A special strawberry-based recipe for International World Dog Day.

 

It’s summer, strawberries and watermelon are in season and we’re always on the lookout for hydrating and refreshing recipes for hot, sunny days.

It was a coincidence that these heart shaped moulds were used, but perhaps fortuitous. Because today is World Dog Day 2024.

This is a day to spoil our dogs with our time: long, relaxed walks, extra cuddles and some delicious treats to show our appreciation.❣️

Not a day for spending hours in the kitchen – so here’s a quick recipe that’s super-easy to make. It can be whipped up in less than 15 minutes, before heading off outside to spend time with your dogs. By the time you get back, these little frozen treats will be just ready to eat (and one for the cheat sheet, the basis is also a great hydrating drink)!

Oh, almost forgot – dog owners can eat them as well…

 

Recipe:

World Dog Day hearts

500 ml kefir and chia seed basic mix (if you don’t have the chia seed mix ready to hand, straight kefir will do)
240 g watermelon, deseeded and cubed
160 g strawberries, hulled

Blitz ingredients in blender.

Watermelon cubes in blender     Adding kefir mix to fruit in blender

Pour into bite-sized jelly moulds and freeze for around three hours. If you don’t have small moulds, an ice cube tray will do just as well. And your dog won’t care whether it’s in a heart shape!

Blitzed ingredients - watermelon, strawberry, kefir and chia seeds     Blitzed ingredients - watermelon, strawberry, kefir and chia seeds - going into small molds

World Dog Day hearts made from watermelon, strawberry, kefir and chia seeds

Enjoy your day!

❣️

 

Important Considerations:

  • Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
  • If you are feeding commercial food, check the label for ingredients before giving more. Excessive intake of any foods can have adverse effects.
  • Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
  • Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
  • I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
  • Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.
  • I am not a professional nutritionist. I am sharing recipes that I have created and tested in my kitchen and that have been tasted and approved by our doggy friends.