Today, I’ll share how I make banana watermelon treats for dogs!
Because summer time is watermelon time, right?
It’s a super easy frozen dog treat recipe that’s refreshing, tasty AND healthy.
Wally always gets a frozen dog treat when we come back inside from a summer walk, and this is one option within my frozen treat rotation.
So now without further ado, let’s head into my kitchen to make some of Wally’s favorite frozen dog treats!
Frozen Banana Watermelon Treats For Dogs
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Before I dive into the recipe details for these frozen dog treats, here’s an overview of the health benefits of both watermelon and banana for dogs.
Health Benefit Of Watermelon For Dogs
Let’s start with watermelon – it offers multiple health benefits for dogs such as:
- Hydration: Watermelon has a high water content. That can help keep dogs hydrated, especially during hot weather and after doggie exercise. Remember, proper hydration is essential for maintaining overall health and supporting bodily functions!
- Vitamins and Antioxidants: Watermelon contains vitamins A, C, and some B vitamins. These vitamins are essential for your dog’s overall health and immune system. Watermelon can even contribute to a healthy skin and coat because it contains lycopene. That’s an antioxidant beneficial for cellular health.
- Electrolyte Balance: Watermelon contains minerals like potassium. That’s an important electrolyte involved in muscle function, nerve signaling, and maintaining proper heart health.
- Weight Management: Watermelon is relatively low in calories and fat, which makes it a healthy treat option for dogs watching their weight. It’s essentially a refreshing and satisfying snack without adding to their caloric intake.
- Urinary Health: Watermelon has a high water content, which can help increase urine production in dogs. This can be beneficial for promoting urinary tract health and reducing the risk of urinary tract infections or crystal formation. Especially in dogs who eat dry kibbles!
Tip: While watermelon is generally safe for dogs, it should be given in moderation.
That’s because too much watermelon can lead to digestive upset or diarrhea due to its natural sugars.
It should go without saying that you should only offer watermelon as an occasional treat, not as a substantial part of your dog’s diet!
Are Watermelon Rinds & Seeds Good For Dogs?
Watermelon seeds and the tough rind can pose a choking hazard or cause digestive issues in dogs.
That’s why you’ll want to always remove the seeds and rind before feeding watermelon to your furry friend or using it in a dog treat recipe such as this one.
Is Watermelon Good For Dogs With Kidney Disease?
It’s important that dogs with kidney disease eat a diet rich in moisture. For example, raw dog food or at least canned dog food.
Both have a considerably higher moisture content than dry kibble (only 10-15% in kibble, 70% in canned dog food, and 85% in raw dog food).
Why does that matter as far as whether or not watermelon is good for dogs with kidney disease?
Well, since watermelon consists mostly of water, it adds moisture to your dog’s diet. That means that yes, you can share some watermelon with your dog with kidney disease.
Tip: Following the concept of like cures like, dogs with kidney disease also benefit from eating raw kidneys, so go ahead and run this raw dog food ingredient by your holistic vet!
Benefits of Bananas for Dogs
Now, just like watermelons, bananas have several health benefits for dogs as long as they’re given in moderation:
- Nutritional Content: Bananas are rich in nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin B6, and potassium. Vitamin C supports the immune system, vitamin B6 aids in brain development and function, and potassium promotes healthy muscle and heart function.
- Digestive Health: Bananas are a good source of dietary fiber, which can help support healthy digestion and firm up stool. Fiber can help regulate the digestive system and is typically helpful for dogs experiencing constipation or gastrointestinal issues.
- Energy Boost: Bananas are a natural source of carbohydrates and sugars, which can provide a quick energy boost for dogs. This can be particularly beneficial before or after physical activities such as exercise or training sessions.
- Electrolyte Balance: Bananas contain potassium, which is an essential electrolyte that helps maintain proper muscle and nerve function.
How to Make Banana Watermelon Treats For Dogs
OK, now here’s what you’ll need for this easy dog treat recipe as far as ingredients and tools.
Ingredients:
- (Ideally) seedless watermelon
- Overly ripe banana
The watermelon and bananas I used for this particular batch were both a bit on the riper side with the banana being really mushy and the watermelon flesh being mealy.
Not my favorite textures as far as eating them myself, but I also didn’t want to toss them. That made them perfect for a batch of frozen dog treats!
#WasteNotWantNot
Tip: Here’s how to pick a watermelon that’s sweet and ripe at the store.
Kitchen Tools
As far as tools, you can either use:
- Silicone dog treat trays or ice cube trays
- Kitchen blender or food processor
- Airtight food storage container or ziplock bags
To make the treats, just blend watermelon (without the seeds and rind) and banana (without the peel) in your food processor or blender.
Next, fill the blend into your choice of silicone molds or icecube trays.
I recommend you let them freeze for at least 4 hours before serving them to your pup.
That’s usually how long it takes for them to be solid frozen.
At that point, you can pop them out of the molds or icecube trays and transfer them into an airtight food storage container or ziplock bags.
Or you can also leave them sitting in the molds and just pop one out as needed!
In order for them to stay frozen, you’ll obviously need to store them in your freezer.
Recipe Alternatives
#1: If you’re just looking to use watermelon and no banana, you can also use a melon baller to scoop out melon balls, then place them into an airtight food storage container and freeze.
Tip: They also make a great frozen watermelon addition in your summer drinks! I like to add them to chilled white wine and to one of my favorite summer drinks.
Or you can just blend watermelon flesh and fill the silicone molds or icecube trays with that mix, then freeze it.
#2: You can also fill a classic KONG dog toy with the mixed watermelon/banana blend and freeze it.
This option is obviously going to keep your pup entertained for longer than if you just offer them a frozen treat they can gobble up right on the spot.
How Many Frozen Banana Watermelon Treats For Dogs?
You can feed your pup about 10% of their daily caloric intake in these particular treats.
Generally speaking, I recommend you follow common sense when you’re treating your pup.
Since these frozen dog treats are more on the seasonal side of things, you won’t be offering them year round, right? At least not if you live in an area with multiple seasons.
So keeping that in mind, it’s fine to give your pup 2-3 per day during the warmer months.
If your pup is on the smaller side, make a batch of smaller frozen dog treats using smaller ice cube trays or smaller silicone baking molds.
Likewise, if your dog is larger, use larger ice cube trays or larger baking molds.
Wally weighs about 38 lb and is at his target body weight, meaning he neither needs to lose nor gain any weight.
I walk him about 2 hours per day, and he gets 2-3 medium size frozen treats per day.
Banana Watermelon Treats For Dogs: Bottom Line
Frozen watermelon treats for dogs make a great refreshing snack by themselves, and overly ripe banana adds another yummy component to it!
Remember to remove the watermelon rind, the seeds as well as the banana peel before you blend the two ingredients in your food processor.
That’s because neither the watermelon skin and seeds, nor the banana peel are good for dogs as they can cause an upset tummy.
Once you’ve made a batch for your pup(s), you can store them in the freezer for about 3 months.
If you’re like me, you may also want to make a few frozen watermelon balls to use in your (virgin or alcoholic) summer drinks.
Now have fun whipping up a batch of yummy frozen watermelon goodness!
Related Reading:
- Boosting the K9 Immune System With Banana Kelp Dog Treats
- Spoil Your Dog With Homemade Dehydrated Dog Treats
- Delicious Watermelon Recipes for My Dogs & For Myself
- How to Make Healthy Banana Tripe Dog Treats
- How To Make Refreshing Raw Goat Milk Treats
- How to Make Doggie Popsicles with Handles
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