Doggy Treats

Don't our pets deserve to be given the best possible food for their care and well being? Unfortunately a lot of pet food are high in processed sugars, fats and chemical additives that are the last thing they should have in their diets.

Dogs are omnivores, which means like us they eat meat and plant foods. They can eat everything from liver bits to small pieces of cheese, bits of apple and carrots and even fresh or frozen berries. These are all added nutritional benefits for your dog's daily diet.

One thing to remember is that not all dogs are the same and some dogs will not be able to tolerate dairy foods. They may have insufficient digestive enzyme lactase to break down the lactose in the milk product. However, there are lactose free milk products available.

These biscuits provide a good source of lean protein as well as essential fatty acids. 

4 cups oat flour
1/3 cup cold-pressed sunflower oil
2 eggs
1 cup of ground turkey, chicken or salmon
1/2 cup sunflower seeds, freshly ground (using coffee grinder)
1 medium carrot, grated

In a large bowl combine sunflower oil and eggs.  Add ground sunflower seeds, ground meat and grated carrot.  Gently add oat flour and knead until smooth.

Roll out to 1/2 inch thick.  Cut into strips or use a dog bone cookie cutter. Preheat over to 350 F (180 C) and bake for 30 minutes.  Biscuits can be frozen for future use.

Use organic, fresh food whenever possible.

You can put your dog homemade dog biscuits in the freezer to prevent them from drying out or getting moldy. Another method of preserving the dog biscuits is to use a food saver.

Using a vacuum sealer will remove the air from specially-designed bags and canisters. Air causes oxidation and dehydration which can make the food harder or if left in the freezer can cause freezer burn.

Vacuum sealed bags will also stop air and moisture from getting in to the food. By removing air from the bag mold and bacterial will not be able to grow. As well without air in the bag the flavors will stay in and other flavors won’t be absorbed.

Dogs can't eat a lot of 'human' food including chocolate, grapes, raisins, alcohol and onions as these foods can be harmful to your pet.

Chocolate can bring on epileptic seizures in some dogs and can actually kill all dogs. Chocolate contains theobromine which is a naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean. Theobromine increases urination and affects the central nervous system and the heart muscle. The symptoms that let you know if you dog has eaten a toxic dose of chocolate include vomiting, diarrhea or hyperactivity. More severe symptoms include an increase in the dog's heart rate, restlessness, muscle twitching and excessive panting. The results of too much chocolate may also be hyperthermia, muscle tremors, seizures, coma and even death.

Eating grapes or raisins can also present a health threat to dogs. They can develop acute renal failure or kidney failure.

If dogs drink enough alcohol they can suffer alcohol poisoning and as well if they eat enough onions they can develop hemolytic anemia.

Feeding your dog a raw food diet is more natural for your pet then feeding them food from a can or box. If you are going to change your pet over to a raw food diet, start with the basics. Feed them a range of raw meaty bones, which you will be able to get from your local butcher. Whole raw food items include chicken, turkey, fish and eggs. Chicken seems to be the base in the majority of raw food for your pet. However, other meats such as raw lamb, beef, venison, duck, rabbit, pig or fish is also appropriate. You will want to insure that the meat is organic so that it doesn’t contain hormones and antibiotics.

Dogs do not have the digestive system so digest grains. Grains are the biggest source of allergies in dogs and can lead to all sorts of diseases including diabetes. Feeding your dog commercial pet food may seem cheaper, but not having to deal with vet bills in the long run is a lot more expensive.

For more information on feeding your dog a raw diet check out: http://www.barfworld.com/