better than ice cream
Maisie loves a lot of things: this family that adores her and the many local critters she safeguards, her home, her toys, her daily walks and day-long adventures, but I’m not sure any combination of words could compare to the instant-doggie-attention whiplash effect of uttering the phrase, “ice cream”. Obviously, we don’t offer up pints of Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey to our girl, but everyone loves a frozen treat, particularly on a hot summer day. While, on occasion, we have given her ice-cream-adjacent goodies made specifically for dogs, they are not the healthiest options. Alternatively, frozen seedless watermelon is low in calories and great for cooling and hydration…if you can get your dog to eat it. Maisie has rejected almost every dog-safe fruit and vegetable we’ve introduced over the years. Citrullus lanatus was no exception. When we presented her with frozen watermelon, she responded with the eye-rolling disdain of a child who had just been handed a plate of spinach from parents excitedly exclaiming, “You’ll love it! It tastes like candy!” Kids rarely buy that, not twice anyway. Replace the word candy with treat, and Maisie Moon never falls for such trickery either, but the judgment in her eyes condemns us to live with the shame of our illicit activities. Yes, it’s true—we’ve lowered ourselves to the seedy underbelly of society. We’ve become Healthy Snack Peddlers.
Yesterday I mixed up a batch of a new faux ice cream. Pumpkin is full of good stuff—essential vitamins, potassium, fiber, and, most importantly, antioxidants. It is a superfood in more ways than one. Every single one of my dogs has loved it. Cinnamon, too, boasts multiple benefits, including its reported anti-inflammatory properties. As we ease our beloved pup through her senior years and the mobility issues that have slowly crept up on her, adding a hint of cinnamon was a given.
There are no hard-to-find ingredients or difficult steps involved to prepare this healthy frozen treat for your dogs.* All it requires is a 15oz. can of pure pumpkin purée. (Make sure pumpkin is the only ingredient; no sugars, xylitol, spices, or other additives that may be harmful to your companion.) If desired, toss in a half teaspoon of ground cinnamon, though this is entirely optional. (It is best to use organic Ceylon cinnamon for your dogs as it is significantly lower in coumarin which can be toxic in higher levels. If your spice jar doesn’t specifically say “Ceylon”, it is most likely cassia cinnamon and best avoided.)
I prefer to use sturdy 4 oz. containers with leakproof lids. This set I found on Amazon is fantastic; they are BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and they have twist-on lids which I find much easier to remove when they come out of the freezer. (They’re also the perfect size for small snacks and baby food.) If you’re freezing just the pumpkin, you can scoop it right out of the can into the containers, filling each about half way. Otherwise, blend together all the pumpkin and the half teaspoon of cinnamon in a bowl, then scoop the mixture into your containers. It makes about five 2 oz. servings, with a little leftover. Human or canine, after all, no kid should be denied the euphoria of licking the bowl…and the spoon…and probably that glob of pumpkin you didn’t realize you’d smeared along the side of your hand. (A little weird on the child front, but perfectly acceptable behavior for a dog.)
Bon appétit, my furry friends.
*I am not a veterinarian, just a mom who loves her dogs and tries to keep them healthy, happy, and thriving. Particularly if your dog is not accustomed to these ingredients or is being treated for a medical condition, please consult your vet about any dietary changes. This is also meant to be a treat, not a replacement for a balanced, nutrient-rich meal.