It’s pupkin spiced latte season! All good girls and boys deserve to be spoiled. What better way to celebrate fall with our Best Friends than with a delicious puppaccino! Starbucks has enjoyed an explosion of canine consumers for their Instagram-worthy puppaccinos. But what’s really in one? Are they really that good for our dogs? Maybe you’ll want to rethink the Puppaccino and try a healthy Pupkin Spiced Latte instead!
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Perhaps Rethink that Puppaccino…
A Starbucks Puppaccino is an adorable “drink” for our Best Friends. It’s an empty cup with whipped cream (cream, milk, mono and diglycerides, and carrageenan. Not necessarily the best for our good girls and boys.
To begin, many adult dogs have sensitivities to lactose, so this indulgence could cause stomach upset, rancid flatulance, or diarrhea. Additionally, dogs have absolutely ZERO need for all that sugar or the thickening agents in the whipped cream.
I know, I know. It’s a treat. Only to be enjoyed in moderation. I’m seriously not here to rain on your parade. With so many of our dogs suffering from obesity, 25-30% of US dogs are obese, and so many harmful ingredients, why should you? Don’t you want the best for your dog? Remember, your best dog friendl is likely to be overwhelmingly stoked at ANY and ALL extra treats she gets.
ALL That? In One Little Treat??
While a Puppaccino is free!!! (Awesome!), are the cute social pics worth the cost to your dog? A typical Puppaccino contains:
- 120-240 Calories (your dog’s daily value is around 1000cals for a 50# dog, so that’s up to 1/4 of them)
- 12-24 grams of fat
- 3-6 grams of sugar
- 40-80 mg cholesterol
- 10-20 mg sodium
Many baristas also enjoy indulging our pooches with an extra pump (or more) of vanilla syrup. Have you ever tasted a drink with that stuff in it?! Sickly sweet! This adds even more sugar; one pump is equivalent to about 1/2 Tablespoons of additional sugar. Do our dogs need this? Heck no!!!
DIY, Dog Friendly, Pupkin-Spiced Latte Ingredients
This pupkin spiced latte uses healthy, beneficial, and dog-friendly ingredients. You can serve it as a special treat, a broth, or a meal topper.
Raw Goat’s Milk
Pet-specific raw goat’s milk is packed with dog friendly probiotic bacteria. This aids in digestion and supports your dog’s immune system by increasing friendly bacteria in her gut. Scientists are just uncovering just how important gut health is to our overall health, immune system function, and even behavior!
Additionally, goat’s milk has high amounts of medium-chain fatty acids. These support energy without causing fat storage. (As dogs get much of their energy from consuming fat, not necessarily carbs like we do). Moreover, these fatty acids also lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol. One too many puppaccinos? A pupkin spiced latte might be your answer!
Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin is so good for our dogs! Personally, I try to incorporate a little pumpkin into our meals a few times a week. Pumpkin is chock-full of healthy fiber and essential micronutrients like iron and potassium. Adding on, pumpkin supports that all-important gut health by acting as a pre-biotic for those gut bacteria.
Turmeric
Turmeric is the superstar of the spice world! Both for humans and our Best Friends! This spice is a natural nflammatory and eases arthritis pain. In addition, turmeric helps break down dietary fats and can ease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Turmeric is also a notable antioxidant and immune system supporter and even flaunts anti-cancer benefits!
Cinnamon
Cinnamon, although somewhat contested in the dog-health world, is safe for dogs to eat in moderation. It is not safe for them to breathe in cinnamon dust, as that can cause respiratory irritation. The cinnamon itself is not toxic and is an optional ingredient in the pupkin spiced latte. Like turmeric, cinnamon is another natural anti-inflammatory. Additionally, it supports cognitive function. A study published by the Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances found that dogs who consumed cinnamon also had enhanced heart health.
Pupkin Spiced Latte Recipe
- 1/4 Cup Pumpkin Puree
- 1 Cup + 1/4 cup (set aside) Raw Goat’s Milk
- 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric (optional)
- Dash of cinnamon (optional)
Directions
Of course, try to include your Best Friend in on the action!
- Combine 1 cup of the goat’s milk with the pumpkin puree in a saucepan. Gently heat over low heat, stirring often. About 5 minutes-it just needs to be tepid.
- Stir in the turmeric.
- Pour the other 1/4 cup of goat’s milk in a jar and heat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or on the stove for another 5 minutes. This will be the froth on the latte.
- Froth jarred goat’s milk with a milk frother, or simply put the jar on the lid and give it a vigorous shake to froth it up.
- Pour pumpkin and goat’s milk mixture into a cup (if you want pictures) or a bowl (much easier for your dog to lap up!)
- Pour froth over the top.
- Sprinkle with just a dash of cinnamon.
Serve this tasty, beneficial, and healthy Pupkin Spiced Latte to your Best Friend, and save the rest for a meal topper. This recipe made 2 snack sized cups for my large-breed dogs, with about a cup leftover for breakfast meal toppings. Know you’re serving up something fun, and made with love. Your Best Friend will be totally stoked!