Hot Weather Reminder!

I don't know how the weather is where you live, but here in the midwest, we've been setting record high temperatures, and the last three days, the temps have been over 100 degrees! That's unusual for us.  The humidity just started creeping back in, which makes it even worse! It doesn't take long to get uncomfortable when outside just for a few minutes!
That's why I am posting this reminder.  Please to do NOT take your pets with you this time of year in the car if you are going in some place where they cannot go.  Do NOT leave them in the car, even with the window cracked, not even for just a few minutes! It's that critical.  The interior of a car can quickly reach over 120 degrees on a hot, humid day in a very short time.  A crack in the window isn't going to help.  We do not even have a breeze here today at our house. The only way dogs have of 'cooling' themselves to to pant (through their nose and mouth), or through the bottom of their paws.  The average body temperature of a dog is between 100 and 102 degrees.  So they will get hot faster than we even would in the heat.
The heat can make dogs sick, and once set in can even be lethal in a short amount of time.  Leave your dog at home when you do errands this summer....make sure they are in a climate controlled environment with plenty of fresh water to drink.  I would hope the last thing you'd want to do is to be responsible for the death of your pet due to your own carelessness.
If you happen to see a dog (or other pet, or even a child) in a hot car...call 911...and if the situation is dire, don't hesitate to break a window to get in to rescue someone's pet.  Maybe that sounds radical or out of place, but to me, it's not.  It's considered pet neglect/abuse...and I will press charges against anyone who would do this to an innocent animal.
Bottom line...use sense...it's way too hot right now to leave a dog in a car.  Hot oven, hot car...same thing! Be a responsible and loving owner...or you might be living with some unpleasant consequences!

Home Cooked

I’ve been cooking homemade meals for my dogs for almost four years.  Over that time I have developed a system that works pretty well.  My dogs and incoming fosters enjoy a flavorful, healthy meal.  I haven’t found a dog yet that doesn’t like meat.  Okay, so maybe that’s not unusual….that’s just normal.  And what dog doesn’t like cheese or peanut butter? However, many of the other foods I include in their diet maybe seem a little ‘outside the box’. 

Vegetables like broccoli, squash and green beans are some of my dog’s favorites.  I’ve had numerous people comment to me that their dog ‘wouldn’t eat like that!’  When I ask if they’ve tried, the response is always, ‘no’.  Dogs like variety as much as people do.  I wouldn’t want to eat toast every day, two or three times a day.  Even though a dog will eat the same kibble day in and day out…that’s boring! Variety is the spice of life…even for the canine.

It’s not necessary to bombard your dog’s daily diet with a bunch of new foods…that could cause digestion issues.  Try one or two new foods in a meal along with their normal kibble.  If they keep it down and don’t get diarrhea, it’s a pretty safe bet they’re okay with it.  Start off with small amounts and gradually increase.  And also realize, there may be some foods they won’t eat the first time, but offered the second time, they will most likely eat it. 

Yummy breakfast additions include peanut butter, banana and plain yogurt.  Scrambled eggs, apples (I peel and grate the ones I use), pureed pumpkin (especially If they’re experiencing diarrhea)…there are many combinations of foods that are healthy choices…get creative.  Know also what foods not to feed your dog…make it fun…you just may find you like it…and I can guarantee a lot of happy dogs with clean doggie dishes!

Should You Be Supplementing Your Dog’s Diet With Alfalfa?

In my canine nutrition studies, I’m really learning in depth the nutrients in many foods.  I chose to research alfalfa for my assignment in my last lesson.  I remember many years ago when I had rabbits as pets they really liked alfalfa hay, and I recall my dad telling me it was superior to the Timothy hay.

Alfalfa is a member of the pea family and is a bushy perennial.  It has blue-green leaves and sports mauve to purple flowers with seeds in a sickle-shaped pod.  It is quite versatile as the stems, leaves and sprouts from the seeds can be utilized.

Alfalfa is an astringent herb known to remove toxins from tissues and is also a diuretic.  It has detoxifier ability and can improve liver function and cleanse the blood.  Two teaspoons fresh chopped alfalfa sprouts with your dog’s daily meal is good for digestion, as it is a natural enzyme. (I would suggest starting with small amounts and slowly work up to the two teaspoons)

It’s a power house when it comes to nutrients.  Rich in minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium and vitamins A, D, E & K…and let’s not forget the tremendous amount of chlorophyll it contains, besides carotene and organic acids.  Alfalfa helps to restore Vitamin K which gets depleted with the use of certain antibiotics.

It’s a disease ally, aiding dogs with arthritis and other inflammatory issues of the joints, and is a beneficial choice in treating dogs with cancer.  Alfalfa can be used over long periods of time without adverse side effects, and is useful in animals with debilitating diseases that need to gain weight.  It can also help a dog adjust to a new diet.

In older animals, it aids brain function and improves mental vigor.  For dogs that have ailments of overly acidic urine, bladder irritation and crystal formations, alfalfa can improve and heal these conditions.  I know it sounds almost too good to be true.  Of course, there is always an exception to every rule, even though this is a safe ‘food’, in large quantities it can cause anemia because of its considerable Vitamin K content.  It might also pose an allergic response in animals sensitive to pollen. But use of controlled quantities should not present a risk.  As with just about everything…moderation!

Considering it’s easy to grow…you might decide you want to have it growing in your own yard.  It is so versatile and can be used for so much; it really should be one of those items you always have available in your cupboard!

Firework Safety Around Your Dog

Independence Day is well over two weeks away, and even with quite dry conditions in my area, there are those who have already started ‘celebrating’.  This always puts me on edge, as my dogs are certainly not fond of the noise.  I’m not either!

