We can all agree that it's terribly hot and humid in Singapore. This island is situated at the equator and it receives the most direct sunlight. In April and May 2022, the temperature peaked at 36.8 degrees Celsius and 36.7 degrees Celsius respectively and experts have warned that due to climate change, the temperatures will continue to rise at an average rate of 0.25 degrees Celsius per decade. We are not the only ones affected by the increasing temperature. When temperatures rise outside, our dogs can easily get overheated. There are many ways you can help keep your dog cool in the hot weather, including keeping them indoors on hot afternoons, and walking only in the mornings and evenings when the air is cooler.

It’s important to not confuse overheated with dehydration. Overheating can indeed result in dehydration and being dehydrated will contribute to your dog becoming overheated. Your dog can become dehydrated no matter what his body temperature is. These two conditions are not the same, but they most certainly affect one another.

On hot days, it is essential to keep your dog hydrated and cool. Some fun way to help them consume more liquid and keep their body temperature down is to give them chilled or frozen dog treats. We have scoured the internet and put together these 5 easy-to-prepare frozen treats. Not only will they help cool your pup off, but they are simply delicious and your dog will love you for them!  

5 easy-peasy homemade frozen dog treats

1. Frozen broth cubes

This one is so easy, single ingredient, and takes less than a minute to prepare. We can’t even call it a recipe. All you need is an ice cube tray and a tub of The Grateful Pet Bone Broth For Dogs & Cats. Pour one tub of The Grateful Pet Bone Broth For Dogs & Cats (Pork) or any flavour that your dog loves into the ice cube tray. When frozen, simply add 1 to 2 cubes to your dog’s water bowl for a flavoured beverage.

You can use homemade bone broth or a commercial broth from the supermarket. Both will work well too. However, if you are buying commercial bone broth from the supermarket, take note that these are made for human consumption. As such, salt and other ingredients may be added. Please check the ingredient panel to ensure that the broth does not contain food items that are toxic to dogs like onions. If unsure, we would strongly encourage that you feed doggy bone broth; broth prepared for dogs and cats.   

2. Bone broth pupsicles

To level up the frozen bone broth cubes, and turn them into frozen pupsicles, simply add peanut butter or applesauce to the broth before freezing. To every ½ cup of broth, add ½ cup of peanut butter or applesauce. Pour into the ice cube tray or silicone mold and freeze until solid. Remove the popsicle from the ice tray or silicone mold and they're ready for your dog to enjoy.

Remember to use only natural peanut butter with no added oils, sugar, salt, xylitol, preservatives, additives, or flavourings. Check out The Barkery Organic Peanut Butter For Dogs. Because of the added peanut butter or applesauce, this pupsicle is best served on its own and not added to your dog’s drinking water.  

3. Minty freezies

This is a great breath freshener for your pooch since it contains parsley and mint. Mint and parsley are both well-known remedies for bad breath – for both humans and dogs alike. They help to freshen up your doggy’s breath, prevent bacteria growth in your dog’s mouth, and aid in digestion. Some pawrents have been known to add a little parsley or mint to their pups’ diet as a natural way to combat stinky doggy breath.

Blend ½ cup of plain yogurt with a small handful each of fresh parsley and mint. Add ½ cup of water to thin the mixture out. Scoop into an ice cube tray or silicone mold, freeze until solid and it’s ready to serve!

If your dog is intolerant to lactose, please do not give this or any yogurt treats. You can replace the yogurt with lactose-free milk such as this Zeal Lactose Free Pet Milk 380ml. If using lactose-free milk, you can stick to the recipe using ½ cup milk and ½ cup water or use 1 full cup of milk and omit the ½ cup of water. These minty freezies can be served as-is or added to your dog’s dry kibble to help rehydrate the kibble.  

If you wish to enhance the oral cleansing properties of this treat, you can replace yogurt with coconut oil like this Sunrise Natural Organic Cold-Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil. Coconut oil is known for its immunity-boosting properties and for improving skin and coat health. It can also be used to help fight bad dog breath. However, by using coconut oil, the hydration content of this doggy freezies will reduce significantly, and as such, is not a good treat for hydration purposes. It is still a deliciously cold freezies and a good way to cool down your pup!  

4. Frozen KONG Classic Dog Toy treat

A Kong toy can provide hours of entertainment for a dog. It can be filled with many different types of ingredients and frozen for a cooling doggy treat. A frozen Kong treat may even help keep your dog occupied for longer while you finish up your chores!

Peanut butter is the most common stuffing but if you want to improve hydration, try filling it with broth or any liquid of your choice. First, place the KONG Classic Dog Toy upside down in a cup and fill it with broth or the liquid of your choice. Freeze it for a couple of hours and serve.  

5. Lactose-free dog ice cream

Here’s a simple, dairy-free dog ice cream with only 2 ingredients – frozen watermelon and coconut milk or Zeal Lactose Free Pet Milk 380ml. And, the best part is, once made, it can be served immediately.

Freeze 1 ½ cup of chopped watermelon. Once frozen, blend with ¼ cup of coconut milk or the Zeal Lactose Free Pet Milk 380ml and serve immediately once you have a smooth consistency. You can switch the fruits or replace them with berries to adjust the taste and flavour. We use watermelon because it has high water content. Watermelon is an excellent fruit to keep your pup hydrated.

Lactose-free dog ice creams are widely available nowadays. So, if you are unable to homemade your dog ice cream, check out the PetCubes x Creamier Ice Cream For Dogs. Here’s one flavour that is not just great for hot days, but is also good for your dog's gut and it helps cultivate healthy microbes - PetCubes x Creamier Ice Cream For Dogs (Banana Surprise).  

As with any new dog treats, start with a small amount to make sure your dog's digestive system can handle the new food without leading to vomiting and diarrhea. Remember that treats should be limited to a small portion, not more than 10% of your dog's diet.  

KATHERINE KHOO

Katherine is a Pet Nutrition Specialist and GDP’s Pet Wellness Advisor. She is committed to helping pet owners make informed dietary and lifestyle choices in nurturing healthy pets. Katherine is also a practicing Nutritional Therapist (human nutrition) and has been helping hundreds of clients to heal naturally with nutrients.