Liver Treats

What you will need:

Packet of liver - lamb’s livers or chicken livers don’t smell as bad as beef or pork livers!

• Gluten free flour
• One large egg
• Dollop of oil
• Herbs if you are feeling creative (not chives which are in the onion family – onions are poisonous to dogs)
• One small garlic clove (garlic, although also an allium is fine for dogs in small quantities – it’s even believed to be a good flea deterrent!)

What to do:

It’s easy!

Preheat the oven (to about 180 degrees C)
Trim any sinew from the liver and cut into small pieces.

Pop the liver, egg, oil, herbs and garlic in the blender and give it a good blast. When the mixture is reasonably smooth, tip it out into a mixing bowl and add the flour until the cake mixture is of flap-jack type consistency.

Transfer to a well greased baking tray (lining it with grease proof paper will help prevent your treats from sticking).

Cook for about 8-10 minutes - the time will vary depending on the depth of your baking tray and how much mixture you have made so keep an eye on it.

Leave to cool – out of reach of your doggy friends because they will raid it!!!!

Cut into bite-size pieces.

This recipe can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days. If you make a big batch or have only one dog you can freeze it too!

It is important that dogs receive a balanced diet. Liver is high in vitamin A, so these treats should only be given in moderation. Too many treats can also make dogs fussy and if they get too much variety they may start turning their noses up at their regular food. Use treats as a reward for good behaviour!

Fish Cakes

What you will need:

• Generous helping of white fish (e.g. haddock, cod or coley)
• Gluten free flour (or potato flour; you can also use mashed potato for softer treats)
• One large egg – omit this if egg allergy is known or suspected
• Dollop of oil
• A little dill or parsley
• One small garlic clove (as per the liver cake recipe, garlic is fine in moderation)

What to do:

Preheat the oven (to about 180 degrees C)

Prepare the fish and carefully remove all bones.
Pop the fish, egg, oil, herbs and garlic in the blender and mix well. When the mixture is reasonably smooth, tip it out into a mixing bowl and add the flour. Mix again until all the flour is folded in.

Transfer to a baking tray lined with grease proof paper.

Cook for about 8-10 minutes as per the liver cake recipe, the time will vary depending on quantity.

Leave the treats to cool away from the dogs.

Cut into bite-size pieces.

This recipe can be also stored in the fridge for a couple of days. Larger batches can be frozen and defrosted for use as needed.

As with all treats, use in moderation. Don’t forget to reduce your dog’s main diet allowance to allow for the extra calories treats provide.

These treats are nutritious and tasty, and being gluten-free are ideal for most sensitive dogs. For dogs who require fat restriction, the oil in both recipes can be substituted with free-free cottage cheese and an extra egg white.