out due to periodontal disease, genetics and bone loss. So, guys, listen: oral health matters from the beginning, regardless of genetics.
So if brushing your dog’s teeth daily just isn’t in the cards for you or you just want to offer your pup something to help freshen that rank stank…I came up with an easier way to not only keep both of my dog’s breath fresh but promote overall oral and gum health. You can alter and vary this recipe very easily by using other simple, healthy ingredients…like fresh fruit or chia seeds. But this recipe is only 3 simple ingredients you can get at the store, and it’s the perfect treat to give your dog a few times a week (along with manual brushing, of course). It’s better than nothing, right?
Stinky dog breath? A treat recipe for your dog you can feel good about
Minty Cool Coconut Oil Chews With Curly Parsley – A Treat Recipe for Dogs
Equipment
- Silicone molds
Ingredients
- 1 cup cold-pressed organic coconut oil
- 1/4 cup fresh curly parsley (enough to comfortably fit in the palm of your hand – about 4 sprigs including stems)
- 1-3 fresh mint leaves (depending on your size dog) *Spearmint or Peppermint leaves ONLY
Instructions
*Important – please read!
- *For this recipe it's important to use fresh herbs (not dried).This recipe is about to blow your mind – it's that easy. Above I stressed to use labeled curly parsley because there is also what is called Spring Parsley (it looks similar) that is known to being toxic in large amounts to dogs. Fear not, because curly parsley and flat-leaf parsley in moderated amounts is perfectly healthy for your pup to have! Too much can act as a diuretic, so you also shouldn't give parsley to your dog if they have known kidney problems.Refer to the advised amounts of listed ingredients based on weight:Coconut Oil1 teaspoon per 10 pounds (daily); 1 tablespoon per 30 pounds (daily)Parsley (curly or flat-leaf)1 teaspoon per 20 poundsMint (Peppermint or Spearmint)1-2 leaves up to 2x per week (too much can cause gastrointestinal upset in some dogs – so be sure to monitor)
You'll also need:
- Treat molds (these molds hold about 2 tablespoons each)Â
- Or a small ice cube tray
Directions to make the treats
- *DO FIRST* Place your treat molds on a baking sheet. If you're using a silicone mold, these are flimsy, so picking them up once the mixture is poured makes a huge mess when placing into the fridge.
- Start by rinsing your fresh parsley and mint – you want to get rid of any possible dirt, bugs, residue or chemicals.
- You will need to heat up the cup of coconut oil to a liquid, either in a double boiler or in the microwave. Make sure to use a glass bowl!
- Finely chop your parsley and mint either by hand or in a processor. *Referring to the advised amounts (since you should avoid excessively giving your dog parsley), use 1/4 cup unprocessed parsley spread out into 16-20 individual treats (to give your dog a few times a week).
- Add the chopped herbs to the liquid coconut oil and mix thoroughly.
- Using your treat molds, use a measuring spoon to scoop out the liquid. The herbs are likely to sink to the bottom, so you may have to judge how much is going into each mold (I use the teaspoon since I have a 16-pound dog). *You could even pour in the coconut oil first, then sprinkle the herbs on top, as they will eventually be absorbed.
- Let your molds sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes until they have rehardened before giving to your dog, and continue to store the treats in the fridge.Â
- *If your molds seem to hold more than 1 tablespoon individually, for dogs under 20 pounds you can cut the treat in half to give daily, or give a whole treat two or three times weekly.
- And, obviously, watch your dog devour these in happiness as they freshen their breath!
BONUS tips:
- Don't throw away the rest of your fresh parsley! Did you know you can FREEZE parsley and other fresh herbs? It's super easy to store that leftover parsley, like for this recipe when you only use a pinch per serving.
- You can also freeze these treats to help better clean your dog's teeth as they chew, and because who doesn't love a frozen treat on a hot summer day?
Here's a list of other ingredients you can add to these treats:
- Yogurt (not too much or the treats won't stay together); Crushed/Pureed fruits and vegetables like blueberries, watermelon, banana and broccoli, cucumber, and pumpkin; Chia seeds (great source of omegas)
This post contains affiliate links. All products and links listed on TML are affiliates through 3rd parties such as Etsy and Amazon. Meaning, at no cost to you, by clicking and purchasing through those links I will earn a small commission. To learn more read TML Terms and Disclosure.
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