3 Dog Smoothie Recipes You Can Share
Health & WellbeingCopy: Sarah Dickerson Photography: Sarah Dickerson
The blender may be the loudest appliance in the kitchen, yet it is often the one that brings a dog trotting in the fastest. With a few thoughtful swaps, a morning smoothie can become a treat for two, and these dog smoothie recipes are built exactly that way: one blender, one glass for you, and one small bowl for your pup.
Below are three easy recipes, each checked ingredient by ingredient, plus portions by size, what never belongs in the blender, and how smoothies fit into hydration. For more ideas on what can go into the mix, this list of fruits dogs can eat is a helpful companion.
Can Dogs Have Smoothies?
Yes, dogs can have smoothies made from dog-safe ingredients such as blueberries, strawberries, banana, peeled apple, and water. Keep the blend free of xylitol, grapes, raisins, chocolate, and added sugar, and serve it as a treat that stays within 10% of your dog's daily calories. A smoothie made for people is rarely safe to share as it is, so pour your dog's portion before adding anything else.
How Much Smoothie to Serve by Dog Size
A smoothie is still a treat, so the 10% rule applies. These starting portions assume a simple fruit and water blend and no other treats that day.
| Dog size | Smoothie portion | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Toy (under 10 lb) | 1 to 2 tablespoons | Up to 2 or 3 times a week |
| Small (10 to 25 lb) | 2 to 4 tablespoons | Up to 2 or 3 times a week |
| Medium (25 to 50 lb) | 1/4 to 1/3 cup | Up to 2 or 3 times a week |
| Large (over 50 lb) | 1/3 to 1/2 cup | Up to 2 or 3 times a week |
Offer half the suggested amount the first time and wait a day to see how your dog's stomach responds. Loose stools or gas mean the portion was too generous or an ingredient does not agree with them.
Ingredients to Keep Out of Your Dog's Smoothie
Leave these popular smoothie additions out of any blend your dog will share:
- Xylitol (birch sugar), found in some peanut butters, sugar-free yogurts, protein powders, and syrups. Reading the label every time is a habit these sugar free dog treat recipes share.
- Grapes, raisins, and currants, which can cause sudden kidney failure. This guide to grapes and dogs explains why no amount is considered safe.
- Chocolate, cacao, coffee, and matcha in any form.
- Macadamia nuts and mixed nut butters that may contain them.
- Sweetened or flavored yogurt, juice, honey, and syrups, which add sugar a dog does not need.
- Nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice. Cinnamon is not toxic, but larger amounts can irritate the mouth and stomach, and the powder can cause coughing if inhaled, so keep it for your own glass.
- Avocado, including the flesh, which is rich enough to upset a sensitive stomach.
- Diatomaceous earth and people supplements. Diatomaceous earth is not a proven dewormer for dogs and can irritate the airways when the fine powder is breathed in. Parasites need a vet-prescribed treatment.
Dog Friendly Smoothie Recipes for You and Your Pup
Each recipe makes one glass for you and one small bowl for your dog. Blend the base, pour your dog's portion first, and only then stir in anything meant just for you, such as honey, sweetened yogurt, or protein powder.
1. Berries and Flax Smoothie for Dogs
Deep purple and gently tart, this blend pairs blueberries for dogs with a spoonful of ground flaxseed. Blueberries are low in sugar and rich in antioxidants, and ground flax adds fiber. Raspberries can share the blend, though they carry a trace of natural xylitol, so they play a supporting role rather than a leading one.
Flax is often promoted for skin and coat, but its omega-3 is ALA, which dogs convert poorly into the EPA and DHA linked to skin benefits. It is a pleasant addition, not a treatment. For itchy skin, allergies, or hot spots, a vet visit is the right first step. The same goes for most add-ins sold as boosters. A dog on a complete food rarely needs them, as this guide on how to keep your dog healthy naturally explains.
Ingredients
- 12 fl oz (1 1/2 cups) cold filtered water
- 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries, or half blueberries and half raspberries
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed (whole seeds tend to pass through undigested)
Method: Blend until smooth, then pour your dog's portion. A pinch of cinnamon or a drizzle of honey can go into your glass afterward.
2. Pink Pineapple Smoothie With Mango
Pineapple for dogs brings vitamin C and plenty of water, and also plenty of natural sugar, so this blend suits an occasional treat day rather than a weekly routine.
Pineapple's bromelain is sometimes credited with soothing tummies, but there is little evidence for that in dogs, and the sugar and acidity can unsettle a sensitive stomach. If your dog has digestive trouble, choose the berry blend instead.
Ingredients
- 12 fl oz (1 1/2 cups) cold filtered water
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups frozen fruit, mostly pineapple with the skin and tough core removed
- A few chunks of mango for dogs, peeled and pitted
- A few strawberries with the green tops removed
Method: Blend until smooth and pour your dog's portion. The pineapple core and skin are too tough to digest and can be a choking hazard, so if you start with fresh fruit, trim both away first.
3. Chia-Banana Green Smoothie for Dogs
Mild and creamy, this green smoothie gets its body from a frozen banana for dogs and its color from a little baby spinach.
Chia seeds add fiber and plant omega-3. They swell a great deal in liquid, so soak them first and keep the amount small. Despite their reputation, they will not give a senior or sleepy dog an energy boost, and a dog who seems unusually tired deserves a vet check rather than a new ingredient.
