This post is courtesy of a guest contributor, Robin Fletcher

Black and brown dog licks a festive San Antonio paleta on a hot day

It’s that time of the year again–the humidity is unbearable and the A/C is never cold enough. You feel bad leaving your pup outside for even two minutes, and their water bowl is constantly on the verge of evaporating. Summer should be fun for you and your pup! So, let’s make it fun, dang it! Here is a cute recipe for Puro San Antonio Puppy Paletas that your dog will enjoy while you catch a reasonable amount of rays.

San Antonio Puppy Paletas

Ingredients (Psssst….it’s only 3!) & Their Benefits

Carrots: A great source of fiber and vitamin A, carrots support your healthy pup’s eyesight–just like humans!

Watermelon: Great for hydrating your thirsty pup as it has a moisture percentage of over 90%. It’s also a great source of antioxidants which prevent a myriad of diseases! Note: Be sure to purchase a seedless watermelon or remove all of the mature seeds from your seeded watermelon, as dog’s fragile digestive tracts can’t process the dense, black seeds.

Blue Spirulina: (Nutrient-Dense Algae) Yep, algae. This superfood has so many benefits, like supporting your dog’s immune system and a healthy, shiny coat. Note: If your dog is on any medication, be sure to consult your veterinarian before feeding spirulina to your pup, as it may interact with certain medications. It’s also easy to get scammed into a poor quality spirulina product–many contain high levels of heavy metals that could make you or your dog sick. Make sure you research your product thoroughly, or you can find the organic one used in this recipe here.

Plate of watermelong and carrots, ingredients in puppy paletasOf course, always use caution when adding anything new to your dog’s diet. These ingredients all have amazing benefits for your pup, but those benefits can be overshadowed very quickly with a bout of diarrhea.

Grab your popsicle mold and let’s get to work! Here’s what you’ll need:

Tools

●  Food Processor or Blender

●  Popsicle Mold

●  *Optional: Dog Treats for Popsicle ‘Stick’

Ingredients

●  3/4 of a seedless watermelon

●  1 Cup of shredded carrot

●  1/16 tsp of blue spirulina

Total Time:

3 Hours

Let’s break it down by layers:

Blue Spirulina
The first layer of your paletas, and arguably the easiest.

Photo of a cup of blue spirulina, an ingredient in puppy paletas

There are 3 simple steps to this layer:

  1. Mix 1/16 tsp of blue spirulina with 2 cups of water.
  2. Pour mixture 1⁄3 of the way into your popsicle molds
  3. Allow to set for an hour

You’ll most likely have a lot of leftover spirulina water. You can use this to fill up your dog’s water bowl as a fun appetizer.

Jar of fresh watermelon juice, used to make puppy paletas

While you’re waiting for your blue layer to completely set, let’s make the pink one:

  1. Remove any mature seeds from your watermelon slices (the dense black ones) and cut off the rind
  2. Blend the watermelon until it forms a delicious Agua Fresca-esque liquid
  3. Store your juice in the fridge until your blue layer has set for a complete hour
  4. After your blue layer has set, grab your mold out of the freezer and pour the watermelon juice 1⁄3 of the way up each popsicle mold
  5. Allow to set for another hour

Bowl of fresh carrot juice used to make puppy paletas.

You’re in the homestretch! In one hour, you and your pup will be chillin’ outside.

  1. Combine your shredded carrot with 3⁄4 cup of water in a food processor or blender
  2. Blend until well combined (It doesn’t have to be a perfect puree, your dog will appreciate the texture of the carrot chunks.)
  3. Store the mixture in the fridge until your pink layer has set for a complete hour
  4. Once your pink layer has set, pour your carrot juice 1⁄3 of the way into your popsicle molds and add the lids to your molds (Optional: 20 minutes into the freezing process, remove the paletas from the freezer and add your dog’s favorite treat or bone as a popsicle stick/lid substitute)
  5. Allow to set for an hour

Finally, you’re ready to kick it with your goodest boy outside! Here’s your finished product–Puro San Antonio Puppy Paletas!

Black and brown dog enjoys eating a palata outside on a hot day in San Antonio

I hope you and your dog have an unforgettable, fun-filled, and well-hydrated summer. Stay safe and stay cool out there, SA!

Want to learn about more treats to make for your pooch? Check out these posts:

12 Homemade Frozen Dog Treats to Keep Your Dog Cool This Summer

3 Homemade Dog Treats for Fall

Cool Down with These Easy Frozen Treats for Dogs