Can Dogs Eat Eggplant?

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Eggplant is probably one of the most ignored vegetables in the produce section, leading a life of misconception based on its outdated reputation. Most people think eggplant is either spicy or flavorless, both of which aren’t true. Actually, eggplant can be quite delicious if it’s prepared properly and not overcooked. It’s also very good for you because it’s naturally high in a variety of essential nutrients and vitamins. If you’re considering adding some to your dog’s diet, take some precaution before you think about serving your dog.

Is Eggplant Safe for Dogs?

Fed in moderation, eggplant is safe for dogs, but they should be monitored closely afterwards in case they have an allergic reaction to it. Eggplant belongs to the nightshade family, a common allergen for both dogs and humans. Tomatoes are also a species of nightshade, and experts disagree on the safety of allowing dogs to have tomatoes due to their alpha-tomatine.

Aside from being a nightshade species, eggplant is an excellent source of fiber, which is necessary for a functioning digestive tract. It’s low in calories, so combined with its high fiber content, it’s a great option for dogs on a diet who don’t feel like they’re getting full off of their regular food.

Eggplant is also rich with phytonutrients, which are essential for preventing various diseases. Eggplant contains the phytonutrients nasunin and chlorogenic acid. These fight off diseases like cancer, heart disease, and neurological dysfunction. The vegetable is also bursting with vitamins like B6 and K and minerals like potassium, folate, and niacin. While your dog’s food contains a balanced proportion of vitamins and minerals, it never hurts to have a little extra from a fresh source.

The vegetable is also bursting with vitamins like B6 and K and minerals like potassium, folate, and niacin. While your dog’s food contains a balanced proportion of vitamins and minerals, it never hurts to have a little extra from a fresh source.

Allergic Reactions to Eggplant in Dogs

If your dog has never had eggplant before, it’s important you feed them a very small amount to see if they experience any type of reaction. Dogs who have a history of allergies shouldn’t be given eggplant, but if they’ve never had an allergic reaction to anything, eggplant probably won’t affect them.

A minor reaction will include itching, rashes, or an upset stomach. A more serious reaction will present in the form of vomiting, a painful stomach, or even facial swelling. If it’s a minor reaction, you should touch base with your veterinarian to see what they want you to do.

Some dogs may need an antihistamine, while very minor reactions will pass on their own. A serious reaction, especially if it includes vomiting or a swollen face, should be seen immediately by your veterinarian for treatment.

Feeding Eggplant to Your Dog

If your dog isn’t allergic to eggplant, it’s still important to be wary of how you’re preparing your eggplant. Some dogs might like it raw and all you have to do is dice it and put it into their food. Other dogs might not like it raw, and roasting it definitely brings out its flavor better.

If you’re roasting it, use oil or butter very lightly. Skip seasonings because dogs can’t handle high amounts of salt and garlic/onion powder are toxic. Eggplant parmesan is a very popular dish, but your dog won’t be able to tolerate the amount of fat, dairy, and garlic that are in the dish.

Before you introduce a new vegetable into your dog’s diet, you should always consult with your veterinarian, especially if your dog is older and could have a kidney condition. If your pup is on a quality dog food, then they don’t necessarily need any additional foods to be nutritionally balanced.

Anything you feed your dog should be used for treat or snack purposes, and it never hurts to replace commercially prepared treats with something a bit healthier.

Can Dogs Eat Garlic

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Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks are in the Allium family, and are poisonous to both dogs and cats if the dose is right. Garlic is considered to be about five times as toxic as onions for cats and dogs. Certain breeds and species seem to be more sensitive: Japanese breeds of dogs (e.g., Akita, Shiba Inu) and cats. Onion and garlic poisoning results in oxidative damage to the red blood cells (making the red blood cells more likely to rupture) and gastroenteritis (e.g., nausea, oral irritation, drooling, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea). Other clinical signs of anemia may be seen, and include lethargy, pale gums, an elevated heart rate, an increased respiratory rate, weakness, exercise intolerance, and collapse. Onion and garlic poisoning may have a delayed onset, and clinical signs may not be apparent for several days. While minute amounts of these foods in some pets, especially dogs, may be safe, large ingestions can be very toxic.

