Making Dehydrated dog treats is really easy!
Just one ingredient. a means to dry the food such as a dehydratoror an oven and around 10 minutes to prep:
Dehydrators are relatively inexpensive to buy and have very low running costs. I’ve been researching their uses for quite some time and decided to buy one. I am very impressed with my dehydrator and would recommend its use to make homemade doggy treats.
The results give a dry, clean dog treat that’s brilliant for putting in your pocket when out walking the dogs and best of all are cheap to make and healthy for your dog
Tips for using a Dehydrator to make dehydrated treats
- Always wash your hands when handling raw meat products
- Trim off as much fat as you can from the meat product as fat cannot be dried and you won’t be able to store the snacks for as long
- Read your user manual – drying times vary depending on the thickness of the food and the amount of food placed in the machine
- It takes longer to dry thicker cut portions of meat, cut your snacks into thinner slices
- Food will shrink after being rehydrated, but remember the flavour is more concentrated, so smaller portions are recommended. The ideal size is no bigger than the finger nail on your little finger.
Here are some suggestions for meat and other products you can rehydrate for your pet treats. Meat can be brought from your local butcher or online. I use a local butcher called Grahams.
De-hydrated chicken livers
These treats are super simple to make, and the dogs love them. slice livers thinly and place them on the trays in the dehydrator
if the pieces appear to be chunky, flatten them slightly with a fork. Now place them in the dehydrator for around 4 hours
After 4 hours witch the shelves for a further 4 hours Obviously, timings may vary depending on your specific appliance
When cooking time is complete, allow them to cool and store in the fridge. These will keep for up to 4 weeks unless they are all eaten before then!
Sweet potato dog chews
Take two organic sweet potatoes, peel and slice into thin ¼ inch chunks and place them in the dehydrator for around 6-8 hours, for a chewy texture if your dog prefers a crunchier snack, increase the dehydration time
Other vegetables and fruits, such as bananas and apples, could be used in a similar process.
Meat jerky treats
It’s possible to use a variety of meats to make these delicious, healthy dog treats Choose from duck, turkey or chicken, venison, rabbit, lamb or beef, or for a fish option, trout, salmon or tuna. When using cuts of meat choose ones with very little fat.
Cut the meat into slices of even size and place it into the dehydrator. Try to cut across the grain of the meat to give a chewier texture Depending on the type of meat or fish, it will require anything from 3 to 12 hours to completely dry out Store jerky treats in the fridge, as they contain no preservatives.
It’s a fantastic way to ensure that your dog is eating grain-free, natural, gluten-free snacks
Happy cooking!