Why not treat your dog with these frozen peanut butter kefir dog treats.
We all know that peanut butter banana dog treats are one of the most popular dog treat recipes on the planet. Wheat free and made with banana and kefir, these healthy 3 ingredient peanut butter dog treats are quick and easy to prepare.
These frozen kefir treats for dogs offer a new way to treat your dog with flavors they love plus help keep them healthy too!
This article is based on research and personal experience as a Vizsla owner. I’m not a qualified dog trainer, breeder, Vet or dog behaviourist.
What is kefir?
Kefir is a popular natural fermented drink, made by adding kefir grains to milk or other liquids like coconut water.
It has a tangy flavor similar to yogurt, but with a thinner consistency.
The kefir grains are a starter culture, like that used to make yogurt or bread. Once the liquid is fermented the grains are removed and can be re-used.
High in probiotics and beneficial yeasts and low in lactose, kefir milk is thought to help maintain a healthy gut and assist with digestive issues (including diarrhoea) in humans and in dogs.
You can make your own kefir at home, or buy it at the store as kefir milk or kefir coconut water.
Is kefir good for dogs?
So we know humans can benefit from adding kefir to their diet, but is kefir good for dogs?
There are a range of benefits of kefir for dogs and reasons why dog owners are adding kefir to their frozen dog treats include:
- To help maintain a healthy digestive system
- To restore the healthy bacteria in their gut during and after a round of antibiotics
- As a way to relieve itchy skin allergies.
My vizsla pup recently suffered a terrible bout of sickness (cause unknown) and she suffered for weeks with diarrhoea, loose stools, losing weight and low energy.
So after seeing the vet and a round of medication, she was on the improve but I wanted to help rebalance her gut and get her back on track.
So I made a batch of these frozen peanut butter dog treats with kefir and banana.
Why make kefir dog treats?
Kefir dog treats are not a remedy for a poor diet or health issues that should be assessed by your vet.
But it is an easy way to add some extra probiotics to your pet’s diet to promote a healthy gut over the long term.
You can simply add a tablespoon of kefir to your dog’s morning or evening meal, but it is also the perfect ingredient to add to their favorite frozen dog treats.
Types of kefir for dogs
The most common form of store bought kefir is kefir milk. You can buy natural or flavored kefir – for these probiotic dog treats I use natural kefir milk. Natural kefir milk is lower in lactose than regular milk.
But if your dog is extremely lactose intolerant, look for non-dairy kefir milks, like coconut milk kefir and water based kefir drinks at your local health food store.
What you need to make frozen kefir dogs treats
Many people love to make frozen dog treats for Summer, but if your pet suffers from gluten flour or wheat intolerances, they are perfect tasty treats for dogs to make year round as they are gluten free treats.
You will need:
- A blender
- Small silicone molds
- Cookie sheet (optional)
I own the Nutribullet 1200w blender which is powerful enough to blend pretty much anything.
But for this recipe any bench or stick blender will work for this dog treat recipe.
There are lots of fun dog treat molds to choose from. Dog paws, dog bones and fun shapes like these ones.
For this peanut butter banana dog treat recipe, these molds hold about 1 tablespoon of mixture in each shape and you will get about 24 – 30 treats from the recipe.
You could even scoop it into a Kong for a tasty frozen Kong stuffing.
But honestly, any ice cube tray (or Kong) will do – your pup isn’t going to mind what shape they are.
I have added the cookie sheet because if you own silicone molds you know how hard it is to get them in the freezer once filled!
Placing the molds on a cookie sheet makes it really easy to get them to the freezer and stop them tipping while freezing.
Peanut butter banana frozen dog treats ingredients
Our easy peanut butter dog treats recipe has just three ingredients:
- Kefir milk
- Peanut butter (dog safe)
- Bananas
Please check the peanut butter is dog-friendly and does not contain xylitol, a sugar substitute which is lethal for dogs.
Most regular peanut butters are okay, just check the ingredient list on the tub.
I love frozen treats for dogs as you can easily make them grain free.
If your dog is wheat intolerant ( a common issue for many dogs, including vizslas), frozen grain free dog treat recipes are a great alternative to baked dog biscuits.
And the flavor combinations are endless!
How to make PB banana frozen kefir treats for dogs
Step 1
Put your silicone molds on a cookie sheet and set aside.
Place all three ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.
Step 2
Pour or scoop the mixture in to your prepared molds.
Step 3
Place the cookie sheet with the filled molds in the freezer. If you can’t fit the cookie sheet, carefully place the molds on a flat surface in the freezer.
Leave in the freezer overnight or until firm – around 8 hours.
Step 4
When frozen, remove the molds from the freezer and pop the treats out of the molds.
Serve a treat to your pup and store the remaining treats in the freezer.
How to store frozen dog treats
Store your frozen banana dog treats with kefir in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months.
Probiotic dog treats tips
My dog tolerates these treats quite well. If you have not given your pup kefir in the past, start with just one treat in a day.
This is equivalent to about 1/2 a tablespoon of kefir in one treat in a batch of 24 treats.
If you run out of frozen kefir treats, simply add a tablespoon of kefir to your dog’s meal for a probiotic boost.
More Dog Treat Recipes
If you loved this homemade peanut butter dog treats recipe, here are some more to try:
- Banana peanut butter pupcakes
- Pumpkin peanut butter dog cookies
- Frozen strawberry yogurt dog treats
- 25 homemade dog treat recipes
- Frozen banana strawberry dog treats
Or you can find all the frozen treats here or all our food recipes here.
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Frozen kefir treats for dogs
These frozen peanut butter dog treats with kefir and banana are a quick, easy and healthy dog treat recipe. Grain free and full of natural probiotics for dogs, your pup is going to love them!
Ingredients
- 1 cup kefir
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 2 bananas
Instructions
- Place silicone molds on a cookie sheet and set aside. This makes moving the molds to the freezer easy!
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into the silicone molds (see note 1).
- Put filled molds into freezer and leave to freeze overnight.
- Pop the treats out of the molds and place them in an airtight container or freezer bag.
- Store in the freezer until you are ready to feed them to your pet (see note 2).
Notes
1. The mixture is going to be thick, so you may need to use a small spoon to place the mixture into the molds.
2. Feed your dog one treat at a time and monitor to see how your pup tolerates the kefir.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 77Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 71mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g
Please note that nutrition information is a computer generated estimate and should not be interpreted as a dietitian's advice. Values can vary greatly among brands, amounts and ingredients used.