You are viewing all 'Food & Nutrition entries.
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Yes, yes, we all know dogs can’t eat chocolate. But picture this scenario: Dressed-up children lugging bags of candy snack on chocolate bars while trick-or-treating. Naturally, some of the candy drops and the children reach into the bags for a replacement. Nobody cleans up the dropped candy because nobody would pick up dirty candy off the ground. Right? Nobody but a dog, that is.
Dog walkers, please be watchful the week following Halloween. While dogs are never allowed chocolate, they are mysteriously drawn to it and some doggies can spot and swallow a chocolate bar wrapper, dirt and all, in seconds.
Helen Fazio and her dog Raja are world travelers. Click here to visit their blog, and click here to follow them on Twitter. |
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These are a great way to beat the heat, but can also help with separation anxiety. Just fill a Kong with peanut butter (or yogurt and anything else your dog might like) and then freeze it. If your dog loves peanut butter, but hates it when you leave, save this treat for ONLY when you leave. This way the dog will associate your leaving with something fun. And the fact that it is frozen will keep them occupied for awhile. |
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There is really nothing cuter than watching a dog lick from a cup between his paws. It’s one of life’s great pleasures. Instead of sending you off for pre-made treats, we invite you whip up a batch of Frosty Paws at home. It’s so easy, even your dog could do it.
Here’s all you need: 1 quart vanilla yogurt (preferably nonfat), 1 ripe banana, 2 tablespoons peanut butter, 2 tablespoons honey. First, puree the banana in a blender. Add the peanut butter and honey and continue processing until smooth. Then, add yogurt and process until all ingredients are blended together. Pour the mix into small containers like Glad reusable mini containers or Dixie 3-ounce mini cups. Freeze until solid and you’ll make about 10 per batch.
Woof Report is a free weekday email newsletter with pup-perfect dog care tips, news, products & more! Sign up at www.woofreport.com or become a Facebook Fan. |
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Buying dog food is a big expense for most owners, costing upwards of $300 or more for a premium brand each year. Slashing costs on your pet’s food bill is possible, and you don’t have to sacrifice quality to do it.
Go Big- Buying pet food in bulk keeps a few extra dollars in your pocket. Make sure you store it properly, though, so it doesn’t spoil.
Be Savvy- Visit manufacturer’s websites for downloadable coupons. But don’t stop there – shop around! Is your preferred brand cheaper in the store near your work? Or maybe the pet store in your hometown has better pricing.
Ban Cans- It’s more economical to feed large dogs dry kibble. That’s because wet food is mostly made up of water so your pet needs more of it to receive all of his daily nutrients.
Maryann Mott is a pet journalist and author. Her books and articles can be found at Petwriter.com and you can follow her on Twitter here. |
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Well, we can add chewing gum to the multitude of things we need to keep away from our dogs. Besides being a nuisance when he doesn’t keep his mouth closed, chewing gum can be also be harmful to your dog. When my eighty pound AmStaff downed a pack the other day, I jumped online to www.justanswer.com to find out the consequences. Turns out sugared gum isn’t too bad and may just cause a bad tummy ache. However, the Xylitol in sugarless gum can be toxic, and can cause liver failure.
So, if there’s a trail of gum wrappers down the hall or your dog is unexpectedly blowing bubbles, get him to a vet right away. |
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While you should be aware of
which plants and vegetables are toxic to dogs, some dogs like to chew on veggies. I bring some to the park as treats. My Labradoodle, Benny, will do almost anything for a string bean! Try different safe vegetables to see which ones your dog likes. Steam a bunch and keep them in the fridge.
And remember – no free treats! Treats are rewards. Have your pup work a little for them.
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If your dog needs a drink and you don’t have a bowl – but you do have an unused poop bag in your pocket – roll down the top of the bag to form a make-shift bowl and fill it with water. Benny Bix Ochman Labradoodle Puppy prefers this method to every portable dog bowl I’ve ever tried (and I’ve tried a lot.)
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Outside of dire circumstances, like the recent peanut butter/salmonella issue or the dog food of Chinese production of a year or two ago, you should not change your dog’s food immediately from one type or brand to another. A perfect example of when this tactic will come in handy is the transition from puppy food to adult food. When you have about three day’s worth of the old food left, mix a small amount of the new food with the old food at your dog’s next feeding. Over the course of the next week or so, gradually increase the amount of the new food as you decrease the amount of old food.
Though many dog foods are similar, you do not want to shock your dog’s system with an immediate and drastic change from one food to another. Trust me, both you and your dog will appreciate the extra care you take to transition from one food to another. |
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Treats are often used as a way to show our dog that they are loved. The wrong treats though, can be deadly. Foods such as chocolate, raisins and macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs. Be certain to place candy dishes, Easter baskets or cookie platters out of the reach of your dog. Store any leftover treats in a secured container inside of a cabinet at night. One easy rule to avoid disaster is to remember that you would not eat dog food, so don’t feed people food to your dog!
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Products made in the U.S. must meet strict regulatory guidelines that products produced elsewhere may not need to meet. Also, many products produced in the U.S. contain higher quality ingredients. Regardless, we recommend all-natural treats that contain few ingredients and as few additives and preservatives as possible. Finding the right dog treats and chews can be tough, so make sure to read the ingredients section and if you can pronounce everything and all ingredients seem to be there for a purpose, you and your pup will likely be okay! |
