Sweet Treats for Your Furry Valentine
AWE, love is in the air—especially when you have a fur baby (or several) in your family. February has been cold here in Missouri, and I’ve been thinking about my horses outside in the snow and how I can bring them a sweet piece of joy as they wait out the weather in the stables. And with Valentine’s Day just a few days away, I came up with a plan.
Although our four-legged loved ones can't have chocolate like their humans, we can always bake them some homemade healthy treats to show our love. Besides, we all know the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, and that includes our pets.
So, today, I’m sharing a few recipes that are fan favorites and all made with one special ingredient—Love. I always prefer to steer clear from those fancy and expensive treats you find in the store because they may have ingredients my pets can be sensitive to.
After trying plenty of recipes I found online, I created a few go-to treats that are healthy, natural and stay consistent with all my fur babies' nutritional needs. When choosing these recipes, I kept in mind time, ease and ingredients. They’re all under 1.5 hours, have less than 10 ingredients and are super easy to make.
First up, a sweet treat that has earned Two Paws Up from Mercedes and Zsa-Zsa. These Cranberry Heart Treats are not only good for dogs with the high protein, antioxidant and grain-free ingredients, they make great goodies for foxes, wolves and even coyotes. Love knows no bounds, right?
You'll see an ingredient I use that you might not be familiar with, Mushpuppies. I discovered Mushpuppies a few years ago and began feeding them to Mercedes, who is now 13. Mushpuppies are filled with Glucosamine, Carotene and Chondroitin, which all assist with bone and joint health, while the Coriolus Versicolor Mushroom (CVM) is an all-natural botanical found to help support the body’s own immune system.
Within a week, I began seeing a difference in Mercedes' appearance and energy level. Her eyes became brighter and more alert and she was able to navigate steps with ease, and even began jumping on the furniture like she was a little puppy again! CVM is like Platinum in our household. My whole family takes it as a supplement to support our immune systems and luckily, we haven't been sick for over 2 years.
Next, we have our Valentine felines. I chose to make Chewy Turkey Cat Treats to show them how purrrfect they are. Our neighbors' cat, Myrtle, definitely deserves extra love for keeping our barn free of rodents. Many cats are pretty finicky about what they put in their tummies, but, they'll crave this Turkey treat, especially if you sprinkle a little catnip in it.
And of course, I can’t forget our horses. One day, when we were still at the WHY Ranch, a dedicated volunteer brought Peppermint Oat MushPonies Treats. As soon as they were out of her pocket and a hint of peppermint filled the air, our horses came running, almost knocking each other over. I knew I had to get that recipe because it made our horses so happy.
When you combine these treats with some honey and carrots, your horse will fall in love with you again and again. My addition to the mixture is of course, CVM. Melody and Braveheart have benefitted greatly from the immune supporting supplement and are no longer on any anti-inflammatories.
At the moment, I’ve got a couple of happy pups circling my feet because I just pulled out their heart-shaped treats from the oven. They’ll have to wait for them to cool, though. In the meantime, I’ll run the goodies up to the neighbors for Myrtle. And then, when it’s time to feed the horses, I’ll slip them a sweet treat (or two) and a kiss on the nose.
I am so blessed that we have happy, healthy fur-babies and that we can share our funny little stories and recipes with y'all. Wishing you a Happy and Lovely Valentine's day with the fur-babies who've stolen your heart.
Amy