Calmer Canine

Homemade Liver Treats

It is really important that you check the ingredient list on dog treats as well as the kibble you choose. Most are contaminated with a ton of artificial ingredients, corn and other no nos.

I no longer purchase any commercial treats. I am using two recipes at this time. Each are completely different. The first one you can find here. It is a banana peanut treat and it is sufficient for two of my dogs. Cha Cha, the chihuahua is a lot pickier so I have added liver treats. You will find the recipe below. They really are easy to make if you don't mind working with raw organ meat. It really isn't bad.

All three love the liver treats. Cardu, my lab actually moans for them. They are super high protein and contain organ meat which dogs need, just don't over do it. Which is why I have the other biscuit type available.

Ingredients

1lb beef or chicken liver

1 cp garbanzo flour, readily available at health food stores

1/2 cp blendered oats, just throw rolled oats in your blender and blend until it resembles flour

1 cp whole wheat flour

Blend your oats first and pour into a bowl. Then blend the liver until it liquefies, add to bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Stir until well blended. It will be a sticky dough like consistency. Preheat your oven to 350. Use a teaspoon to scoop dough. I only use about 1/2 tsp per treat. Place on a greased cookie sheet or parchment paper. They do not spread so you can pack a lot on one tray. Bake for 20 minutes. Allow to cool before feeding them to your dog, because they will be waiting when they smell that liver goodness wafting from the oven.

So far I have stored then in a loose lid container right on my counter for 5 days with no spoilage, but I will keep you posted. I am testing to see if they ever indicate spoilage. You can keep them in the fridge with just a few left at room temp for daily treating.

Note: I use all organic flours. You don't have to but I do recommend finding a local source for organic or Amish liver. My farmer's market has an Amish source and they are quite inexpensive. Just check around. Your dog will love you even more!

Are commercial dog treats good for my dog?

That is the question that was asked of me recently. The answer is most are not. Most contain corn, soy, mostly white flour, things like animal plasma and other ingredients you don't even want to know the origin of.

I can't tell you the number of times I had commercial dog bones on my shelf and eventually webs were visible.  This is indicative that there were insect larvae in the bones that I purchased. Other times I have seen holes in the bones, that is an indication that they do or have contained adult insects at some point and now probably larvae. These are borer insects that can invade your pantry.

I know bugs can be a high protein additive to someones diet but it grosses me out. Anyway, dog treats are very easy to make. They will be fresh, made with high quality ingredients and will be larvae, preservative and coloring free.

I found an excellent recipe on www.Chefgregskitchen.net. Click here to go directly to the recipe or copy and paste the blog address and review their whole blog.

Are you over vaccinating?

Yes, this means you!!!! More than likely you are over vaccinating your pet. Usually we hear news that is going to cost us more, financially and time wise. I have good news. Most vaccines should only be given every three years. How about that! I am thrilled, BUT finding a vet that will agree to the new (2003) protocol may be difficult. They have kept it a secret for seven years.

I discovered this information through my dog training journal. I have checked the dog laws for my area and I recommend you do also. My locality only requires a rabies vaccine every three years. Great news huh? My vet has been giving my dogs a three year vaccine for a little while now and charging me a small fortune for the service, however I just found out that the one year and the three year is the same vaccine!!!!!!! I am appalled at the deception that is being perpetuated.

There are other "core vaccines" that also should only be given every three years with the exception of puppies. All core vaccines should be given per vet recommendations for your puppy and at his one year anniversary. Following is a list of "core vaccines"; Canine distemper (CDV), Canine Parvovirus 2 (CPV-2), Canine Adenovirus 2 (CA) and Rabies.

The "non-core vaccines" should ONLY be given when lifestyle, environment or location place them at risk of contracting a specific infection. No more guilt when I do not accept the Bordetella, otherwise known as kennel cough. My dogs are never kenneled and I didn't feel the risk they meet on walks was enough to warrant it but I always felt guilty. No more.

These vaccinations can do more harm than good. The risks of tumors, kidney failure, arthritis, etc are increased. You do want to continue your annual check-ups though. Consider it a well check.

