Naturally Healthy Dogs
Dog Toy Safety

December, 2010

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Natural Dog Health Remedies

In this issue:

• Dog Toy Safety - Choosing a Safe Doggie Toy
• Holiday Foods & Treats & Gift Ideas
• Dog Treat Recipe - "Holidog" Cake
• Aromatherapy Recipe - A Holiday Spray (for Humans)

Christmas holiday is just around the corner. Many of us are busy shopping for gifts for those special to us, including our dogs.

Do you know that the average American dog lover spends over a hundred dollars a year just on treats and toys?

At the same time, there are increasing reports of potential hazards presented by dog toys, which include anything from needles left inside stuffed toys to chemical-laden paints and choking dangers.

With the holiday season fast approaching, you want to make sure the toys you buy for your fur-baby is safe.

Here are some of things to remember when shopping for dog toys:

• Check where the toy was made. Choose products made in North America or Europe over those mass-produced and imported from other countries, where safety standards are often less stringent (or none at all!).
• Read labels, check the manufacturer's website, or call to ask if they test their products for toxicity. Many imported toys are not tested, and according to one test done in 2007 on some dog toys sold at Mal-Mart, the list of chemicals found in such toys included lead, chromium, arsenic, cadmium and mercury!
• Inspect the toy for loose parts and pieces that might easily come off and be a choking hazard.
• Don't give children's toys to dogs. For example, dogs might chew off and choke on the eyes and noses of stuffed animals.
• If your dog is an energetic chewer, buy products made of durable materials such as natural rubber, such as this Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Holiday Bulb Dog Toys, Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Recycle Toys, and the ever-durable Classic Kong Chew Toy.
• Avoid toys with squeakers if your dog likes to get it out of the toy! It's common for dogs to choke on squeakers. In addition, the polyester filling dogs sometimes tear out of plush toys (often in search of the squeaker!) is not toxic in itself, but if ingested in large amounts it can cause stomach problems, including inflammation or even a blockage.
• Make sure the toy is not too small for your dog and that he can't easily swallow it or choke on it.
• Don't leave your dog unattended with a new toy.

In addition to toy safety, we dog parents should also be careful during the holiday season not to overfeed our dogs, or feed them human foods that are not good for their health. Visit our page on Human Foods for Dogs to see which foods should not be given to our dogs.

Want to give some really special treats to your dogs for Christmas? Here are some healthy yet delicious holiday treats for you to consider:

• Ma Snax Organic Holiday Dog Biscuits Double Pumpkin Happiness
• Fruitables Dog Treats Pumpkin & Apple for Canine
• Wet Noses Organic Holiday Dog Treats Apple Pie
• Planet Dog eats Dog Treat Peppermint Cranberry

Need some more gift ideas for your doggie friends?

If you live in a cold place, it's nice to give apparels to your dogs to keep them warm and cozy. Take a look at these:

• Chilly Dog Fair Trade Sweaters
• West Paw Design Eco-Friendly Reknitz Sweaters For Dogs
• Earth Friendly Chic Organic Wool Dog Sweaters

How about these cool collars?

And finally, don't forget the gift of health is the greatest gift of all. Check out the numerous health products and supplements at:

Happy Shopping!

This is a nice recipe from the book "Cooking the Three Dog Bakery Way" (by Mark Beckloff and Dan Dye). The cake is so delicious that it guarantees to put you and your doggies in a festive mood...

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 large apple, cored and diced

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Grease a 12-cup bundt pan with nonstick vegetable spray.
3. Stir together flour, wheat germ, baking powder, and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.
4. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the molasses and oil.
5. Then whisk in the eggs one at a time.
6. Add vanilla and 1/2 cup water.
7. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until smooth.
8. Pour the batter into the bundt pan.
9. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
10. Cool to room temperature before slicing and serving.

This recipe is NOT for your dog, but for your whole human family. Holidays are a great time to sweeten the air with aromatic sprays; and water-based sprays are great to use in the house, especially with central heating systems that really dry out circulating air. Cedar and Orange are two essential oils that will bring Christmas smell into your house.

Try this spray - You need:

• 4 drops Cedar Essential Oil
• 2 drops Fennel Essential Oil
• 2 drops Lemon Essential Oil
• 2 drops Orange Essential Oil
• 4 drops vanilla extract

Mix oils together and use in one of the following ways:

• Mix the blend into 2 cups water and use as an air spray.
• Mix the blend into 2 cups water and simmer on your stove. As the scented water slowly evaporates into the air, it humidifies as well as scents.