Homemade Mint Dog Treats

Homemade Mint Dog Treats to freshen your pups breath! Soft, chewy, and made with fresh herbs, these baked dog bones are perfect for senior dogs and the best DIY doggy breath fresheners your dog will love.

Homemade Mint Dog Treats.. Breath-Freshening Bones for Your Stinky-Mouthed Sweetheart

Does your dog’s breath smell like a dumpster fire? Well, if it could melt wallpaper and she’s got fewer teeth than a jack-o-lantern, these DIY homemade mint dog treats are your new best friend.

Chewy, soft and made with love, if you are looking for the best breath freshener for dogs, these homemade minty dog bones are tail-wagging good & perfect for toothless senior pups!

Trust me.. my 15-year-old Boxer/Mastiff queen, Haley, has exactly three teeth in her head, breath that could peel paint, and she devours these soft, chewy bones like they’re made of filet mignon. (According to her, they basically are.)

Before we dive into the minty magic, here are three other tasty, healthy, easy dog treat recipes your pup will drool over on BarkBellyBites.com:

• Homemade Patriotic Star Dog Treats
• Baked Pumpkin Beet Dog Treats
• Homemade Cheddar Goldfish Treats for Dogs

Let’s get into this tail-waggin’ recipe!

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Key Ingredients & Why They Matter:

• Fresh Mint – A natural doggy breath freshener that cools their breath without the scary additives in store-bought bones. Yes, mint is safe for dogs in small, dog-appropriate amounts!
• Fresh Parsley – This green goddess helps fight stinky breath and supports digestion. Plus, it’s packed with antioxidants.
• Pumpkin Puree – Great for digestion and gut health, and it makes these treats soft and chewy (aka: perfect soft treats for dogs with no teeth).
• Oat Flour – Gluten-free, easy to digest, and makes the dough pliable and gentle on sensitive senior bellies.
• Egg – Helps bind the treats together, adds protein, and makes everything better. Like, egg-cellent better.

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Step-by-Step Instructions for Homemade Mint Bones:

You’ll Need:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin (pure pumpkin, not pie filling!)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

How to Make DIY Mint Dog Bones:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, mix pumpkin, applesauce, herbs and egg.

• Add in flour and mix until a dough forms.

• Roll out dough to about ¼ inch thick. Use your favorite bone-shaped cookie cutter (or go rogue with whatever you’ve got). Love this ‘I Woof You’ cookie cutter??? Buy it HERE!!!

• Place treats on the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden.

• Let cool completely before serving to your best buddy.
• ** The pictures represent a double batch of dough made.. that’s why it shows two eggs vs one egg, ect.. used in the recipe.

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Pro Tips for Perfect DIY Dog Bones:

• Chop herbs tiny so they don’t clump. Haley may be old, but even she doesn’t want to chomp a parsley stem.
• Press down firmly with the cookie cutters and keep a little plate of flour off to the side to dip your cutter into in between cookie cuts.
• Originally, I wrote this recipe using double the ingredients and had mint bones for days!! If you want to make a ton, double this recipe (if you have a large herd of dogs like ME) and bust them all out in one day and freeze them.
• If the dough feels dry, add a teaspoon of water at a time.. too wet and it’ll be sticky; too dry and it’ll crumble.
• Once your cookies are cut, use the tip of a butter knife to gently lift the edge of the cookie and then carefully pull it up and off your surface before moving to your baking pan.
• Want a softer bake? Pull them out at 20 minutes instead of 25 and store in the fridge. Perfect soft treats for dogs with no teeth.
• Don’t have a cookie cutter? no worries… roll out your dough, cut out a circle or a square or a rectangle and bake.. NO STRESS .. just yummy treats for your best friend!!
• Love this ‘I Woof You’ cookie cutter??? Buy it HERE!!!

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Storage & Freezing Instructions:

• Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
• Freezer: Freeze in batches and thaw as needed. They keep for 2–3 months. Let your dog bones cool completely before moving to a large zip top bag and moving them to the freezer.

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Is Mint Safe for Dogs? Yes.. If You Use the Right Kind!

Let’s settle it once and for all: Yes, mint is safe for dogs, but not all mint is created equal. The kind you grow in your garden.. like spearmint or peppermint (Mentha species).. is perfectly fine in small amounts (like in a dog bone treat) and offers tons of health benefits for your pup.

But hold up.. never use pennyroyal mint (Mentha pulegium). That stuff is toxic to dogs and should stay far, far away from the treat jar. And steer clear of mint-flavored products made for humans, which often contain xylitol or artificial flavorings.. both total no-gos for dogs.

Now, here’s why mint in moderation is actually GOOD for dogs:

• Freshens breath – Obviously! That’s why we’re here, right?
• Aids digestion – Mint can help calm the tummy and reduce gas. (Bless.)
• Cooling effect – Mint has natural cooling properties that feel refreshing and soothing.

So next time someone says, “Wait.. is mint safe for dogs?” you can confidently say, “It is if you know what you’re doing—and I do.”

Why Homemade Treats are Better Than Store-bought

No mystery meat. Made with no preservatives. No weird words you can’t pronounce. Just easy homemade doggy breath fresheners made with love, real ingredients, and your senior pup in mind. Plus, they’re totally customizable.. ditch the mint if you want, swap pumpkin for mashed sweet potato, or roll in some ground flaxseed for added fiber.

Meet Haley.

She’s 15, has 3 teeth, lives for Friday night pizza (no teeth and can somehow still eat a bite of pizza crust… hmmm) and has breath that could clear a room. But she’s OBSESSED with these chewy mint & pumpkin dog treats.. and honestly, who can blame her? 💚🐶 Packed with fresh parsley, wheat flour, and love (obviously), these are the best breath fresheners for dogs with sensitive teeth and picky taste buds!

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