Well, they aren’t exactly pops, and your dog couldn’t handle the popsicle stick anyway, but for a dog they are perfect!
As you probably already know, except for the apple seeds (which contain cyanide), the core (a choking hazard) and the stems and leaves (which MIGHT contain cyanide), apples are extremely healthy and delicious for dogs, just as they are for humans. My little Yorkie Mason dearly loves apples. When I start to core and slice one for myself, he begins his little four-foot straight up in the air jump that I thought only cats could do! The difference is cats do it when startled (maybe from encountering a sinister cucumber), and Mason does it when he’s super excited (when it’s time for a walk or I’m preparing food he wants to share.)
Nutritious
The skin of an apple contains more nutrients than the rest of the apple, and your dog will love the apple with the skin on! The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that the skin holds a higher percentage of fiber, potassium, and other nutrients, but there is still a very healthy dose of each in the apple’s flesh.
Apples with the skin are recommended for humans because of their phytonutrients, which contain cancer-fighting properties. Apples are also loaded with Vitamins A and C. They can help keep a dog’s teeth clean and freshen that stinky dog breath, and the high fiber in apples can promote overall gastrointestinal health. Apples are also a wonderful, healthy treat to substitute for those high-calorie, maybe not-so-healthy packaged dog treats we might be buying from the stores.
Combine those delicious, healthy apples bits with carrots, also much desired for their taste and nutrition, and you have a winning combination! My dog’s favorite vegetable is the carrot. Everybody knows carrots are healthy. They are even better for your dog when they’re cooked, but raw ones in moderation are fine too.
Vet Recommended!
Jessica Potosky, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine says that carrots are ideal as a treat for dogs. She goes on, “Carrots are not fattening and I actually recommend them as treats instead of dog biscuits.” Carrots are low in calories and high in vitamins and also fiber. If your dog is having a problem with loose stools, the fiber helps to add bulk to her stools.
As you look at the recipe, you’ll see that the diced apples and carrots are held together with frozen low sodium chicken broth. I bought low sodium because I know too much salt is no better for our doggies than it is for our human bodies, but a little after exercising can be good, and the ideal time for this treat is after being outside in the heat.
A pinch of salt added to his water bowl after a dog has been heated during exercise in hot weather can help replace the minerals he lost while panting (which a dog does to cool down instead of sweating like we do), say the experts at petmd. That’s why I know that the chicken broth with its sodium can be beneficial to your pooch’s health after a hot walk.
Conclusion
So there we go! Lots of reasons to feed your dog apple-carrot ice pops instead of dog biscuits or some other high calories and possibly low nutrition dog treat! I’m putting the recipe in a separate blog post.