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Did you know we can make Himalayan chews for our dogs in our kitchen? Yeah, neither did I. It turns out that we can make these natural chews at home, but it doesn't cost a lot or take a lot to make them.
Rodney Habib of Planet Paws, co-author of The Forever Dog and co-host of Inside Scoop shared the video below on Facebook. After watching it a couple of times, I stopped by the store for the ingredients and got to work.
Ingredients for DIY Himalayan Dog Chews
- 1 gallon of skim milk (it needs to be fat-free for this to work) – $2.79 each
- 1/2 cup of lime juice); you can also use the juice from 2 large lemons
- 1 tsp of pink Himalayan salt
I also needed cheesecloth, which can be found in the baking/bakery aisle of the grocery store. If you plan to make these chews regularly, purchase the cheesecloth labeled “reuse,” otherwise, buy several packages of cheesecloth, which typically are meant for one use. The packages I purchased have enough cheesecloth for several small batches of Himalayan dog chews.
Directions for DIY Himalayan Dog Chews
I followed the instructions in the video…
Slowly heat a gallon of milk at medium heat in a large pot to boil (I used a stockpot), stirring regularly to avoid burning at the bottom.
When the milk begins boiling, turn the heat off and mix in the lime juice and salt; keep stirring for one to two minutes as the curds develop.
Using a fine-mesh strainer, scoop the curds out of the liquid (which will now look like lime juice and can be used to make a protein shake).
Lay the curds on the cheesecloth in a rectangle, wrap them inside the cheesecloth, and place a weight on to help them dry out further (see video for ideas) for at least 4-6 hours.
When the curds are dry and solid, cut off edges, cut into pieces (I made 5), and add to a dehydrator (my oven doesn't go lower than 170 degrees F) for 12-18 hours.
When finished, the Himalayan chews should be yellow and ready for the dogs to enjoy.
What Went Wrong for Me…
- I didn't add enough pressure to the cheese curds, so they didn't dry out enough, even after 8 hours; next time, I will use a tool press or vice grips on the outside of the cutting boards to apply even more pressure.
- When I transferred my chew curds from the cheesecloth to the dehydrator, my “chews” were white, not light yellow, as the video shows. I confirmed with Rodney that they should have been light yellow, and the white color I had was also a sign that I didn't add enough pressure.
- I didn't leave the chews in the dehydrator long enough. I thought I was only supposed to leave them in for 12 hours, but the video says 12-18 hours. Oops.
Although I didn't nail the recipe, the dogs still enjoyed their treats; which only lasted a few minutes and were soft in the center.
Next Himalayan Chew Attempt
I didn't give up. I purchased four gallons of skim milk and made four batches – plain, turmeric, and veggie. The “flavored” chews didn't work out. The additional ingredients added additional moisture and it took forever for the chews to dry and the process was messy. Dried herbs may have been a better option.
Questions About DIY Himalayan Chews
After publishing this post about my experience and various videos on social media, I received a few questions I'd like to address.
1 – Should We Use Organic Milk?
I love that people want to feed their dogs the healthiest food possible. If you want to use organic milk, then go for it. if you're like me and you're on a strict budget, then I would recommend regular ‘ole skim milk because it would suck to waste money on something at a higher price point only to create treats that you need to throw away (like, if they're too hard).
I know that in some areas of the country, people have access to organic milk, and it's the same price as skim milk yet healthier.
2 – Will These Break My Dog's Teeth?
I received an “angry” emoticon when I started posting about my plans to follow this recipe because, from this person's experience, Himalayan Chews can damage a dog's teeth. And I don't disagree. Hard chews can be risky for some dogs.
This DIY recipe allows us to control how hardness of the chews. I didn't realize this when I started. My first batch of chews were soft on the inside. The longer they are in the dehydrator, the harder the treats will be.
3 – My Dog is Allergic to Cow's Milk, What's an Alternative?
What I learned from Rodney is that it has to be an animal milk-based product for it to work, so soy milk or a nut milk will not work. Goat's milk is an alternative to cow's milk; however, most of the fat will need to be separated from the milk. There are articles that provide step-by-step instructions on removing the cream from goat's milk.
Recommended Himalayan Chews
I wasn't able to successfully make homemade Himalayan chews, but the dogs enjoyed the chews that survived. I was hesitant to buy Himalayan chews because of the price, but after buying multiple gallons of milk, I decided it was commercial chews are cheaper. I recommend the following brands:
- The Original Himalayan Dog Chews
- Chewmeter – these are sold by dog size
- Raw Paws Pet Food – 10 pack
I always monitor my dogs when I give them Himalayan chews. They're not a good fit for all of my dogs. For one, they're too hard. I'm concerned about the dental health of my tough chewer. So, it's the gentle, slow chewers that enjoy Himalayan chews.
More Recipes for Dogs
- Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipes with Dr. Harvey's Base Mixes
- Easy Venison Homemade Dog Food Recipe
- Creative Ways to Include Chicken Gizzards in a Dog's Diet
- Easy Pork with Vegetables Homemade Dog Food Recipe
- 5 Easy Mushroom Broth Recipes to Boost Your Dog's Health
I’m so happy to hear I’m not alone! My first batch turned out whitish yellow, definitely not as in the video. I left it pressed on a cooling rack on a sheet tray with a smaller sheet tray on top of it with two bricks wrapped in foil and a large empty jar full of pennies. Should’ve been plenty of weight. There was plenty of liquid that came out. Next time I’ll let it go longer. And I dehydrated for 22 hours and it still wasn’t long enough. They were soft when they came out of the dehydrator, got hard when they cooled but still a little pliable. I will definitely make again though as Sunny enjoyed them and Now I feel like I need to perfect it!