Natural Pet Nutrition

dogs swimming with life vest

DIY Cool Down Treats for Dogs

While these summer months bring fantastic opportunities for countless new adventures you won’t find during any other season, the danger of heat-related injuries is very real and victimizes countless pets. Not only is it vital you learn how to recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, but any responsible pet owner also needs to know how to keep their dogs safe.

Thankfully, we have a few fantastic ideas to share with you here! Unlike many other DIY dog treat recipes out there, the three below are extremely simple and won’t require much effort.

Important Notice: The ideas below will do little to help treat heat stroke, far worse than heat exhaustion and considered a life-threatening emergency. If your dog’s body temperature reaches 107°F, his life could depend on you reaching a veterinarian in time.

  1. DIY Ice Block

This is both an Extremely simple and fantastic idea! All you have to do is freeze a mix of berries and your dog’s favorite toys or treats in a bucket, remove the block after it is frozen, and let your pup go to town clawing, licking or biting at his new cool toy!

This will also keep your pet occupied for a good amount of time, which is a fantastic solution to your destructive pet problems.

    2. Fruit & Peanut Butter Ice

Simply combine peanut butter & water in a pan or mold, then add fruit & flax seeds to the mixture. Leave it in the freezer for about 4-6 hours, then let your dog enjoy his new favorite treat!

Both fruit and peanut butter are healthy, peanut butter actually offering protein and healthy fats, vitamins B and E, and niacin. Fruits offer antioxidants, on top of several other vitamins and minerals! Just be sure you aren’t giving your pet xylitol ( a common artificial sweetener toxic to pets).

Ingredients:

  • Water
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup chopped fruit
  • 2 tablespoons flax seeds

    3. Yogurt Banana Pops

All you have to do with this inventive mixture is blend the ingredients into a large mixing bowl then freeze the concoction in ice cube trays for about 30 minutes. There is no need to use toothpicks or popsicle sticks; you can offer these creative treats directly in your pup’s bowl (or mouth)!

Bananas are high in potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C, veterinarians actually recommending them as an alternative to salty or fatty treats. Though some dogs are lactose intolerant, yogurt not only contains calcium and protein but is great for your dog’s digestion because it acts as a probiotic.

Ingredients:

  • 32 oz of either plain or vanilla yogurt
  • 1 banana
  • 3 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon honey

Important Summer Tip: Never leave your dog unaccompanied in a hot car! In fact, this is the biggest cause of heatstroke according to veterinarians and has claimed the lives of more pets than you want to think about.

dog at pets in the city hawaii

Weight Loss 101: What Is A Healthy Weight For Your Hawai’i Pet?

So, you think your dog or cat might be overweight? The last time you could see or feel anything resembling your dog’s ribs seemed like years ago. Maybe he seems a bit plump, or maybe your pet is experiencing other health issues due to its weight. Whether it’s a low hanging belly on a dog that can barely walk, or a few pounds extra, we can help!

Know Your Pet’s Recommended Weight

You can’t quite know how much weight your dog (or cat) has really put on without knowing how much they Should Weight. Though there are always exceptions, you can almost certainly find your breed’s standard among the almost 200 dog breeds the American Kennel Club recognizes.

Some breeds are naturally ‘deep chested’, and some might appear thin when they are actually healthy. Others might look overweight when they merely have a large coat, and some underweight dogs might look healthy due to a large coat. Though many people who know what to look for can tell if their pets are healthy, it can sometimes be tricky.

Of course, your veterinarian will know exactly what to look for, and not only can help you recognize signs of weight gain but help you develop a plan for healthy weight loss.

Watch the Carbs

Humans don’t quite ‘need’ carbohydrates to survive, but they do to remain healthy. For us, carbs are our main source of energy. Anyone who tried a ‘no carb diet’ probable ended up tired/exhausted most of the time, if not worse.

The case is quite different for dogs! There once was a time when wolves would go for several days without a meal; they needed to rely on fat storage for energy. Many wolves still survive the same way in the wild today. Though domesticated dogs have lived among humans for hundreds of (some breeds thousands) years, through many generations, and have adapted to our way of life, they still don’t rely on carbohydrates the same way we do.

  • In a natural setting, a wolf’s diet will consist of around 15% carbohydrates, and only because wolves are sometimes forced to scavenge when they can’t rely on animal meat. With so many cheaply produced plant-based pet foods on the market today, the avg. dog diet might consist of 45% or more carbs!

