Healthy Valentine’s Day pet recipes your dog or cat will love

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for humans – it’s the perfect excuse to spoil your four-legged pal too. If you’re looking for a thoughtful (and tail-wagging) way to show some love, homemade pet treats can be a fun and healthy option.

These Valentine-inspired recipes are simple to make, use pet-safe ingredients and are designed to fit into a balanced diet. You can tweak ingredients to suit your pet’s preferences – just double-check everything you use is safe for your cat or dog, and always offer treats in moderation.

Another way to treat your cat or dog is with lifetime pet insurance.

Table of contents

• How to make healthy Valentine’s Day dog treats
  > Strawberry and yoghurt dog treat hearts
  > Love heart peanut butter dog cookies
• How to make healthy Valentine’s Day cat treats
  > Love heart salmon cat cookies
  > Tuna, chicken, and sweet potato cake for cats

Healthy Valentine’s Day dog treat recipes

Let’s start with some dog-friendly Valentine’s treats that are easy to make and big on flavour. All of these recipes use ingredients you’re likely to already have at home, or are otherwise easy to find.

Here’s a reminder of which human foods are safe for dogs.

Strawberry and yoghurt frozen dog hearts 🍓🩷

A refreshing, no-bake treat that’s perfect for dogs who love something cool and creamy.

Ingredients

• Plain Greek yoghurt (xylitol-free)
• Fresh strawberries

You’ll need

• Blender or food processor
• Silicone heart-shaped mould

Method
Wash four large strawberries, chop off the tops and cut them into chunks. Add them to a blender with around 750ml of plain Greek yoghurt and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into the moulds and freeze for at least five hours, or until solid. Serve straight from the freezer for a special Valentine’s snack.

Love heart peanut butter dog cookies 🤎

These crunchy biscuits are ideal for dogs who enjoy a classic cookie – with just three simple ingredients.

Ingredients

• Porridge oats
• Natural peanut butter (no xylitol)
• One ripe banana

You’ll need

• Mixing bowl and fork
• Baking tray and parchment paper
• Rolling pin and heart-shaped cutter (or knife)

Method
Preheat your oven to 175°C and line a baking tray. Mash the banana and peanut butter together in a bowl, then stir in the oats until a firm but slightly sticky dough forms. If needed, add a little more peanut butter.

Roll the dough to about ¼-inch thick and cut into heart shapes. Bake for around 15 minutes, or until lightly golden. Leave to cool completely before serving.

Bonus recipe: Apple & oat dog pupcakes 🍎❤️

A soft, cake-style treat that’s ideal for sharing.

Ingredients

• One grated apple (no seeds)
• One egg
• Porridge oats (blended into flour)

Bake at 180°C for 20 minutes in a muffin tray lined with cases. Let cool fully before serving.

Healthy Valentine’s Day cat treat recipes

Cats may not appreciate the effort in the same way dogs do – but if food is involved, you might just win them over. These cat-safe recipes are high in protein and perfect for a Valentine’s treat platter.

Here’s a reminder of which human foods are safe for cats.

Love heart salmon cat biscuits 🐟🩷

Fish-based and packed with flavour, these crunchy treats are likely to be a feline favourite.

Ingredients

• Tinned salmon (drained, no added salt)
• One egg
• Whole wheat flour

You’ll need

• Food processor
• Baking tray and parchment paper
• Rolling pin and knife

Method
Preheat your oven to 175°C and line a baking tray. Beat the egg and finely chop 280g of salmon. Combine the salmon, egg and 250g flour in a food processor until a dough forms.

Roll the dough to about ¼-inch thickness and cut into heart shapes. Bake for around 20 minutes, until lightly browned. Allow to cool before serving.

Not a salmon fan? Tuna works just as well.

No-bake tuna, chicken and sweet potato cat cake 🐟🐔🍠

This soft, no-bake option works beautifully as a Valentine’s Day (or birthday) centrepiece.

Ingredients

• Tinned tuna (drained)
• Cooked chicken (plain, no seasoning)
• Sweet potato
• Rice flour

You’ll need

• Mixing bowl and fork
• Plate and heart-shaped cutter

Method
Boil around 65g of sweet potato until soft, then mash into a smooth puree. In a bowl, combine 140g tuna and 65g cooked chicken. Stir in the sweet potato, adding a little rice flour if the mixture is too wet.

Press the mixture into a heart-shaped cutter on a plate, smooth the surface, then gently lift the cutter away.

Bonus recipe: Chicken broth cat pops 🐱

Freeze cooled, homemade chicken broth (made from plain boiled chicken) into small moulds for a hydrating Valentine’s treat.

Valentine’s treat safety tips for pets

• Always avoid toxic foods like chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic and xylitol
• Keep treats small and occasional – even healthy ones
• Introduce new foods slowly to avoid upset stomachs
• Store homemade treats in the fridge or freezer and use within a few days

There’s loads of ways to show your furry friend you love them. One is making sure they’re covered for the unexpected with flexible pet insurance from Petgevity.