Christmas treats for pets: Festive & safe recipes

Giving your dog or cat fatty leftovers or a turkey bone can put them at risk of digestive upset, and unhealthy foods can also increase the risk of long-term health issues. Even buying store-bought treats over the festive season can soon become expensive.

Instead, using ingredients you’ve already got at home to create healthy Christmas treats is a great way to spoil your pet safely during the holidays.

When making Christmas treats, it’s important to choose safe ingredients. Great options include vegetables such as broccoli, carrots and parsnips, and fruits like bananas. Add flavour with lean meat or xylitol-free peanut butter, and use eggs or oat flour to bind everything together.

For recipes containing oat flour, make this at home by whizzing up a few handfuls of oats in a blender until they’re a fine powder. Store any excess oat flour in a clean, dry jar and use it for future recipes.

Not all festive foods are safe for dogs and cats. Some can be toxic or harmful, so should always be avoided.

Never feed your dog or cat these foods:

• Chocolate
• Macadamia nuts
• Onions and garlic
• Grapes and raisins
• Peanut butter that contains the artificial sweetener xylitol

If you think your dog or cat has eaten something toxic, sppeak to your vet for advice.

Some foods aren’t toxic, but they can cause digestive issues, including:

• Cooked bones
• Fatty meat or skin
• Excess salt or spices

If you’re worried your dog or cat has eaten something harmful, speak to your vet for advice. If you have dog or cat insurance with Petplan, you can also use our Pet Expert Chat to connect with vet professionals, 24/7 – simply log into your My Petplan account to access.

Here’s three easy recipes to help your dog join in the festive celebrations. Serve them on their own, or alongside some dog-friendly leftovers to create a Christmas dinner for your dog. 

These pancakes are the perfect way for your dog to join a festive breakfast on Christmas morning. Just make sure you use xylitol-free peanut butter, since xylitol is toxic to dogs. 

Makes 4 pancakes (1 per serving)

1 banana, peeled
1 tbsp peanut butter (xylitol-free)
1 egg
2 tbsp oat flour (you can make this by whizzing up a few handfuls of oats in a blender until fine and powdery)

1. Heat a frying pan. As this is warming up, mix all the ingredients in a blender until smooth and well combined.
2. When the pan is hot, ladle in about 3 tbsp of mixture (enough for a big enough pancake to cut a tree shape from). If you have a larger pan, you should be able to fit in a couple at a time.
3. After a couple of minutes, carefully flip the pancakes to cook the other side. Cook for a couple mins more, then remove from the pan.
4. Repeat until all the mixture is used, then leave to cool.
5. When ready, use a small Christmas tree cookie cutter to make your pancakes a festive shape!
6. Serve one to your dog – trimmimgs and leftover pancakes can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days.
   

Makes 24 bites (2 per serving)

1 large parsnip
200g cauliflower
120ml water

1. Preheat the oven to 190C/170C fan.
2. Peel the parsnip and cut into batons. Spread evenly on a baking tray and cook for 25-30 mins, until soft.
3. As the parsnip is baking, prepare and cook the cauliflower. Remove any leaves and break into smaller florets. Heat a pan on the hob and fill with about 5cm of water, then add the cauliflower. Leave to simmer for about 5 minutes, then remove from heat and drain.
4. When both vegetables are ready, add them to a blender, along with the water. Whizz until well combined and the mixture is smooth.
5. Carefully spoon the mix into a silicone snowman ice cube tray, then place in the freezer.
6. When set, remove a snowman and share with your dog. These icy treats will keep in the freezer for up to three months.
   

Makes 12 muffins (1 per serving)

170g plain turkey or beef, cooked
3 eggs
1 large carrot
20g frozen peas, defrosted

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan. Meanwhile, cut or shred the meat into small pieces and set aside.
2. Boil some water in a pan. Meanwhile, peel the carrot and cut into small pieces. Then cook for a few minutes until tender. Remove from heat.
3. Lightly whisk the eggs in a bowl, then add in the meat and vegetables. Stir thoroughly to ensure the ingredients are well mixed.
4. Using a muffin tray, carefully spoon the mix into each section until about three-quarters full. For an extra festive feel, put your mix into a Christmas-shaped mould, like a snowman or tree!
5. Place the muffins in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until cooked through, and a skewer poked into their centre comes out clean. Leave to cool, then let your dog tuck into one. The rest will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for several days.
   

These cat Christmas treats are the perfect way to give your cat something special, but healthy, over the holidays.

Cats don’t have a sweet tooth, but these savoury cookies are a great way to let them enjoy a festive classic.

Makes 12 cookies (1 per serving)

1 small chicken breast
1 apple
1 300g oat flour, plus extra for dusting
2 eggs
1 tbsp catnip

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan. Put the chicken in for 25 mins until cooked through. Remove, but keep the oven on. When the chicken has cooked, finely shred the meat into thin strips.
2. Meanwhile, heat a pan on the hob. Peel and cut the apple, and slice into small pieces, ensuring the core and all the seeds are discarded. Place the apple in the pan and add water until the apple is just covered. Cover with a lid and simmer for 20 mins, or until the apple has softened. Remove from the heat and drain.
3. Add the chicken, apple, egg, flour and catnip into a blender, and whizz until well combined.
4. On a flat surface dusted lightly with oat flour, roll out the dough until it's about 1cm thick. Use a small Christmas snowman-shaped cutter to cut out the buscuits, if you like.
5. Place these on a lined baking tray and bake for 15 mins, or until golden.
6. Remove and leave to cool before serving one to your feline friend.
   
   

Leftover cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. As these treats contain meat, be sure to check for freshness before feeding again.

Cats love playing with baubles – and these are a far better choice than the baubles on your tree!

Makes 14 baubles (1-2 per serving)

1 small carrot
25g peas
1 small parsnip
1/2 cup broccoli florets
1 egg
75g oat flour

1. Heat a pan of water on the hob, while cutting the carrot, parsnip and broccoli into small pieces. Add to the pan and cook until tender. Then drain.
2. Put the vegetables into a blender with the oat flour and egg. Whizz until well combined.
3. Use your hands to mould the mix into small balls. If the mixture is too wet, add a small amount of oat flour to thicken.
4. Place these on a lined baking tray and cook for around 10 minutes. Remove, then leave to cool before giving your cat their very own edible bauble to enjoy. Place any leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for a couple of days.

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