Bacon & Cheddar Dog Treats

I love our pup. I really really do. She’s such a sweet thing. We’ve had her just over a year now and I still can’t believe someone treated her the way they did but I’m at the same time I’m grateful because she’s now a part of our lives It all started with a little visit to the animal shelter “just to look around.” Two days later, we were waiting to hear back from the vet about the mass that was in her neck. They thought it was a broken salivary gland. Not too uncommon in dogs who are chained up according to the vet. He made us a deal for the cost of the surgery and she became ours. Turns out that broken salivary gland was the result of a bullet. Yes, like from a gun. I had to have the vet repeat himself three times til I understood what he was talking about. It took two surgerys but the bullet was removed and her damaged salivary gland removed. Oh she was also spayed that week, so she had 3 surgeries in the first two weeks of coming home to us.

Fast forward to a year later, I take her into the vet for annual visit and find out she tests positive for heartworms. P.S. for those of you adopting a dog, it can take 6 months for a positive heartworm test after they get heartworms! I had no idea. I was so confused when the vet said she had heartworms cause we’ve had her on preventative since we got her! They did x-rays & bloodwork to confirm the diagnosis and the x-ray revealed she has a BB in her back! So the dog has been shot with a gun and a BB gun. Who were these people who had her?! Sigh. How could they have been so mean to this precious face??

Anyway, we dropped her off this morning to start heartworm treatment and decided to spoil her a bit before she had to head off to the vet for 3 days… so she got dog treats with bacon grease in them! I figured she deserves it! She comes home Wednesday and I can’t wait to have her home!

Bacon & Cheddar Dog Treats

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup bacon fat, melted
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup milk
2-3 tsp vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Flour work surface. Roll dough to 1/4-1/2″ thickness (dough will be greasy/oily but should roll easily). Cut into desired shape.

Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes (depending upon size). You want them firm but still a little chewy when you take them out of the oven. Cool and store in airtight container.