Though even many of the so-called ‘premium’ dog food brands will use more carbs than they should, some of the more popular brands flood the market with very poor choices. Try to feed your pet an animal-based food with top ingredients consisting of animal meat.

  • Try not to feed your pet to much ‘people food’. Not only are these foods often high in carbs, but they also offer more salt/sodium than you want to be feeding to your pet.

Exercise is Important!

You don’t have to run a marathon with your pet, but daily exercise is important for more reasons than just maintaining a healthy weight. In some cases, all it will take is a yard to run around in or a daily walk. You want to avoid your pet being inactive all day.

Of course energy demands can vary greatly depending on age or breed. Do you know the demands of your breed? Do some research; it only takes a few minutes to ‘Google’ your pet!

Urban Mushing

‘Urban (or dry land) Mushing’ was developed by mushers who wanted to keep their dogs in shape during the warmer months, and has turned into a worldwide phenomenon! Many people with all kinds of dog breeds perform various kinds of urban mushing today, sometimes even joining in large contests or races.

With some specialized equipment that doesn’t have to cost you much at all, You can run along as your dog pulls you forward, let your pup run along in front of your bike or scooter, or even hook him up to a cart! Are you a hockey fan or just enjoy rollerblading/ inline skating? Yes, there is a form or urban mushing for you too!

Pet Friendly Treats On Thanksgiving

Who doesn’t love getting together with the family, and celebrating a wonderful and memorable Thanksgiving together? With that in mind, why not bake a few extra goodies for the family dog, along with the family feast? You’ll find that making your own Thanksgiving pet-friendly treats isn’t only cheaper than going to the store, they are often healthier and you control the ingredients.

Cranberries

Though raisins and grapes are toxic to dogs, the American Kennel Club agrees that cranberries are a wonderful treat! Cranberries, when used in moderation, can be a very unique Thanksgiving ingredient, adding a special flavor to your dog treats the little furry one rarely gets to experience.

Pumpkin

Both canned organic pumpkin and pumpkin seeds offer a great source of fiber and Beta-carotene (body converts to vitamin A), especially good for digestive health. Since it is already a traditional Thanksgiving staple, why not treat your pup with a bit of tasty Pumpkin?

Peanut Butter

Not only will they absolutely love the taste, but peanut butter also offers additional protein to supplement your pup’s diet!

  • Make sure your peanut butter ingredients do not contain Xylitol!

Sweet Potato

Another Thanksgiving staple, sweet potatoes provide dogs with a range of health benefits in addition to a taste they’ll love.  Like pumpkin, sweet potatoes are also high in fiber. In addition, they offer B6, vitamin C, and manganese.

Foods to Avoid

Though there are many tasty human foods that offer surprising health benefits for our dogs, there are also some that they shouldn’t eat. In case your pup does happen to devour one of the ‘no-nos’ listed below, it may be recommended to induce vomiting (normally a tbsp of hydrogen peroxide will do it), but you should always contact a veterinarian before making any medical decisions.

Chocolate

Chocolate is by far the most common on this list since most dogs enjoy the taste and it is often a baking component. White chocolate, found in most store-bought candies, contains a very minuscule amount of theobromine (toxic ingredient). It would take a very large amount of white chocolate to cause any real harm to most dogs, of course varying with size and weight.

Baker’s chocolate, dark chocolate, and even worse- cocoa powder, contain dangerously, often deadly, high levels. If your dog happens to get into any one of these, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Grapes

Wine/Beer/Alcohol

Raisins

Excessive amounts of salt (many Thanksgiving foods are high in sodium)

Cranberry, Pumpkin, Peanut butter & Oatmeal Thanksgiving Delights

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

11/2 oatmeal flour

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup pure packed pumpkin

2 large eggs

½ cup peanut butter

Cooking Directions:

  1. Beat eggs for 1 minute using a standard mixer
  2. Add peanut butter, continue to beat/mix until creamy
  3. Slowly add flowers and dried cranberries until dough is thick and perfect for rolling
  4. Flour work area, placing dough on the floured surface after.
  5. Cut dough in half, roll to approx. ¼” thickness.
  6. Cut away with your favorite cookie cutter!
  7. Line cooking trays with parchment paper, load with treats.
  8. Bake in an oven at 350*F for 30 minutes
  9. Allow time to cool before you offer them up!