There's a secret ingredient you can add to your homemade dog treats that will increase the nutritional content and naturally preserve them. It's vitamin E. By adding just 2 capsules (400 IU each), to your recipe, your dog treats will last months longer. The nutritional value is as good for your dog as it is for you. It helps prevent cellular damage through it's antioxidant activity. The shelf life of your healthy dog treats will still be less than the thousand years that the commercial one's will last, but you could expect them to stay fresh for an average of three months.

Peanut Butter Puppy Bones

Ingredients

1 cups whole wheat flour

cup powdered milk

6 tablespoons shortening

1 egg, beaten

cup water

2 capsules vitamin E

cup peanut butter

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and powdered milk, mix well.

Cut in the shortening, as you would for pie crust.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine the egg, peanut butter and water, mix well.

Combine the flour mixture with the egg mixture.

On a floured surface, knead the dough until it is smooth. Add additional flour as needed.

Roll the dough out on a floured surface, to -inch thick.

Cut the dough with your favorite cookie cutters and place them on a cookie sheet.

Bake for 1 hour. Turn off the oven and leave the dog treats in to remove any additional moisture.

When they are completely cooled, store them in an airtight container or in the refrigerator.

Optional Recipes

Make these changes to the original recipe

Flax Seed Sadie's: Leave out the peanut butter. Add -cup flax seeds and 3 tablespoons molasses.

Chicken Chew-bones: Leave out the peanut butter. Heat the water and dissolve 2 chicken bouillon cubes in it.

Holy Beefcakes Batman: Follow the same directions as for Chicken Chew-bones, but use 2 beef bouillon cubes.

Corny Capers: Leave out the peanut butter. Add 3 tablespoons honey. Replace -cup of flour with -cup of cornmeal.

Banana Oat Bones: Exchange the peanut butter for one ripe banana, mashed. Replace -cup flour with -cup oats. Add teaspoon cinnamon.

Benefits of Homemade Dog Treats

The obvious benefit to making your own homemade dog treats is that you know what is in them. Adding vitamin E is just one beneficial ingredient you can add to improve your dog's health. Additional vitamins and healthy ingredients added to your dogs treats will put you back in control of his health.

Learn more about this author, Karen Ellis.
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