The thermometer reads 98 degrees Fahrenheit, and your dog sprawls belly-down on the kitchen floor, panting. It’s supposed to be like this all week. 

While you’re sucking down iced coffees, help your pooch beat the summer doldrums. These easy-to-make treats will keep her occupied (and cool!)

How to make peanut butter pupsicles:

Ingredients

– 1 cup peanut butter, preferably unsalted and unsweetened (Check your peanut butter’s label to make sure it doesn’t contain any kind of xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.)

– Half a ripe banana, mashed. Water as needed

In a small mixing bowl, combine peanut butter with a little water or half a mashed banana. (The water and banana aren’t essential, but they help with freezing consistency.)

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper, or use Kong-style rubber toys that have a cavity you can fill.

Spoon the mixture onto the tray just like you would cookie dough, or stuff it into the toys. Freeze the tray or toys for several hours or overnight. If you need to reuse the tray right away, pop out the cubes and store them in a bag or container in the freezer.

Serve, and turn any hot dog into a happy camper.

Tips
 
Pet popsicles can be made out of all kinds of things your dog (or cats) eat normally, so experiment to see what your dog likes best.

The frozen Kong-style toys make a great cool-down treat for when you will be away for a few hours.

Try treats suspended in water, watered down wet food and favorite frozen veggies.
 
Avoid: onions and onion powder, grapes and raisins, salt, macadamia nuts, tomatoes, potatoes, rhubarb leaves and stems, avocados and anything else on this list.

(Recipe courtesy of Loren Drummond and the Humane Society of the United States.)