If you suspect your dog or cat have onion poisoning or garlic poisoning, call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline for treatment recommendations.

Poison type: Foods

Alternate names: Allium, Alliaceae, chives, leeks, disulfides, thiosulfates, anemia, onions

Can dogs eat garlic?

If you look at any dog-centered poisonous plant list garlic is there. Don’t fret! You have nothing to fear and everything to gain.

I’ll set your mind at ease by telling you how to properly prepare garlic for dogs for maximum health benefits, and how much you can safely feed your dog.

First, here’s why garlic is such a wonderful plant …

Garlic’s Properties

• Garlic is high in inulin, amino acids, sulphur, zinc, potassium and phosphorus. It also contains vitamin A, C, calcium, magnesium, manganese, selenium, germanium and B-complex vitamins.


• Garlic’s pungent energy warms the body. Pungent herbs move energy upwards and outwards to the body’s surface, improving circulation. Garlic also has an affinity for the lungs, large intestine, spleen and stomach.


• Garlic helps detoxify the body. It supports beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract and eliminates harmful bacteria. I use it in the fall, winter and early spring as a detox and to balance out the digestive system.


• As a liver enhancer, garlic breaks down wastes before they enter the bloodstream. It also helps your dog assimilate nutrients and eliminate wastes through the entire digestive tract.


• Garlic is high in sulphur and fructans (inulin and oligofructose). Fructans can cause digestive upset in dogs suffering from leaky gut, inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. When undigested fructans ferment in the small intestine, they cause bloating, gas and constipation. Your dog’s digestive system needs to be healthy before you feed her garlic.

6 Ways Garlic Can Help Your Dog

Here are some ways garlic helps keep your dog healthy:

1. Prevents the formation of blood clots (anti-platelet)


2. Decreases cholesterol build up (anti-cholesterolemic)


3. Widens blood vessels (vasodilator)


4. Helps prevent the formation of tumors (anti-tumor)


5. Stimulates the lymphatic system to remove wastes


6. Antibiotic, antifungal and antiparasitic

Garlic has other uses in addition to these health benefits.

Garlic As A Flea And Tick Repellent

Garlic may help you in the war on fleas and ticks if you feed it to your dogs during flea and tick season. It takes a couple of weeks for garlic to build up in your dog’s natural coat oil, so start feeding it before the bug season starts.

I don’t bathe my dogs too much during flea and tick season.  One good soapy wash and you’ll have to start the build-up process again. To avoid this, use a Castile soap for bathing, or use cornstarch or Fuller’s Earth as a dry shampoo (but use these sparingly … you don’t want to dry out your dog’s coat too much).

When using garlic as a flea and tick repellent, feed each day for two weeks, then twice a week for maintenance.

(Note: Garlic is also good for repelling mosquitos. Click here to visit our top mosquito repellent article …)

Garlic To Help Fight Cancer

Garlic for dogs has shown promise with cancers of the colon, lung, stomach and rectum. The compounds in garlic increase immunity and enhance natural killer cells. Natural killer cells destroy pathogenic bacteria and cancer cells.

While there are few clinical trials studying the anti-cancer effects of garlic, the National Cancer Institute reports that several population studies show an association between increased garlic intake and reduced risk of several types of cancer.

The Importance Of Fresh Raw Garlic

My clients always ask, “can I use the pre-chopped garlic in the jar?” or “How about the peeled whole clove garlic in the bag…it’s organic?”

My answer is always NO.

When I say fresh, raw garlic I really mean fresh, raw, organically grown garlic … the kind that stays in the husk until 10 to 15 minutes before you feed your dog.

Buy garlic that’s produced in the United States, preferably grown locally or in your own garden. Make sure you know where your garlic comes from. All garlic isn’t created equal.

For example, Chinese garlic consistently tests positive for unsafe levels of arsenic, heavy metals and chlorine.  Don’t risk your dog’s health by using it!

