NaturalDogTreatRecipes

Aug 12

Dietary Challenges for Dogs with Cancer

Every Dog is Different

It is quite enough to deal with the challenges of a beloved canine companion that is suffering through all of the traumatic events involved with cancer and its treatments. And, when it comes to facing the challenges involved with trying to help your furry friend to want to eat….well, let the games begin.

Each dog will react to the cancer treatments, the chemotherapy and radiation in different ways. Above all of the loving attention that you offer to your dog, you must be sure that through it all, the animal continues to eat. There are not any specific rules that govern what to feed, necessarily. Just that every dog is unique in the ways in which they will react to the medications and treatments and what works for one dog will be an ill matched feeding plan for another.

Here are a few guidelines to which you are able to adhere relatively closely:

Animals with cancer will lose weight basically due to the tremendous amount of metabolic distress that occurs within their body.

Organic foods, treats, and supplements are a good idea as they do not add anything additional to the body systems of those already compromised by the disease. And, they are often easier to digest. The more natural the better.

If you use a crockpot to cook your own dog food, the aromas are often enough to entice even the most hesitant canine companion to sniff out what’s cooking.

Seek the guidance of an animal nutritionist and/or canine oncologist who has experience with preparation of cancer diets for dogs. They will help to evaluate the nutritional needs of your furry friend and keep the proper amounts of carbohydrates, fats, vitamins-minerals and proteins in line.

Be creative, kind, responsible and respectful of your animal best friend through all ages and stages of his life with you.

To get more information, check out Help get your Dog Back to good Health.

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Aug 05

Weigh the Amount of Food

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Determining the Amount of Dog Food Needed for Your Dog

The pet dog has the same nutritional needs as any other dog. The only difference is the reduced number of calories it uses because of the type of life a dog leads as a household pet. The house dog living exclusively indoors is probably one of the least active animals in the world. More inactive, even than the humans with whom they live!

Most of a house dog’s time is spent sleeping. Its greatest effort, in many instances, consists of a 10-foot walk from the back door three times a day for eliminations, and a 10-foot walk from the family room couch to its food bowl in the kitchen. As a consequence the house dog is the most overfed and suffers from the greatest overweight problems of all the house-pets.

The dog that spends most of its daylight activities outdoors, but comes in at night, has a higher energy need than the pet kept indoors constantly. Not only does it get more exercise, but it requires extra energy to maintain its body temperature during cooler weather outdoors. Even with such additional requirements it is not uncommon to find indoor/outdoor pets that are fed too much and are borderline overweight animals.

The dog that stays outdoors all of the time is the pet least likely to develop obesity. As an outdoor dog it enjoys the same, or more exercise as the indoors/outdoors dog. In addition, outdoor dogs have a considerably increased need for energy to maintain body heat.

This need for extra energy for body heat becomes especially high at night and in colder weather. In fact, there are occasional instances where outdoor dogs, when improperly fed, begin to appear just like the undernourished farm hounds of a past era of dog feeding.

Calculation: The quantity of food a house dog needs is determined by the same things that determine the amount of food any other dog eat, which is its optimum body weight and the caloric density of the food it eats. The amount is calculated in the same manner as for other dogs. Determine the number of calories a dog needs daily to maintain its optimum weight. Then divide that number by the number of calories in a pound of food you are feeding. The results will be the quantity of food you should feed, measured in pounds.

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Jul 12

Natural Treatments for Anemia

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Anemia in our Canine Companions

Anemia is a condition that is commonly caused by blood loss from wounds or parasites such as worms and fleas. Symptoms of anemia in dogs include white or pale gums, weakness, and a fast pulse. Sometimes this condition indicates a more serious illness such as toxicity that results from a drug exposure. However, the more simple and common cause of anemia which is blood loss can be easily treated with a view toward promoting the growth of new red blood cells.

You need to give your dog a special diet rich in iron, protein, and vitamin B12. The following lists of foods and supplements are especially helpful and provide the necessary nutrients that your dog needs to treat anemia.

1. Beef liver which contains iron, protein, B complex, and B12.

2. Kelp powder which contains iodine and other trace minerals.

3. Green vegetables which contains iron and other minerals.

4. Nutritional yeast along with B12 which offers the same benefits as the liver.

5. Vitamin C, from 500 to 2,000 milligrams per day (depending on the dog’s size) which helps with the absorption of iron from the intestinal tract.