Ingredients
- 12 fl oz (1 1/2 cups) cold filtered water
- 1 small handful of washed baby spinach
- 1 large banana, sliced and frozen
- 1 green apple with the core, seeds, and stem removed, as this guide to apples for dogs recommends
- 1/2 tsp chia seeds, soaked in 2 tbsp water for 10 minutes
Method: Blend everything until silky and pour your dog's portion. Spinach contains oxalates, which are fine in small amounts for most healthy dogs but best skipped for dogs with a history of bladder stones.
Dog Smoothie for Hydration on Hot Days
A fruit and water smoothie does add fluid, and a chilled bowl can tempt a dog who is slow to drink in warm weather. It supports the water bowl but never replaces it, and the fruit sugar means it cannot be offered in unlimited amounts. Fresh, clean water should always be within reach.
Other Ways to Help Your Dog Drink More
A second water bowl, a pet fountain, a few ice cubes, or a splash of water over kibble can all encourage drinking. A lightly fruit infused water is another option, served without the fruit pieces.
Shade, cool resting spots, and walks at the coolest times of day matter just as much, as these tips to keep your dog cool in summer explain.
Signs of Dehydration That Need a Vet
Dry or tacky gums, thick saliva, sunken eyes, lethargy, skin that is slow to settle after a gentle pinch, vomiting, diarrhea, or refusing water all need a vet. Heavy panting, bright red gums, stumbling, or collapse on a hot day can signal heatstroke, which is an emergency.
Smoothie Bowl for Dogs and Frozen Dog Treats
How to Make a Smoothie Bowl for Dogs
Halve the water in any recipe above for a thick, spoonable blend. Serve it in a shallow bowl and top it with a few whole blueberries or a crumbled plain biscuit.
Frozen Smoothie Pupsicles and Lick Mats
Leftover smoothie can be poured into silicone molds or ice cube trays, and these frozen dog treat recipes offer plenty more shapes and flavors.
The chia-banana blend freezes especially well, much like these frozen banana dog treats.
The pink pineapple blend makes a natural base for these tropical frozen dog treats.
A thin layer spread on a lick mat and frozen stretches a small portion into a calm, satisfying activity. Let very hard frozen treats soften for a minute for small dogs.
When a Smoothie Isn't Right for Your Dog
Size, age, and health all shape what suits an individual dog.
Puppies and Toy Breeds
Puppies need their calories from a complete puppy food, so a teaspoon or two of a simple berry or banana blend is plenty. Toy breeds have small treat allowances, and flat-faced breeds such as Pugs and French Bulldogs can gulp, so a shallow dish or lick mat slows them down.
Dogs With Diabetes, Pancreatitis, or Weight Concerns
Fruit sugar affects blood glucose and adds calories, so dogs with diabetes or weight concerns should have smoothies only with a vet's approval. Dogs prone to pancreatitis should avoid rich add-ins such as nut butter or full-fat yogurt.
Dogs With Kidney Disease or Bladder Stones
Banana is high in potassium and spinach in oxalates, so dogs with kidney disease or a history of stones need a vet's guidance before any of these blends.
Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs or Allergies
Introduce one new ingredient at a time, start with low-sugar berries, and stop if vomiting or diarrhea follows. During a vet-guided elimination diet, skip smoothies and every other extra.
What If Your Dog Doesn't Like Smoothies?
Some dogs are wary of cold food or unfamiliar textures. Try the smoothie at fridge temperature rather than frozen, thicken it into a bowl, or drizzle a spoonful over dinner. Others simply prefer their fruit whole, and a few frozen blueberries or banana coins do the same job with no blender at all.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
1How often can dogs have smoothies?
Two or three times a week suits most healthy adult dogs, as long as each portion fits within the 10% treat allowance alongside any other snacks that day. Lower-sugar berry blends are the easiest to offer regularly, while sweeter pineapple and banana blends are better kept occasional. Dogs with health conditions should follow their vet's advice.
2Can dogs drink a regular smoothie?
Usually not as it is. Smoothies made for people often contain honey, sweetened yogurt, juice, protein powder, nut butter, or grapes, and some sugar-free ingredients contain xylitol, which is highly toxic to dogs. Blend a dog-safe base first, pour your dog's portion, and only then add your own extras.
3Can dogs have yogurt or milk in a smoothie?
A spoonful of plain, unsweetened yogurt with live cultures suits many dogs, as in these homemade probiotic dog treats. Many adult dogs digest milk poorly, so water is the simpler base. Plain, unsweetened almond or oat milk is not toxic in small amounts, but flavored versions add sugar.
4Is peanut butter safe in a dog smoothie?
Plain peanut butter is safe in small amounts if the label shows no xylitol, which may also be listed as birch sugar. Choose one without added salt or sugar, and use about a teaspoon for small dogs or a tablespoon for large dogs, since peanut butter is very high in calories and fat.
5How long do homemade dog smoothies keep?
Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container within an hour of blending and use them within two days. For longer storage, freeze single portions in ice cube trays or silicone molds and use them within a month. Label each batch with the date so older portions are used first.
Healthy Smoothies for Dogs, Made Simple
The best blends keep to a handful of dog-safe ingredients, a splash of water, and a portion sized to the dog in front of you. For more homemade ideas, the full collection of dog treat recipes has something for every season.
For a wider list of kitchen foods to keep out of reach, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center keeps a guide to people foods to avoid feeding pets.
For thirty more cool ideas, from pupsicles to smoothies, the Frozen: 30 Fresh and Fruity Dog Treat Recipes eBook has a recipe for every warm afternoon.
These recipes are treats only and do not replace your dog's regular meals. Check with your vet before adding new foods, especially if your dog has a health condition.
Related Reading
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How often can you give your dog this smoothie treat? Didn’t it show that you could freeze them on Meredith Vieria? Hope this will help my poodle’s itching skin problem.
I love the iidea