So, again, just to be clear: use fresh, raw, organic garlic whenever you’re supplementing or feeding garlic for dogs. Nothing from a jar!

Why is this important?  It’s because you need active enzymes and whole plant synergy to get the true benefits of garlic.

• Raw garlic contains two enzymes: allinn and alliinase. When you crush, mince or chop garlic, these enzymes combine to create the enzyme allicin. Allicin is the active medicinal ingredient in garlic that gives it those antibiotic, anti-cancer, antiviral and antioxidant properties.


• When you feed raw garlic you’re getting highly effective whole plant medicine and nutrition. A plant’s effectiveness doesn’t come from the action of any single chemical. Garlic extracts don’t provide the hundreds of chemical constituents working together as they do in a plant. For example, the Kyolic aged garlic extract that you can buy at health food stores doesn’t contain any allicin.  

Concerns When Using Garlic For Dogs

Garlic is safe for your dog when you feed it in appropriate amounts as I’ll explain later. However, there are some cautions.

Pregnant Dogs

Always be cautious with any medicine or supplement for pregnant dogs. Consult your holistic veterinarian when feeding garlic to expectant mothers. Garlic also changes the taste of breast milk so avoid feeding it to nursing dogs.

Puppies

Don’t give garlic to puppies under six months. Puppies eight weeks or less don’t produce new red blood cells so never give them garlic. For puppies aged six months to a year, you can be cautious and feed half the regular dose.

Breed Specific Issues

Veterinary herbalist Susan Wynn warns against giving garlic to Akitas and Shiba Inus. These breeds are more sensitive to the hemolytic effects of oxidants such as N-propyl disulphide found in garlic. Consult your holistic vet if you have concerns about your dog’s breed related risks.

Drug Interactions

Garlic can interact with several types of medications. Here’s the short list:

• Immune suppressants


• Heart medications


• Chemotherapy drugs


• Blood thinners


• Insulin


• Antacids


• High blood pressure drugs.

Don’t use garlic if your dog is on any of these drugs.

Since garlic affects blood clotting don’t use it two weeks before any scheduled surgery.

Why Garlic Scares People

Conventional veterinarians panic when you tell them you’re feeding garlic to your dog.

Don’t do that – it’ll kill her! is a typical response.

That’s false.

Garlic related deaths are practically non-existent compared to the number of deaths that frequently-prescribed drugs like Rimadyl cause.

Here’s an excerpt from Veterinary Pet Insurance’s website:

Wow! That’s quite a scary warning. My sixteen-year-old pug should have died when he was two.

Research Caused The Misunderstanding

The reason for this misleading information is that most research studies base their findings on the effects of garlic extracts, excessive dosages and unnatural delivery methods. Researchers rarely use fresh garlic for dogs because it’s difficult to measure variances in whole plant medicine. Evidence-based research doesn’t know what to do with the “food as medicine” paradigm.

One study in particular helped create garlic’s reputation as a food that can harm your dog. This study by K W Lee et al fed 5 grams of garlic per kilo per day to the dogs.

That’s an excessive amount. It means you’d need to feed about four full heads of garlic (or 60 cloves) to a 75 lb Golden Retriever, or 23 grams of garlic (6 to 8 cloves) to a 10 lb dog, before they’d experience any adverse effects.

Definitely don’t feed this much!

Garlic contains thiosulphate, the chemical responsible for causing Heinz body hemolytic anemia.  This type of anemia causes oxidative damage to red blood cells that shortens their life. Red blood cells oxygenate tissues. Hemolytic anemia causes a decrease in these cells, which can lead to sickness and even death.  Symptoms of hemolytic anemia include diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, pale gums, rapid breathing and dark urine.

Want to avoid hemoytic anemia?  Feed the right kind of garlic (by now you know that means fresh) and the correct dosage.

Proper dosages of raw garlic don’t contain high levels of thiosulphate. Bone marrow continually produces red blood cells. This means your dog would have to receive an excessive dose over a long period of time – or an extremely large dose – to cause death.