If the condition is caused by parasites, then you will need to nip the problem in the bud and treat the parasite infestation first before using any other forms of treatment.

For more information, read Liver Disease and the Canine Diet.

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Jun 30

Brand New Choppers!

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Six Ways yo Help Soothe your Puppy’s Teething

Teething is a natural process that occurs when your pet’s deciduous (baby) teeth are replaced by adult teeth. This process usually starts in puppies between the age of 3 and 6 months. All puppies go through teething because it helps them relieve the discomfort that is associated with the process. In addition, it may help the new tooth penetrate the gums. Teething is something that you should not prevent. Below are 6 tips to help your pet go through this experience with less discomfort and without having to sacrifice your favorite shoe and everything else in the house where he can sink his teeth into:

1. Do not leave anything that can be tempting for him to chew on where he can easily get into. Also, tape down all visible electrical wiring and keep all household chemicals outside of his reach. A curious teething puppy can be very clever at getting into things.

2. All puppies have the need to chew just as they have a need to eat and drink. Give your pet a few toys to satisfy this behavior. This is a good way for him to stop putting his attention to everything else that he is not supposed to chew on. A simple chew toy is enough to keep your puppy busy for hours and satisfy his craving. To make chew toys more enjoyable and tempting, soak them in broth or coat them with peanut butter. You can also rub the toy all over with your hands. Your puppy loves your scent and is more likely to put his attention and chew on something that smells like you.

3. If you catch your puppy teething on something he should not, give him a firm “No!” Replace it with the appropriate chew toy and say “Good boy” when he starts chewing on it.

4. If you happen to find bite marks on your favorite book, do not scold your pet unless you actually catch him in the act. Otherwise, he will not know why you are yelling at him.

5. Giving your puppy a mouth massage is a great way to ease the pain and discomfort of teething. Start by sitting slightly behind your pet. Support his chin with one hand while gently stroking the outside of his mouth until he is relaxed. Lift him up a bit and slowly circle your fingertips back and forth along his upper and lower gums using light to medium pressure. Doing this to your puppy for even just a few minutes does a lot in easing the pain.

6. Give your puppy more attention. By giving your puppy a lot of extra attention, he will less likely to do extra chewing. Exercise is also a great way to satisfy them and distract them from chewing.

You will definitely want to read Oh Them Pearly Whites for great tips and information.

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Jun 24

It’s My Paw-ty!

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Celebrating the Dog’s Birthday
Just as we as humans celebrate with cake and ice cream our special day, we are certain that our companion animals wish to celebrate their special day too. Even though we recognize that everyday with them is a special day.

Did you know that just over 70% of households that share their life with a dog, celebrate the birthday just as though they were planning a party for one of the two legged family members.

If you are among those who choose to "paw-take" in festivities for you dog on the anniversary of his or her birth, consider a few tips.

1. Purchase or make your own invitations that are theme related, such as a paw print or something specific that represents the personality of your beloved dog buddy. Be sure not to exclude any dog that you know will be compatible with the entire group.

2. Decorate with dog theme balloons, plates, cups, bowls, and snacks that are able to be enjoyed by the guests. You might consider having a few treats that both the dogs and their humans can enjoy together. Or offer little treat bags that your guests will be able to take home with them for later. Sometimes dogs won’t eat if they are excited and it’s always fun for guests to be able to take something home for later.

3. A birthday cake is an absolute essential ingredient for a "pawty", so check dog boutiques for options or be adventurous and make one that is completely dog friendly, without anything dangerous to the dogs.

4. Games are the final ingredient to the perfect celebration for your dog pal and his buddies. Try to find activities that are compatible with the personalities of the invited guests. Be safe and watchful of anything that might get the dogs into a bit of curious trouble!

Remember that dogs love to eat things that are not necessarily good or safe for them to eat. Watch the treats that you offer and the human foods that the canine guests might decide are really for them.

Bone Appetit and Happy Celebrating.

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Jun 15

Working Dog Diets

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Feeding Requirements for Guide Dogs And Dogs “On The Go”

Like hunting dogs, dogs that are on-the-go are consistently moving. These dogs come from the “round-tip” family as they were typically used to round up animals. Unlike hunting dogs, however, round-up dogs seldom get a chance to rest every couple of hours. They work continuously until they have recovered all the strays, brought in the last maverick, or are called off by their owners. As a consequence round-up dogs burn tremendous amounts of energy every day they are working. Many of them are performing at the upper limits of a dog’s capabilities and endurance.

