Anti-Inflammatory Dog Biscuit Recipe

Eating a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods doesn’t only benefit us humans, but also our canine kids! That’s because chronic inflammation is the root of nearly all diseases. In fact, cancer, arthritis, and digestive disease are all linked to inflammation (in humans and dogs).  

Eating a healthy diet is one way to keep inflammation at bay. Along with feeding your pooch whole food meals, you can easily add anti-inflammatory ingredients – like turmeric and flaxseeds – to their homemade snacks. Enter these simple and nourishing biscuits. 


A Look At The Ingredients

Oats – Naturally gluten-free, oats are a nutrient-rich grain that offer up many health benefits (such as heart, digestive, and hormonal health).

Ground Flaxseeds – Ground flaxseeds tout a lot of health benefits for our dogs. According to the veterinary experts at PetMD:

“Flaxseeds, sometimes called linseeds, pack a whole lot of fiber and protein into a small serving. Fiber is important to a dog’s digestive health, while protein provides energy and keeps the immune system strong. Flaxseeds also contain lignans, which can improve cardiovascular health and may help fight cancer. Anti-inflammatory properties of flaxseed can help ease symptoms of arthritis, lower blood pressure, improve kidney function, and maintain healthy skin and coat in dogs.”

Turmeric – Turmeric is a yellow spice that’s been used for its medicinal purposes for centuries. Its powerful anti-inflammatory properties are believed to be a result of the bioactive ingredient curcumin (not to be confused with cumin). Researchers compare curcumin’s effects to anti-inflammatory drugs, ibuprofen, and aspirin. The best part? Turmeric is 100% natural and great for dogs. Keep in mind, though, a little goes a long way! 

Egg – While the egg acts as a binder in this recipe, it also provides vitamin D and other beneficial nutrients. 


A Note On Measuring Oats

Like with flour, when measuring oats, a lot of people have the urge to take their measuring cup, stick it in the flour bag, and scoop. Does that sound familiar? While it may be the easiest way to gather a cup, all of my recipes use the traditional “spoon and level” method.

So:

  1. Spoon the oats into a dry measuring cup until it reaches the top. Do not compact it, tap it, or press it down. 
  2. Use the back of a knife to level off the top.

The Recipe

Anti-Inflammatory Dog Biscuit Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups instant quick oats
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • Pinch black pepper
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 large egg

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl and mix together.
  • Add water and egg.
  • Mix ingredients together until thoroughly combined with a spoon. Then, with your hands, knead dough. This dough will feel very wet and sticky. Let it sit on the counter for 15 minutes, allowing the oats to soak up the water and egg.
  • Sandwich doughball in between two pieces of parchment paper. With a rolling pin, roll dough to about 1/4" thick. Stamp with cookie cutters and place biscuits on the baking sheet.
  • Use a cookie cutter to stamp out biscuits and place each treat on a lined baking sheet.
  • Bake at 350ºF for about 30 minutes, or until cooked through.
  • Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Notes

Store in an airtight container for up to a week on the counter, two weeks in the refrigerator, or three months in the freezer.