How To Prepare Garlic For Dogs

Mixing allinn and alliinase forms allicin, the active medicinal ingredient in garlic.

Peel the cloves then mince, chop or crush your fresh garlic and let it sit 10 to 15 minutes before use.  Allicin degrades quickly, so use the garlic immediately after the “sitting” period for maximum benefit. I measure and chop up my garlic and set my timer for 10 minutes.  Measure out the right amount of garlic for your dog’s body weight and mix it into her food.

How Much Garlic Should You Give Your Dog?

For consistency and exact dosing, I use a measuring spoon.  Clove size differs so using cloves as a measurement is subject to interpretation.

Using a level measuring spoon, feed the following amount per day, according to your dog’s weight:

I use garlic in the fall, winter and early spring, while some people use it all year. When feeding garlic for health, I recommend feeding garlic every other week. Work with your holistic practitioner to find the most effective garlic supplementation schedule for your individual dog.

A Last Word On Garlic For Dogs

Everything in nature can be toxic in certain amounts. Common salt can kill and so can water. Yes, garlic for dogs may be dangerous when fed improperly, but that shouldn’t keep you from using it now that you know how to do it safely.

Don’t think you can get the dosage right? Don’t want to mince, chop or crush garlic throughout the week?  Don’t have time to let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before use?

Then don’t feed garlic to your dog. It’s that simple.

Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms

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If you're reveling in a meal that includes mushrooms while your precious pooch is looking up at you longingly, then you're well aware of the frustration of having to ignore him. However, in some cases, mushrooms may be a totally safe and rare reward for your hungry little canine.

Safety

The only kind of mushroom that is safe and acceptable to offer to your cutie is available at the supermarket. If the mushroom is safe for you to eat and is on sale at your local grocery store, then it likely is safe for your doggie, too, notes the ASPCA.

Diet Interruptions

In some cases, doggie digestive systems act up when a new and foreign food item enters their diet. Because of this frustrating possibility, allow your little one to eat only a minimal amount of cooked mushrooms -- and only once in a while. Rapid changes in diet can lead to major discomfort in canines -- think diarrhea woes and tummy ache -- yikes. Try to avoid this by exercising serious moderation when it comes to feeding your pet cooked mushrooms. If you notice your pet displaying these symptoms even after just a small amount, consider not giving him mushrooms again.

Wild Mushrooms

Wild mushrooms are a 100 percent "no-no" for your doggie; they can indeed be dangerous and toxic. If you ever allow your dog to eat any mushrooms growing outdoors, he could experience serious poisoning -- no, thank you. According to the ASPCA, pets that consume wild mushrooms may incur damage to the kidney or liver, and possibly even serious neurological and digestive consequences. Sometimes, toxic mushrooms can even be fatal to pets. Even if you have no reason to think that a mushroom growing in your yard is toxic, don't take the chance. It's simply not worth the risk to your dog's health and happiness.

Seasonings

If you do decide to offer your doggie a small amount of cooked mushrooms from the supermarket -- say one or two of them -- make sure to keep them plain and free of any seasonings or extras. Butter, for example, is a dairy product that includes milk, and dogs often are incapable of properly digesting lactose. Excessive salt also may be toxic to doggies. Bland is best when it comes to feeding your pet cooked mushrooms.

Mushroom Poisonings in Dogs and Cats

Dogs and Cats and Mushrooms

Pets have been known to eat mushrooms in yards and while on walks. While 99% of mushrooms have little or no toxicity, the 1% that are highly toxic can cause life-threatening problems in pets. Take extra care to keep pets away from areas where mushrooms might be growing.

If you suspect that your pet has consumed a poisonous mushroom, contact your veterinarian, pet emergency hospital, or the animal poison control center (note: there is a fee for using this service). Once help has been secured, it is advisable to try to get the suspect mushrooms identified. NAMA provides a list of volunteers who are able to assist with identification in poisoning cases. It is best to get help if you are not familiar with mushroom identification.

