4th of July Frozen Treat Recipes to Keep your Pup Feelin’ Cool!

July 4th is often a day spent out in the hot sun so it’s important to keep your dog hydrated and feeling good! This doesn’t mean you need to necessarily keep your pup in the cool in doors or constantly be hosing them down, but throwing them a fun, entertaining, and frozen treat just might do the job.

Below find some treat ideas your dog can get a ‘lick’ out of!

Benefits of Frozen Yogurt:

–         Natural source of protein, calcium, magnesium and potassium

–         Contains healing bacteria to assist the digestive tract ex. Lactobacillus acidophilus

–         Produces niacin and folic acid, vitamins that help keep your dog’s  digestive system clean

–         Reduces intestinal disorders and gas

–         Increases consistency of solid wastes

–         Helps with anxiety

–         Reduces Cholesterol levels

–         Helps to heal gastrointestinal conditions i.e. yeast infection, constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel movements

Warning: Feed dogs yogurt in moderation- 1 teaspoon for a puppy and 1 tablespoon for a medium-sized dog and no more than every other day.

FROZEN PEANUT BUTTER PUPSICLES

What you’ll need: peanut butter, banana, water, small bowl, ice cube tray

Directions

-In a small bowl mix peanut butter with a small portion of water and half mashed banana.

-Scoop bits of the mixture and put it into the crevices in your ice cube tray (this can be really fun if you have a try that makes ice cubes into cool shapes) you can even freeze it in a BIONIC dog toy and have them munching all day!

-Store it in the freezer until it is frozen.

-Pop the pupsicles out throughout the day to keep your pup occupied, happy and feeling cool 🙂

FROZEN FRUITS/VEGETABLES

One dog in the office, Ellie, is just obsessed with bananas and freezing them makes her enjoy her treats for much longer. Other suitable fruits/veggies include green beans, squash, sweet potato, strawberries and apples. Make sure any vegetables/fruits you are thinking of freezing aren’t harmful to your pup though, CLICK HERE for items not to feed your dog.

HONEY-APPLESAUCE-YOGURT-PEANUT BUTTER-PUPSICLE

What you’ll need: Large bowl, plain yogurt (ex. Dannon All Natural), honey, peanut butter, applesauce (ex. Mott’s Original 4 oz. snack size)

http://zimonawhim.com/2012/04/20/homemade-frozen-dog-treats-pupsicles/

Directions:

Thursday Thoughts: Should You be Feeding your Dog Vitamin Supplements?

It’s no secret that many people take daily vitamins or vitamin supplements to keep us healthy and strong, but what about vitamins for dogs? The other day my dad served my dog  a dinosaur egg of a vitamin saying it’s been known to help with teeth, keep ears clean, and even reduce shedding. I wasn’t quite convinced of the benefits, and was curious as to the safety of feeding dogs vitamins, so of course I consulted good old Google.

According to a WebMD article, over one-third of pets are given vitamins, particularly supplements, by their owners. Typical functions of these vitamins have been to combat arthritic joints or supply fatty acids to lessen intense shedding and better a coat’s shine.

How do you know if your dog needs vitamins?

Well all dogs need vitamins to stay healthy, but several doctors state that most dog foods have the necessary vitamins in them to keep your dog healthy. Thus, vitamins should, in most cases, not be needed. Some joint discomfort or hair loss can be attributed to neurological damage or hormonal problems which many vitamins do not help with. Or sometimes, all completing a well balanced diet takes is some extra fruit and/or vegetables (remember NO GRAPES). If your dog’s health ever appears particularly abnormal, you should always consult a veterinarian or nutritionist.

Could vitamins cause my dog any danger?

According to the FDA and various veterinarians, too many vitamins can be harmful to your dog.

Too Much Can…