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Canine Nutritionist Kristina Johansen shares her recipe for breath-freshening dog treats, made with fresh mint and decaffeinated green tea.
This is a great staple treat – and is certainly something to smile about.
Green tea is rich in compounds (polyphenols) that may inhibit the growth of oral bacteria, and so promote the health of teeth and gums. Mint contains natural anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that help fight the bacteria in your dog's mouth that cause bad breath, while vanilla tastes yummy… and makes your whole house smell of cookies.
Ingredients
- 100g rice flour
- 60g white flour
- 1/4 cup of fresh mint, finely chopped
- 1 egg
- 50ml decaf green tea, left to cool
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- In a bowl, mix together the flours and fresh mint.
- Make a well in the centre of the flour mix. Add egg, green tea and vanilla extract. Beat with a fork until smooth.
- Mix the egg mixture with the flour until everything is combined.
- Using your hands, knead the dough into a ball.
- Sandwich the dough ball between two pieces of baking paper and roll it out to approximately 5mm thickness.
- Transfer the dough to a baking sheet and score the dough into small bite-sized squares. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Place the treats on a wire rack to cool. When cooled, break them into square pieces.
Recipe provides approximately 736 calories, 9g fat, 22g protein and 138g carbohydrates.
Kristina Johansen is a qualified canine dietary consultant. She advises on general canine nutrition and home-prepared diets, working closely with a wide variety of vets. In 2013 she set up Elmo's Kitchen, a special canine dietary consultancy which provides nutritional advice to dog owners. Find out more about Kristina Johansen.