Mushroom Toxins Affect Dogs and Cats Differently

Dogs take a special interest in both Amanita phalloides and Inocybe species, quite possibly because of their fishy odor. Amanita phalloides is well known to be a deadly species but Inocybe species and the Clitocybe species that also contain muscarine can be lethal to dogs. Muscarine has not caused any human fatalities that we are aware of and so dogs must be uniquely sensitive to this compound. Some Scleroderma species are also lethal to dogs (and pigs) but not to humans, but the toxin, to our knowledge, is not known.

Amanita phalloides	Amanita muscaria	Amanita pantherina

 

Both Amanita muscaria and Amanita pantherina are frequently eaten by dogs. They too have a fishy odor. The toxins ibotenic acid and muscimol are not lethal to humans but in rare instances can cause death in dogs. Though cats rarely consume mushrooms they are particularly attracted to dried Amanita muscaria and Amanita pantherina, sometimes with lethal results.

If a dog or cat has consumed Amanita muscaria or Amanita pantherina, the administration of atropine can intensify a coma-like sleep, greatly increasingly possibility of death.

See the NAMA Mushroom Poisoning Syndromes page for more specific information.

Patience Advised with Coma-Like Sleep

As is the case with humans, dogs typically go into a deep coma-like sleep a few hours after eating Amanita muscaria or Amanita pantherina. Recovery is generally complete about 6 hours (but as long as 72 hours) later. While doctors never euthanize humans while in a coma-like sleep, sometimes the decision to euthanize is made with dogs. In most cases, the dog will recover — so patience is advisable.

See an in-depth article on this topic, Animal Poisoning by Amanita pantherina and Amanita muscaria: A Commentary, by Michael Beug and Marilyn Shaw.

Dogs and Amatoxin Poisonings

A great many dogs dies each year from consuming mushrooms containing amatoxins. The symptoms are characterized by a 6-12+ hour delay in symptoms then severe GI distress and refusal to eat or drink (most often caused by ingestion of Amanita phalloides, Amanita bisporigera or Amanita ocreata, though the Galerina marginata group, the Conocybe filaris group and Lepiota subincarnata also contain amatoxins). In one recent California case, a dog was saved by aggressive rehydration therapy plus needle aspiration of the bile from the gall bladder (contact www.petsreferralcenter.comor phone 510-219-0112 for more information if you have a dog that you suspect has consumed amatoxins). For a review of treatment strategies, see "Amatoxin Poisoning in North America 2015-2016".

What You Can Do

If your pet may have been poisoned by mushrooms, try to get a sample of the same mushroom or mushrooms from where they were found. This will help aid in identification.

Place any available material in a paper bag or waxed paper, not plastic and refrigerate until it can be examined. Note where the mushrooms were collected in case the mushrooms may have been contaminated by uptake of pesticides or heavy metals from lawns, roadsides or industrial areas.

Can Dogs Eat Ice Cream

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Can Dogs Eat Ice Cream? Or Is Ice Cream Bad For Dogs?

1

It’s a sunny summer day, and what else comes to mind other than a good old, delicious ice cream cone to kill the heat?

But, when was the last time you wondered whether you could give your dog a couple of licks of that cone you were having? I bet it wasn’t too long ago!

The Issue Of Ice Cream For Dogs And Lactose

When it comes to dairy foods, such as cottage cheese, yogurt and milk, all of these contain something called lactose.

And, just like we discussed in articles for each one of these foods, they are fine to give to your dog as long as you meet certain requirements and stick by certain rules.

But, what about ice cream? Can dogs eat ice cream like they can eat the aforementioned dairy products?

Can Dogs Have Ice Cream?

Having your dog eat ice cream is a very critical subject that can’t ever be summarized with a simple yes or no answer, which is why the only answer we have is for you to read on.

In a general sense, dog owners should not resort to feeding their dogs ice cream as a treat, as there are much better options out there to go with.

For example, have you given feeding your dog some natural, frozen yogurt a chance?

Many people will tell you that ice cream is up there with chocolate on the list of treats off limits for dogs because of how dangerous it can be.

