Dry Ingredients for Dogs

Sesame seeds: Sesame seeds are small seeds full of flavor. They are also known as benne seeds and humans often use them in their meals as well. In dog cookies or biscuits they can be used toasted or fresh. Sesame seeds do not have a substitute.

Soy flour: Soy flour is a very finely ground flour that is made out of soybeans and it has twice the amount of protein value in it then whole-wheat flour. Usually it is used with other flours though, not alone. Since soy flour does not have gluten in it, it does not rise. A substitute for soy flour could be white corn flour since it has the same texture. Remember though that the flavor of the biscuit might be a little different.

Sunflower seeds: Sunflower seeds contain a good amount of fat and protein in them (with the hulls removed). To make dog cookies or pastries use the raw sunflower seeds as roasted ones could have oil, salt and other additives. Pumpkin seeds can be used as a substitute for these (hulled).

Textured vegetable protein: Textured vegetable protein is gritty and it is made out of soybeans, which is used to add to the nutritional value in a recipe. There is not substitute for textured vegetable protein.

Turbinado sugar: Turbinado sugar is sugar which is raw and which has been steam cleaned. Do not use regular white sugar as a substitute.

Wheat bran: During the milling process the wheat kernel of wheat bran is taken off, making wheat bran the outer layer of the wheat kernel. Wheat bran is a very good source of vitamins, protein and minerals. Wheat bran used to be thrown away before however it was discovered that there are a lot of things that it can be used for when baking. A substitute for wheat bran is oat bran.

Wheat flakes: Wheat flakes are made in the same way that rolled oats are made. They need to get soaked before being cooked though for several hours. The type of refining process it goes through makes the nutritional value of wheat flakes vary.

Wheat germ: wheat germ is obtained from mashing the germ of the wheat berry, which then turns into small flakes. What germ is very rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals and when it is put into foods it includes nutritional value. Wheat germ needs to be kept in the refrigerator otherwise it will go rancid very quickly. There is not substitute for wheat germ.

White corn flour: Not to be confused with cornstarch, which is sometimes referred to as cornflour. White corn flour is made out of finely ground cornmeal that is acquired from dry corn kernels. Corn flour needs to be mixed with what flour in order for it to produce leavening since it has a low content of gluten in it. White corn flour does not have a substitute.

Whole-wheat flour: Whole-wheat flour can be obtained by grinding the whole-wheat grain. Dog treats and cookies made out of whole-wheat flour have less volume, are darker, and have a stronger taste. White flour can be used if you want you baked goods to be lighter. Keep whole-wheat flour in the refrigerator. The substitute for whole-wheat flour is unbleached all purpose flour, however it is not as nutritious.

Yellow cornmeal: Yellow cornmeal is obtained by grinding dried corn kernels and the end result is a semolina or coarse meal. White corn meal cannot be used as a substitute as it goes through a different type of milling process. However polenta can be used as a substitute if desired.