Spent grain dog treats are becoming more popular for those looking for an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to treat their furry friends. These sweets are prepared from the wasted grain left over from making beer. This article from Canvas Personalized will cover the benefits and recipes for making dog treats using spent grain.
Try these recipes and discover how much your dog loves these healthy snacks.
What Are Spent Grain Dog Treats?
Dogs can enjoy tasty treats created from the discarded grains left over after making beer. Instead of discarding them, wasted grains can be recycled into dog treats.
Your furry friends can reap the nutritional benefits of dog treats from spent grain and their environmental friendliness and sustainability. Your dog’s diet would also benefit significantly from adding spent grains high in fiber and protein. They are a good source of nutrients like magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Moreover, the fiber in stale grains helps your dog feel full and keeps his digestive system in check.
Dog treats from spent grain are a fantastic choice to provide healthy food without negatively impacting the environment. Since many breweries and companies that make dog treats now use waste grains, pet owners can get their hands on them more easily.
>>>Learn more about the healthy foods for dogs to maintain your pup’s health!
Benefits Of Dog Treats From Spent Grain
A dog’s health can greatly benefit from the high nutritional value of spent grain dog treats. The advantages of using leftover grain to make dog treats include the following:
High in fiber: Spent grain dog treats are rich in fiber, which helps promote healthy digestion in dogs. The high fiber content of spent grain dog treats is essential for canine digestive health. Eating more fiber can lower your dog’s blood sugar and reduce its risk of becoming overweight.
Fiber is good for dogs in many ways, like keeping them from getting constipated and lowering their risk of colon cancer. Fiber’s ability to keep dogs feeling full for extended periods is another way it helps with canine weight management. Wasted grain dog treats are suitable for your dog’s health because they have a lot of fiber.
Low in fat and calories: Dog treats from spent grain are low in fat and calories, making them an excellent option for dogs needing to lose or maintain a healthy weight.
Also, treats with less fat and calories can help lower the risk of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and joint pain linked to being overweight.
Good protein and vitamins: Spent grains are a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, essential for the growth and maintenance of healthy muscles and tissues in dogs.
All body cells and tissues need protein to grow and stay healthy; discarded grains are a good source of this vital nutrient. In addition, the vitamins B and E found in discarded grains benefit overall health, good skin and coat, and strong immunity.
Note: If your dog suffers specific health issues related to the kidney, check out these low-protein dog treats to promote their health.
Sustainable and eco-friendly: Using the recipe for the spent grain dog treats will help reduce waste and promote sustainable practices. It’s also a healthy alternative to regular dog treats that doesn’t harm the environment.
Allergen-free: Spent grain treats are free from common allergens such as wheat, soy, and corn, making them an excellent choice for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies.
So, spent grain dog treats are a healthy and environmentally friendly way for pet parents to give their dogs something tasty and good for them.
How To Make Spent Grains Dog Treats Recipe At Home
Keep in mind a few things before you get started:
Ensure no hops are used in the spent grains dog treats recipe. Dogs should not swallow hops in any form, as they are harmful whether they have been used (spent) or not. For dogs, ingesting any hop could be fatal.
The second thing to check is whether or not St. John’s Wort was utilized in the brewing process. St. John’s wort, often called Klamath weed, is frequently used as an herbal substitute for hops in brewing. However, it is harmful to dogs.
1. Simple Dog Treats From Spent Grain
Ingredients:
- 8 cups of wasted grain
- 2 cups rolled oat flour
- 2 cups of 100% whole-grain flour
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup freshly ground flax seeds
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350º
- Combine all ingredients well in a huge mixing bowl
- Line a half-sheet-sized baking sheet with a lip with paper and oil lightly.
- Push the dough onto the baking sheet, smoothing it as flat as possible.
- Use a fork to draw lines, making it simpler to break off the cookies after you’re done.
- Put it in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the edges turn brown.
- Let the cookies cool completely, and then reduce the oven temperature to its lowest setting.
- Check frequently. This takes 4 to 8 hours, depending on moisture content.
2. Spent Grains Treats With Peanut Butter
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of spent grains
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (unsalted and unsweetened)
- 1 egg
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Mix the peanut butter, flour, egg, and stale grains until well combined.
- Put the mix on a clean surface to roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut the dough into shapes using a cookie cutter.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set the shapes there.
- Put in the oven and cook for 20–25 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
3. Sweet Potato and Beer Grain Treats
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of spent grains
- Half a cup of sweet potato mash
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1 egg
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Combine the spent grains, sweet potato, flour, oats, and egg in a mixing bowl until well combined.
- Flour a work surface and roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut the dough into shapes using a cookie cutter.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set the shapes there.
- Cook for 20-25 minutes in the oven.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
- Keep it in an airtight container or freeze it for up to two weeks.
4. Spent Grains Dog Treats Recipe With Apple and Carrot
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of spent grains
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- The equivalent of half a cup of grated apple
- 1/2 cup grated carrot
- 1 egg
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Wasted grains, flour, an apple, a carrot, and an egg should be mixed in a large mixing bowl until well combined.
- Flour a work surface and roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick.
- Use a cookie cutter to make shapes from the dough.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set the shapes there.
- Put the pan in the oven and cook for 20–25 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely after removing from the oven.
- Keep it in an airtight container or freeze it for up to two weeks.
Tips For Making and Storing Spent Grain Dog Treats
- Here are some tips for making spent grain dog treats at home:
Use fresh spent grains: It’s essential to use fresh spent grains that have recently been brewed. The hazardous bacteria in stale, used grains can make your dog sick.
Combine with other ingredients: Spent grain dog treats can be made with various other components, such as peanut butter, pumpkin puree, and eggs. The sweets get their flavor and nutritional value from including these ingredients.
Adjust the moisture level: Spent grains can be dehydrated, so it’s essential to adjust the moisture level of your recipe accordingly. Try experimenting with the baking time and temperature or adding more liquid to fix this.
Watch portion sizes: A dog’s ideal serving size will vary based on weight and activity. If you want to see how your dog reacts to the treats, it’s best to start with a tiny amount. You may want to cut the treats up into smaller pieces if your dog tends to overeat.
Check for potential allergies: Before making spent grain dog treats, ensure your dog has no allergies to your ingredients. As a result, it’s critical to introduce new ingredients gradually and monitor your dog’s reaction to the spent grains dog treats recipe. Some treats may be difficult for dogs allergic to wheat, dairy, or eggs.
- Here are some tips for storing and freezing dog treats from spent grain:
Stored in an airtight container, used grain dog treats have a shelf life of up to a week at room temperature. The treats can be frozen and kept for up to three months.
Get your vet’s approval before giving your dog any new treats, especially if they are on a special diet or have a medical problem.
>>>Further reading:
Spent grain dog treats are healthy and delicious for rewarding your furry friend. These sweets are inexpensive and simple to make at home by reusing wasted grain. We hope our simple recipes from Canvas Personalized will help you offer a delightful treat for your dog and decrease the waste in your kitchen.