It is very important that we take extra care and consideration when participating in, observing or just being a ‘bystander’ when it comes to fireworks.  I read numerous lost pet postings after the 4^th of July concerning dogs who have run off from being scared when fireworks lit up.

My suggestion is to not take your dog with you if you go somewhere to watch.  Keep them home, inside, where they are safe and cannot run off.  If you need to let your dog out to pottie, make sure you have a secure fenced yard or have your dog on a harness and leash, with you at the other end.  Even when practicing these precautions, things can happen.  Your dog still might be able to get out or away.  When a dog is scared and the adrenaline sets in, a dog that normally wouldn’t scale a fence, just may.  Or your dog may slip right out of the harness.  Do not under any circumstances leave your dog outside unattended when fireworks are going off.

Plan ahead.  Have some valerian or chamomile treats or medication available to give your dog ahead of time to help keep them calm.  You have enough time right now to get some ordered or pick up something at your local health food store or pet store.  These are herbal supplements that are calming and natural.  If you have a Thunder Shirt for your dog, this can help too.  Usually I have my windows closed, as the temps are warm enough to have the air conditioning on.  You can turn on fans and a tv or radio to make noise inside so the noise outside is muffled.  I have neighbors across the street from me that put on quite a show each year, and there are also many in other close locations setting them off.

Do not set off fireworks in the presence of your dog; this will most likely scare them.  They could also get hurt or burned by fireworks in the hands of children or others not being careful.  It is just not a safe environment to expose them to.  I enjoy watching firework displays, but feel they are better left to the professionals with me at a safe distance.  Part of being a responsible pet owner is doing what is necessary to keep your dog protected and out of harms way.  Enjoy your holiday and be safe!

Pumpkin Yogurt

1/2 cup plain organic full fat yogurt
2 rounded Tablespoons 100% pumpkin
   (canned pumpkin, NOT the pumpkin pie filling)
1/8 teaspoon organic cinnamon

Stir ingredients together. Serve.

Note: This is especially good to feed your dog if he/she has diarrhea.  It's a yummy treat anytime of the year, but especially in the fall.

How To Prepare Fruits and Vegetables For Your Dogs

Feeding our dogs fruits and vegetables is good for them, especially the organic variety! Although they do not require large amounts of these, they can reap the benefits of the nutrients contained in them, especially if your dog is suffering from an illness or disease such as cancer. However, since their digestive system really wasn’t built to consume a lot of fruits and vegetables, it can also put a strain on their digestive tract.  But, all is not lost.  We can assist in this matter. 

Most of the really potent nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are found in those fruits and veggies with an edible peeling. (i.e., apples, zucchini, etc.) Since we want to derive the most value possible from feeding our dogs these foods, we need to include the peel. So, here are some tips.  Buy organic whenever possible, because the peel is edible, it is more susceptible to penetration of chemicals and pesticides.  If you cannot purchase organic, be sure to wash all your fruits and veggies (organic or not) off in water, this will help remove surface residues.  Add a vegetable wash, allow to soak and rinse well.  If the fruit or vegetable will be eaten raw, cut (remove any inedible parts, i.e., seeds, cores, etc.) and place in a food processor and chop it up fine.  Any that are cooked can either be mashed with a fork or put in the food processor once cooled slightly.  By preparing them this way, we jump start the digestive process by making these easier for our canine buddies to utilize.

It really only requires a little forethought to prepare good meals for our pets.  Since we should (and hopefully are) eating better ourselves, it will just be an extension of what we are already doing. 

Note: I prefer to purchase fruits and vegetables that don’t have a peeling (i.e., broccoli, strawberries, celery, lettuce, etc.) as organic.  The less outer ‘protection’ is has, the more of a chance for food borne illness issues.  Produce with a ‘heavy’ shell, watermelon, cantaloupe, etc., are okay to buy non-organic, but rinse well with water and veggie wash.

Natural Antioxidants You Can Feed Your Dog

It’s become a familiar word over at least the last decade…antioxidant.  You can obtain them from the food you eat (naturally), or from whole food supplements, or probably the most convenient and ‘popular’ way for most folk, in a synthetic form; a pill (man-made).  I am very much an advocate of obtaining needed nutrients first from the foods you consume.  The problem is, due to the way most people eat, this would be an insufficient method to acquire them.

Our dogs require certain nutrients in their diet to get to or maintain optimum health. So, why does your dog need antioxidants in particular? The same reason people do…to help ward off certain diseases like cancer.  Unfortunately this is a growing problem especially in the canine circle.  There has to be something to help protect our companions from this, and I believe that something is food.  What are we feeding them? What does it contain? What does my dog need? 

Antioxidants can be found in many of the fruits and vegetables we eat.  They help to ward off free radical damage which can cause disease.  Even though our canine friends do not require a lot of fruits and vegetables in their diet, we can certainly add these in without problem, and still maintain a balanced and variety filled bowl for them. 

The benefits go beyond to provide assistance in other areas, such as protection against cataracts and keeping diabetes in check, both ailments canines can contract.  Cranberries and apples are particularly good choices of antioxidant fruits.  Your dog can have both of these in their diet.  I will do some experimenting with these two fruits, combining them and come up with a yummy breakfast treat.  I will definitely be blogging more about antioxidants in the near future. 

The evidence has proven itself over the years, foods containing antioxidants need to be a part of the daily diet, for doggies and for people.  You really can’t go wrong with obtaining your nutrients from foods first.  I’ve never known of anyone to overdose on lettuce, foods are a safe bet…buy organic and then you’ll know you’re getting top quality produce.  It really is worth the extra money, and feeding your dog properly will reward itself down the line with fewer vet bills and hopefully a disease free canine!