I am including a link if you want to see it for yourselves. The link is for the American Animal Hospital Association, http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/VaccineGuidelines06Revised.pdf

I go to Suburban Vet Clinic in Centerville, Ohio. I will call them and give them another chance to come clean and then I will be in the market for a Vet that is more interested in my pet's health than lining their pockets. Yes I know Vet school is expensive, if you want to argue that point go ahead and comment but that is not what this post is about.

I will keep you posted after I do some vet research. I hope I find multiple choices but who knows.

Note:  I was already upset with my vet clinic because they refused to give me Heartguard until I came in for our annul check. I could not afford to pay for all the vaccines at the time so they refused to give us the heartworm meds. They put my dogs at risk because I could not afford shots that aren't even necessary. Hum, something wrong with that scenario and I no longer recommend this clinic.

These guidelines are applicable to cats as well but I am not done with my research.

Patience Please

I just recently turned my website into this blog. It will take me a while to get everything I have so far posted but keep checking back for the answer to your questions or send me an email with your question.

bfitz@fuse.net

Remember I can share everything I know but.......unless you show leadership with your dog it will still be difficult to get all the behaviors you want and you may still need to contact a trainer. Things like the tone of voice you use and how consistent you are, are out of my control, but they are necessary to your success.

If you are in the Dayton, Ohio area I can help 937-613-3374.

Resources To Consider

www.petfinder.com is an excellent place to start. This website is where we found our wonderful rescue puppy Izzy. You can specify area, type of dog, size, age etc.

Local Shelters, Pounds and Rescues. if you can't find what you want in the phonebook use the internet. Specify what you are looking for and hit search, ie chihuahua rescues dayton ohio

If you decide that you must have a purebred registered dog, check with your local dog club. They usually have a list of reputable breeders but you still need to know what to look for when visiting the breeder's property. Buyer beware when it comes to breeders.

Craig's List and newspapers are acceptable options when you are looking for a pet. Do not use breeders that advertise this way, but you can find many wonderful pets in need of homes due to allergies, moving, downsizing etc. Again, trust your gut when choosing a pet from these sources

Please do not buy from pet stores no matter what they say about the dogs origins.

Do Not Feed Your Dog These Foods

This is a list of absolute no nos when feeding your dog

No Chocolate- Everyone has heard this. As a general rule it would take a considerable amount of milk chocolate to do your dog in. It is the concentrated presence Theobromine in dark chocolate, cocoa powders etc that kill, but why take the chance. If you drop an M&M and Fido scoops it up, don’t panic but don’t offer it to him either.

Cocoa Mulch – Here’s one I didn’t think of. See chocolate.

No Raisins or Grapes – No one knows why or which dogs might be affected or at which time but they can cause acute kidney failure.

Xylitol - It is used as a sweetener in many products, especially sugarless gum and candies. Ingesting large amounts of products sweetened with xylitol may cause a sudden drop in blood sugar in dogs, resulting depression, loss of coordination, and seizures, it is important that pet owners seek veterinary treatment immediately. I don’t advise humans consume any artificial sweeteners either.

Fatty Foods - The healthier your diet is the healthier your dog’s diet will be. With that said if you are an avid fan of French fries do not pass this on to your dog. Avoid also fat trimmings from meat, skin from turkey or chicken (a taste is fine), cheese in limited quantities. Ice cream is a concern on two levels, sugar and fat.  I do understand an occasional trip to Dairy Queen. Cakes, cookies and the like are out. Fatty foods will over tax the pancreas and create chronic problems down the road.

Caffeine – None

Potatoes With Green Tint or Sprouts – Potatoes that have green skin contain solanine which can cause acute kidney failure. This is true for humans as well. To slow the greening and sprouting of potatoes keep them in a dark dry location. Cooked potatoes that are not green or sprouted are actually quite digestible and nutritious as long as it is not a steady diet.

Onions – Raw onions are the biggest offender, but all onions should be avoided. They trigger hemolytic anemia in dogs.

Macadamia Nuts – Again no one yet knows why but avoid them. I do give my dogs small amounts of chopped or ground walnuts and pumpkin seeds as an additive to their food for the immense antioxidant properties. Make sure they are good quality and fresh.

