Our Cocker Spaniel turns 11 years old today! In honor of Caramel’s birthday, here’s my recipe (if you can call it that) for her favorite treats, made with simply oats and water.
When Caramel developed what appeared to be a serious health concern a few years ago, I was lucky to find an alternative (and vegan) veterinarian who immediately recognized food sensitivities as the likely cause. Through a quick, but effective, food elimination diet, we discovered the culprits. The best part of this story is that her health issues disappeared within one week!
This meant giving up commercially made treats, but I soon found a way to make easy, healthy, inexpensive treats at home. I have been making these for her ever since.
OATY DOG TREATS
8 cups quick oats
3 cups water
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Pour uncooked oats onto a baking sheet. Pour the water over oats, and combine with a fork until very well mixed. Batter will be quite stiff.
Spread as evenly as you can in the pan. Score with a knife, parallel with the short side of the baking sheet, about 2-inches apart to form columns. Bake for 2 hours.
Remove from oven, and break the long columns apart from each other, using the perforated indentations as a guide. Flip each long piece over to expose the other side. Return pan to oven for up to one hour more, or until completely dry and crispy. Total baking time is usually between 2 ½ and 3 hours.
Remove from oven when treats are totally toasty and absolutely no moisture remains. Allow to cool. Break each long piece into smaller treat-size bars. Don’t worry if the edges are fairly ragged after the break.
Treats stay fresh for several days in an airtight container on the counter. Store extras in the freezer.
Copyright © Vicki Brett-Gach | Ann Arbor Vegan Kitchen
2 thoughts on “Oaty Dog Treats”