Always leaving food out and having these dogs self-feed more desirable than portion control. By allowing the dog to establish its own daily intake it will do a far better job of determining how much it needs, in relation to how hard it is working, than you could ever do.

Dogs that are on ordinary herd duty can be fed any time that is convenient to the herdsman. Like all working dogs, they should be fed twice daily, if at all possible. For herd dogs, about half of the daily needs should be fed at each meal. Round-up dogs should be fed their morning meal at least an hour before they begin, if that’s possible, and should always be allowed to rest an hour or so at the end of the day before being fed their evening meal.

Consider offering this working dog a special diet that has been especially formulated to cater to the dietary needs of dogs that are expending excessive calories. They may require additional amounts of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates as well as additional vitamins and minerals. If you are in doubt about the necessary calories to sustain and maintain good general health of the dog, check with your veterinarian or breeder. These people are well versed in the dietary requirements for the breed with which you are dealing.

Guide Dogs

These are the dogs that act as a blind person’s eyes. Much of their expenditure of energy depends on the activity of their masters. Active persons will have active dogs. In addition, psychological stress and tension play a role in the requirements for energy in guide dogs. Consequently, even guide dogs with owners who are reasonably inactive have a greater need for energy than dogs of the same breed that live as house pets.

Most guide dogs, like any other dog, must have their food intake adjusted to maintain their individual body weight. The convenience of the food is almost as important as its quality where guide dogs are concerned. Elaborate mixing of ingredients, or even moderate combinations, become impossible tasks for people who cannot see to read a scale or level a tablespoon. A single-food diet is most desirable for guide dogs, and the foods of higher caloric density (1600 to 2000 calories per pound) give the least trouble for the greatest performance.

Feeding guide dogs is best done by using portion control. It poses the least problem for a blind owner to simply measure out a fixed amount of food at each meal and throw away any food remaining uneaten. By having a sighted person weigh his dog at regular intervals, a blind master can make a judgment as to whether or not his dog’s food should be increased or decreased for the next interval.

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Jun 06

Slow it Down and Cook up a Storm

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What’s Cookin’?

Well, the time has come for you to get an extra crock pot and save one for you and the family and the other one??? Definitely for a family member, but a four legged one.

With all of the uncertainty about the state of the pet food industry, many folks are discovering that just to be on the safe side, they would rather take a few extra minutes to cook for their furry friend.

You can find everything that you will need to know regarding the nutrient content at the USDA Nutrient Database. Locate the nutrient content of custom recipes that combine a number of individual ingredients at the Nutrition Data Nutrition Facts and Calorie Counter and there is a tremendous amount of great information at the site as well.

If you still need a bit of guidance, most veterinarians, especially natural health care professionals, offer the services of a veterinary nutritionist. You can start with your dog’s vet and go from there. Many times, they are in a network with others who provide services that they may not.

There is also a software program that calculates nutritional density and content of each of the ingredients in a recipe, so that it makes some of the guess work disappear.

Don’t forget to browse The Magic Cooking Pot for more ideas.

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Jun 02

It’s in the Can

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Dog Food: Commercially Canned Meats For Your Dog

Commercially available fresh or canned meats are usually lamb, poultry and beef. Lamb is the most easily digested meat, then poultry and beef. Whether fresh, frozen or canned, meat should always be fed lean, not fatty. There is a wide variety of commercially prepared canned meat on the market. The best products developed as complementary additions for biscuit are meat and meat by-products. The ingredients’ list will show little or no cereal content, and no food coloring additives.

Make certain that the fresh meat you feed is low in fat. Place the meat in a bowl, allowing it to stand until it reaches room temperature, then knead it as if mixing a meat loaf. Is the residue on your fingers only slightly oily or fatty, just enough to give your fingers a little "shine"? Or are there actual large globules of fat on and between your fingers? If the former is the case, you have a good quality meat. If you find your fingers encased with the latter condition, change your brand of dog meat.

