Did you know that dogs can suffer from celiac disease? Interestingly it's the Irish Setter that has been identified as a breed at risk for developing celiac disease. And dogs can suffer from the distinct autoimmune symptoms of celiac disease including weight loss, gastrointestinal distress, coat and skin ailments, weakness and failure to thrive.
You may have noticed that the dog food industry is offering more and more grain-free dog food products. This is because veterinarians and pet owners are finding that certain breeds of dogs thrive on diets that eliminate grains - including grains that contain gluten like wheat, barley, rye and cross-contaminated oats and even grains that don't contain gluten, like corn, soy, and even rice.
If your vet has recommended a grain-free diet for your dog it can be a confusing learning curve. There are lots of grain-free dog foods available today and the good news is that you can easily bake dog treats for your grain-free best friend. The benefit of making homemade grain-free / gluten-free dog treats is that you can use high quality, nutritious human-grade ingredients. You can even treat your four-legged family members to organic doggie biscuits without breaking the bank.
Our homemade gluten-free / grain-free dog treats are made with nutritious buckwheat, a rich source of protein, antioxidants, minerals, and fiber. Flaxmeal is an excellent source of plant-based essential omega-3 fatty acids, pumpkin puree, eggs and chicken stock. Good for people and good for pets!
- 2 cups buckwheat flour
- 1/2 cup ground flax seeds (flax meal)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup chicken (or beef stock)
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats
- Place buckwheat flour and ground flax meal in a large mixing bowl. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, and chicken or beef stock. Use an electric mixer or stand mixer and beat on high until the mixture is smooth and very thick.
- For easy prep, use a 1 tablespoon equivalent spring-loaded scoop (like an ice cream scoop) to drop rounded mounds of mixture on prepared baking sheets. Use a fork to press down on mounds, just like making classic peanut butter cookies. Dip fork in water frequently to prevent sticking and press mounds until they are about 1/4-inch thick. For small pets: Use a teaspoon instead of a tablespoon to drop mounds of dough on baking trays.
- Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove trays and turn the dog treats upside down. Return to oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes. When done cookies should feel hard to the touch. Cool completely on a cooling rack.
- When completely cool place dog cookies in an airtight container. If cookies aren't completely cool when stored, they may become soggy. If this happens, crisp in the preheated oven for about 8 minutes OR store in a small paper lunch bag instead of in plastic.
- Depending on how often you give your dog treats, tightly wrap and freeze part of the batch and thaw and use as needed.