Archive for the ‘Nutrition’ Category

Party Animal!

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

Summer is the season of parties- graduations, barbeques, family reunions.  Your pet is part of the family, and it is only natural to want to include him/her in the celebrations.  You probably know to keep your pet away from open flames, fireworks, chocolate, and bones.  Here are a few lesser known (but just as dangerous!) hazards to keep your party animal away from:

  • Corn cobs- These tasty castaways are very likely to become lodged in the intestine as they make their way through the digestive tract.
  • Fruit pits (like peaches)-  These are also likely to become lodged in the digestive tract.  Believe it or not, cats are as likely to be affected by this type of foreign body as dogs!
  • Skewers- These throwaways once held tasty treats, but now they are more likely to puncture your pet’s esophagus, stomach, or small intestine.
  • Foil, plastic wrap, and string- These may be garbage to you, but they taste like dinner to your pet.  Be sure your garbage is not accessible to Fido and Fluffy.
  • Gravel or dirt- Grease and/or meat drippings can make these normally non-edible items extra tasty.  Eating these in large amounts can cause your pet problems!

Please contact us if you have any questions.

 

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Keep your furry friend’s tail wagging with homemade treats!

Thursday, May 17th, 2012

Dog staring at treatsIt’s no secret – dogs and cats love treats! Many of the popular treats that you buy at the store are very high in fat and calories and low in nutrition though. So what’s a great way to treat your fur-baby while still being sure that the treats their eating are as nutritious as they are delicious? Make them yourself!

Making your own pet treats is fun and easy, and you can feel good about giving them to your pet. (Although you should still feed them sparingly — treats are a sometimes food, not an always food). Here are some simple recipes for pet treats that will keep your furry friend’s tail wagging.

Peanut Butter Molasses Dog Treats

  • 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 cup reduced fat milk
  • 1 cup peanut butter (unsalted & sugar-free)
  • 1 tbsp. blackstrap molasses

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
  2. Whisk the flour, oats, and baking powder together in a medium bowl
  3. Gradually stir in the milk, peanut butter, and molasses
  4. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until a soft dough forms
  5. Roll out to 1/2″ thickness and cut with a cookie cutter
  6. Bake for 20 minutes
  7. Cool completely before feeding to your pooch.

These biscuits bake up nice and hard and will last for 2 weeks in a dog treat jar and up to 4-5 weeks in the refrigerator.

Cat licking lipsSo that’s all well and good for Fido, but what about our feline friends? You can make yummy treats for them, too!

Yummy Tuna Treats

  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup nonfat powdered milk
  • 1/2 can tuna fish
  • 1 tsp vegetable oil or cod liver oil
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease cookie sheet
  2. In a large bowl mash the tuna into smaller pieces
  3. Add flour and milk to the tuna and mix well
  4. Add water and oil and mix some more
  5. Beat the egg in a separate dish until the egg is foamy and then add to the mix
  6. Mix everything well — the dough will be really sticky
  7. Using your fingers shape the dough into small balls, about the size of a marble and put them on the cookie sheet
  8. Bake for 20 minutes
  9. Let treats cool completely before feeding to your cat
  10. Store treats in an air tight container in the refrigerator

Bon Appetit!

If you have any questions about your pet’s nutrition, feel free to contact us. We’ll be happy to discuss it with you.

 

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