Commercially canned and some fresh and fresh-frozen meat for pets contain additives. Usually charcoal, a natural ingredient aiding digestion, is found among these additives. Meat purchased directly from the butcher is normally meat alone, meat trimmings and, in less reputable establishments, floor sweepings. The meat you add to your dog’s diet should be a balanced product by itself. Even a mediocre canned dog food will contain a higher nutritional value than bad, fatty meat. Dogs living in very cold climates require additional fat in the diet to produce a high caloric output. Calories processed by the body produce heat.

Check the color and odor of your dog’s meat. Whatever type (fresh or defrosted frozen), it should be moderately bright in color. It should not appear darkened, black or crusty. Nor should the meat appear weakly colored, or look as though food coloring had been added, making it artificially red. Place the meat on a dish and check the "blood" collected at the bottom. The meat should be richly dark in color with an invitingly fresh scent, not rancid of odor. If the meat you feed does not meet these standards, find another brand.

Simply because a canned food is expensive does not necessarily mean it is good. Meat should be palatable and nutritious. Some readily available products have little nutritional value. Foods that look palatable to you, and that your dog relishes, are not always the best to feed. Some of these canned products list, for example, carrots, peas and corn, which unprocessed are completely not digestible.

Cooked or raw, these vegetables exit your dog’s system in the same recognizable form by which they entered. Also try to avoid those cans that have a high amount of cereal content, artificial food coloring and water. Some canned foods are approximately 70% water! This narrows your choice on your grocer’s shelf. Generally select the commercially prepared foods packaged by reputable companies which are available nationwide.

Don’t forget to take a look at Kibble: The Bits You Should know About.

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May 26

How Sweet it is!

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The Straight Buzz on What’s Good about HONEY

There has been a lot of press in the world of natural healers and the word that keeps coming up is HONEY. Were you aware that honey has natural antioxidant properties?

Studies in New Zealand have found that the acidity of honey is significantly low and may even prevent the development of numerous bacteria. Honey has also been found to have absorbant properties and when placed inside of a wound, the area is depleted of the bacteria from moisture that is required for it to survive.

When diluted by fluids from a wound, an enzyme is triggered that causes the production of hydrogen peroxide, which is an important antibacterial agent. Honey also has antiinflammatory qualities and soothes painful burns.

There are a wide variety of honeys, produced from flowers and herbs such as orange blossom, sage, buckwheat, clover, blackberry and wildflower. Generally, the darker the color of the honey, the higher its antioxidant and flavanoid properties.

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May 18

Feeding your Aged Canine Companion

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Dog Nutrition: Preparing proper nutrition for the senior citizen dog

It is only common sense that our pet dogs should be put on a steady diet of high quality dog nutrition. Many dog owners seem to think that just because they are animals and not people that “anything goes” when it comes to feeding them. These dog owners are missing the importance of solid healthy dog nutrition.

Practicing such poor dog nutrition habits for your lovably pet can have serious effects on his health, energy, stamina, and overall sense of alertness. This is especially true of older dogs that have hit their “senior citizen” years and are in need of better, more targeted dog nutrition.

As your dog is getting older and the rapid aging changes are taking place, it is time to start adjusting his diet. It is always wise to consult your veterinarian before making any sharp changes in your pet’s dog nutrition. In addition, you should take a part in as much thorough research as possible on the subject of older dog nutrition.

To get you started with some basic information of dog nutrition as your dog gets older, we will give you some practices to look forward to. For example, you will be gradually changing up the amount of food that you are feeding your older dog. You will also be changing up the number of times that feeding will take place.

There are many instances where dogs that have hit their aging years will develop a poor appetite. Their digestion will be a lot less capable of operating smoothly. One good habit you should start immediately with dog nutrition is to start feeding them very small meals throughout the day. This will help stimulate your dog’s appetite as well as ease digestion.

When it comes to dog nutrition for the aging dog, many leading experts in this area recommend that you invest into a dry food that is specially formulated for older dogs. Do not worry about having to search high and low for such a product because most pet food stores carry brands that cater to this dog nutrition need. If you do have trouble then check with your veterinarian. She will have some suggestions for you to shop at.

Last but not least, you must pay attention to the fact that your dog’s absorption of vitamins and minerals will decrease with age. In this case, there are vitamin and mineral supplements that are specially formulated for your dog nutrition needs. Your veterinarian should be able to suggest the best supplement for your dog when it comes to these vitamins and minerals. They may include zinc, vitamin B, and calcium.

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