Naturally Healthy Dogs
"Treat" Your Dog Wisely

July, 2011

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Natural Dog Health Remedies

In this issue:

• "Treat" Your Dog Wisely
• Dog Treat Recipe - Doggie Veggie Bread
• Aromatherapy Recipe - Flea-n-Mosquito B-Gone Spray

How do you "treat" your dog? I mean, do you give your dog treats and snacks that may not be healthy? Do you "over-treat" your dog?

Dogs like snacks and we all like to pamper our dogs with yummy treats. However, too many treats can cause obesity which can lead to other health problems such as diabetes and arthritis. Treats that contain sugars, artificial colorings or flavorings are of course bad for our dogs' health.

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't "treat" your dog - it only means that you need to treat your dog wisely.

The ideal snack should be low in calories and fat, high in protein, contain natural ingredients, and preferably offer additional health benefits.

Here are some tips to help you select healthy treats for your dog:

1. Read Labels Carefully: Reading the ingredient labels carefully when choosing a snack for your dog is just as important as when choosing a dog food. Avoid treats that are packed with carbohydrates, sugars (e.g. corn syrup, molasses, fructose, etc.), artificial flavorings, colorings, and preservatives. Choose natural treats that are meat-based and contain no artificial ingredients or sugars.

2. Use Fruits and Veggies: Fruits and veggies are great healthy snacks for dogs. Most dogs love apples, carrots, berries, grean beans, and other fresh produce. Hard raw veggies such as carrots can also help clean the dog's teeth. Just remember that some veggies and fruits are toxic to dogs (e.g. onions, grapes, raisins).

3. Count Calories: Dog treats should not be the main source of nutrients and calories because they are usually not complete and nutritionally balanced. Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories. (Find out from your vet how many calories your dog needs).

4. Avoid Certain Table Scraps: Do not give your dog table scraps that are fat or sugary. These foods may taste good to your dog but can cause digestive problems such as bad breath, gas, loose stools, and so on. Too much fatty food can also lead to obesity and pancreatitis. Healthy table scraps such as lean meats and unseasoned vegetables are OK. (Never give your dog treats from the table to avoid begging.)

5. Use Treats as Rewards: Small healthy treats are good to give as rewards. This reinforces the positive aspects of good behavior. Positive reinforcement is always better and more effective than punishment.

6. Choose Snacks with Health Benefits: Some high-quality, "functional" treats can actually improve your dog's health! For example, there are treats that support heart, dental, GI or immune system health, or even target arthritis or other inflammatory conditions. (See below)

You can achieve a winning combination if you feed your dog a high-quality natural diet combined with natural healthy snacks. Your dog will be healthy, content, and happy!

This recipe contains lots of fresh veggies and herbs. The resulting bread makes a wholesome, healthy and yummy snack that your dog will love!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup wheat germ
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/8 cup honey
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup grated carrot
• 1/2 cup grate zucchini
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with nonstick vegetable spray.
• Stir together flour, wheat germ, and baking powder in a large bowl and set aside.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil and honey.
• Add the egg and 1 1/4 cups water and mix to combine.
• Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until smooth.
• Fold in carrots, zucchini, parsley, and rosemary.
• Pour batter into the casserole dish.
• Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Cool completely before serving.

Spritz this blend on your dog's coat every day (avoid the eyes). Fleas and mosquitoes hate it, and it's much safer for your dog than commercial sprays. You can also spray this around doorways and on bedding to repel pests.

You need:

• 20 drops Citronella essential oil
• 10 drops Lemongrass essential oil
• 10 drops Rose Geranium essential oil
• 10 drops Myrrh essential oil
• 8 ounces aloe vera juice