Avocado Skin, Pit and Flesh – Poisonous to dogs

Apple Seeds, Plum Pits, Peach Pits, Cherry Pits Etc. – All contain cyanide and can be deadly. This danger can exhibit immediately or over time.

Salt – The problem with salt and salty foods is that it can cause a dog to drink excessive amounts of water. In large dogs especially, this can cause bloat, which results in the twisting of the stomach due to the weight of the stomach. Bloat often results in death.

 

Feeding Your Dog

The bad news about kibble or commercial dog food is that no matter how premium you go it is still not a natural diet for dogs. 

Read ingredients carefully. The first rule of thumb is if it contains corn, wheat, soy, brewer’s rice or artificial colors, don’t buy it. These are highly processed, cheap fillers that are usually cast off from another manufacturing process, such as brewer's rice. It is the sludge that is left after brewing alcoholic beverages. Avoid poultry and meat by-product (you probably wouldn't believe me if I told you what this indicates), preferably specifics like chicken by- product is better but best is chicken meal or chicken by-product meal. (I am not saying chicken is the only acceptable animal protein but that it should name the specific animal like salmon, beef, lamb etc.) The meals are a concentrated form of meat and therefore higher in protein. If you cannot afford one of the top brands at least make sure that the “ingredients to avoid” are low on the list. The first 4-6 ingredients are the most important.

No added sweeteners, added preservatives like BHT and BHA and absolutely no Ethoxyquin . Check sell by dates for the freshest foods. Dog food manufacturers want the highest profit possible and don't mind selling the uneducated buyer products with low grade, even dangerous products. They also want their product to be shelf stable as long as possible, also increasing their profit. Ethoxyquin is a pesticide that has some preservative qualities, but is also a proven carcinogen. The dog food business is largely unregulated so the producers can get away with using the cheapest ingredients, often the cast off by-products of other manufacturing processes.

Before the 1960's degenerative diseases were almost unheard of. Dogs were most prevalent on farms or other working arenas and were fed the scraps from their owners' table. They were eating fresh foods not the dry, highly processed version that we know today.

If you must feed kibble, buy the best you can afford and rotate brands with each purchase. This will give Fido some variety and offer different ingredients and nutrients with each bag. As you make the switch from bag to bag, mix the foods together to prevent digestive upset. If you offer variety this should become less and less of an issue.

Another concern with kibble is that because it is dry your dog is more apt to drink a lot of water after he eats. What happens when you fill a balloon with dog food and then saturate it with water? The balloon will become so heavy and “full’, the balloon may break and at least tear at the stem. With a dog the heavy stomach may twist or tear, especially if the dog is active after eating. This condition is much more prevalent in large dogs because of the capacity of their stomachs. Vets call it bloat and indeed the stomach is bloated, but this is a term used to keep you from suing the dog food companies. The dog did not die from bloat but from the result of a combination of events which started with dry kibble.

The next step up from premium kibble is to add fresh ingredients to the kibble. See my list of don’ts. Now for the “yes, wonderful” list; Brown rice, whole oats, barley, whole grain pasta, steamed veges, like carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, potatoes, peas, green beans, celery, plain yogurt, cottage cheese, grated raw zucchini. Don’t forget the proteins; chicken, turkey, beef, whole eggs, ground pumpkin seeds, beans and organ meats (just a few times a month). Mix a combination of these ingredients into Fido’s kibble. Be sure to reduce the amount of kibble so he doesn’t gain weight. The easiest way, but not only way, to handle this is to base his diet on your meals, unless of course you do not cook. That means you need an overhaul for the entire household. Remember you are just adding to the kibble so whether you add single ingredients or a  gourmet blend don’t worry too much about which approved ingredients you choose as long as there is variety.

There is a third step up, which involves no kibble at all, preparing 100% of Fido’s meal. I will address this giant step in another article. It is not difficult but can seem overwhelming at first.

My dogs always have high quality dry dog food available to them. They are not overweight (lucky girls) and do not eat it unless they are very hungry. Instead they wait for the home cooked meal that they are fed everyday. They are very healthy with shiny coats and bright eyes. I have added years to their lives by removing the popular dry dog foods from their diet.