I had talked about this before but around the holiday, my neighbor gave my dog a bag of soft homemade treats. My dog loved them but I also gave a little bit to the skinks who went just as crazy over them. I asked for the recipe and she told me they were peanut flavored and it was a mix that she just added water to and then shaped and baked them.
I was curious about making my own treats for them and with being snowed in this weekend, I got to baking! Knew there was a chance I might make something the skinks wouldn't like but I figured the dog would still eat them anyway. So...I made 2 simple recipes that I found off the internet. Because I was just testing the recipes, I drastically reduced them. Thought I'd share them with you all. The cookies still stayed a soft and chewy texture the next day.
This first one...the skinks loved but my dog, although he ate them, didn't seem quite as thrilled. Very simple. The original recipe calls for:
½ cup of flour
½ jar of baby food
Baked for 10 minutes at 325 degrees.
I substituted the baby food with Purina Beyond Beef and Berry Puree which I know the skinks love. Next time, I'm going to use a jar of banana, blueberry and green beans baby food. I should've added more of the flour now that I know what texture I'm looking for after I'd made the second recipe. These were more like drop cookies this time. I like that you have the ability of making many different flavors with purees or baby food.
Second recipe...the skinks didn't snatch the cookies right out of my hand but did later eat the piece I left in their dish. My dog absolutely loved them and wouldn't leave me alone after he tasted them.
¼ cup natural peanut butter
½ cup pumpkin puree
¾ + 1/8 cup flour
Baked for 10 minutes at 325 degrees
This recipe turned out firm enough to shape. I rolled them into little balls and flattened them a little with a fork. But it was kind of a wash for the skinks. I'm not sure if they're really supposed to have peanut butter anyway and the first one was definitely more of a hit for them. But I figured I'd still post it for those of you who have dogs.
This was Tequilo after getting his first taste of the first recipe, my goofball!
On to a question:
Does any one know of a plastic hide box that has a bottom as well, for sale? I used to use snake hides that were flipped over...open on top but I put a blanket (pillowcases or cut material from fabric stores) inside. Maybe I'm weird but I always wanted them to have a softer place and a reprieve from having to lay in the substrate. My Tequilo got too big for his snake hide. I used a bigger shoebox from a pair of boots and he loved that box...but then there were urine stains on the bottom and I had to throw it away. For now, I'm using a box that held Hugs juices. It's really big and spacious, can fit a ceramic tile on top for basking. This time, I put a vinyl tile on the bottom inside so I can clean up if he goes to the bathroom but...I hate the look of it. I'm thinking about getting a 15qt sterilite container and cutting an opening in it but they're somewhat see through...would they like that?
Tequilo with the shoebox. He was so cute, he kept popping his head up over the top and looking at me. I was a bad mom that day, thought I had a bucket full of Jungle Mix, cleaned out his cage, then went to the bucket to find there was no more JM! Had to use paper towels for the day.
This is him with his Hugs box. What is it about lizards that they refuse to use the help of ramps or ladders?! The skinks and my bearded are the same way! I'm going to buy a flat bark cork and see if that could become an acceptable ramp for them.
I had taken this picture of Tequilo...oh my goodness, doesn't that face melt you?
Then a minute later, he looks so ferocious when I offered him a treat lol!
I can't post all these pictures of Tequilo without including my baby Duma
He is turning into such a stunner and he's far from a baby now, not a whole lot smaller than Tequilo anymore. But I always refer to him as the baby
