Naturally Healthy Dogs
Indulge Your Dog's Sweet Tooth

December, 2011

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Natural Dog Health Remedies

In this issue:

• Indulge Your Dog's Sweet Tooth
• Product Pick - Dream Treats
• Recipe - Christ-mutt Cookies with Coconut Nectar and Cranberries
• Aromatherapy Recipe - Holiday Spray

Most dogs have a sweet tooth, and during this holiday season, most dog parents want to indulge their dogs' sweet tooth by making them some delicious treats.

However, we all know that sugar is not good for our dogs, and some artificial sweeteners (e.g. Xylitol) are toxic to dogs.

So how can we make sweet treats for our dogs that are not only yummy but healthy?

Here are some suggestions:

Honey

Perhaps the best natural sweetener for dogs is honey. It is not only tasty but extremely healthy. Read our article on Honey Benefits for Dogs to learn more about the nutritional values of honey.

If a recipe calls for a cup of sugar, use about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of honey (to taste) instead.

Coconut Sap and Nectar

The pure coconut sap that comes right out of the tree has a nearly neutral pH and is low glycemic. In addition, it is packed with nutrients, including 17 amino acids, broad-spectrum B vitamins, vitamin C, and numerous minerals especially potassium. It also contains FOS which is a prebiotic that promotes digestive health.

You can get organic coconut nectar, which is made from this natural sap, from many health food stores.

It can be used in a 1:1 ratio to replace the liquid sweetener in any recipe.

Black Strap Molasses

Molasses is rich in nutrients as well - It contains iron, manganese, copper, potassium, calcium, magnesium and selenium. It is also rich in in vitamin B6.

If you want to use molasses as a sweetener for dog treats, use organic unsulphured black strap molasses.

Stevia

Stevia (aka sweetleaf and sugarleaf) is an herb with sweet leaves and is another natural sweetener that can be used to make dog treats. It is much sweeter than sugar but has a zero glycemic index; therefore it does not have an impact on insulin levels.

You can get white powdered stevia (chemically processed) or stevia liquid concentrate (made from the whole leaves and is concentrated in a base of purified water).

This year it is estimated that 60% of dogs will get treats as their Christmas present! Of course you can make your own treats, but if you are too busy to do so, why not order some delicious AND nutritious treats for your dog's Christmas stocking now?

Not all treats are the same, though. If you want to give your dog the very BEST, take a look at these Wysong Dream Treats. They are entirely raw meat treats, loaded with extra vitamins, minerals, probiotics, enzymes, powerful natural nutraceuticals and more! You can indulge your dog and at the same time feel good because you know you are giving your dog something natural and healthy!

Ingredients:

• 4 cups whole flour (e.g. whole oat flour)
• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1 whole egg
• 1/4 cup coconut nectar
• 1 cup filtered water
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sun dried, unsulphured cranberries

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375F.
• Cover a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
• When the dough is well combined (it should pull away from the sides), scoop some up and knead it gently.
• Roll out the dough and cut it into holiday shapes and decorate with cranberries.
• Sprinkle a little freshly grated cinnamon as a final touch.
• Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.
• Remove from oven and cool completely.

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.