9 out of 10 times, the ice cream you’re thinking about feeding your dog has all the ingredients that they should never come across.

But, specific types of ice cream fed to dogs in specific amounts and under specific circumstances which we will be discussing in this article is a perfectly fine thing to do.

It just becomes dangerous when someone goes and feeds their dog ice cream without knowing the important facts they need to know.

Why Is Ice Cream For Dogs Dangerous?

To start off, ice cream, and just like other dairy products, contains high levels of lactose.

And since most dogs are lactose intolerant, that means that your dog can get really sick if their body isn’t able to properly digest that lactose.

The most common symptoms of lactose intolerance in dogs are:

• Gas


• Bloating


• Vomiting


• Diarrhea


• Gastrointestinal upset

If your dogs consumes ice cream (or any other dairy product for that matter) and shows any of these signs around 30-120 minutes after, then you can be sure that they are lactose intolerant.

If you don’t know yet whether your dog is lactose intolerant or not, try feeding them a very small amount of ice cream and look out for any potential side effects mentioned above.

If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, then they are most likely lactose intolerant. If not, then your dog is one lucky boy/girl!

Moreover, ice cream tends to contain very high levels of sugar, salt and artificial sweeteners that are all toxic to dogs, not to mention the fact that it can easily damage the teeth of your dog in the long haul if you make a habit out of feeding your dog ice cream.

(A quick note since we mentioned how much sugar ice cream contains – if your dog is diabetic or even pre-diabetic, any form if ice cream is off limits for them.

It’s just too dangerous of a risk to take, as even the slightest mistake may cause a very adverse reaction when it comes to their blood sugar levels).

How Can Dogs Eat Ice Cream?

Assuming your dog isn’t lactose intolerant, they can go ahead and eat ice cream, but again under certain conditions.

Just to mention that even if your dog is lactose intolerant, you can still feed them some ice cream if you try to search for a lactose-free brand of ice cream, as that should decrease any negative side effects.

You also want to stick with flavors that are safe for dogs to eat, the best of which being vanilla.

Flavors like chocolate or raisin are big NO-NO’s, because both these foods can be very toxic to dogs.

Moreover, you must make sure that any ice cream you feed your dog doesn’t contain any artificial sweeteners.

The most dangerous artificial sweeteners to dogs being used today is xylitol, a sugar substitute that can be deadly to dogs.

So, make sure any kind of ice cream you feed your dog does not contain xylitol.

If you know that any of the mentioned events in this section happened with your dog, and/or see unusual symptoms that are a sign of something wrong, then you should immediately get your dog to the nearest emergency pet care center so they can get the necessary treatment.

How Much Ice Cream Can Dogs Eat?

Feeding your dog ice cream that meets the criteria stated above should be done only a few times a year at most.

Even if your dog doesn’t seem to have any problems digesting dairy products and is not lactose intolerant, you want to limit their consumption of ice cream as much as possible due to the very high levels of sugar included.

This is why besides you sticking to very low sugar ice cream and making sure that no artificial sweeteners are there, you have to keep the amounts of ice cream you feed your dog to a minimum quantity.

One of the most popular times that dog parents like to use the ice cream surprise card on their dogs is during their birthday celebrations.

Feeding your dog ice cream once a year makes sure that your dog isn’t feeling left out on anything, and you make sure that you don’t have anything to worry about.

Keep your strongest cards for the most important events, everyone!

A Nice Little Alternative To Feeding Your Dog Store Bought Ice Cream

At the end of this article, we’d like to share with you a couple of our favorite recipes online for anyone looking for a fast, easy and healthy way to whip up something at home to feed their dog, something that’s very similar to store bought ice cream – but much healthier for dogs.

We know from adorable videos like this one that dogs love ice cream. But is ice cream really a harmless treat, or will it cause a major bellyache?

Though it may be tempting to share your cone with your four-legged friend, it's best to avoid giving ice cream to dogs.

 

Why Dogs Cannot Eat Ice Cream

The first problem with ice cream is that dogs' bodies are not designed to digest milk after they are weaned, as puppies. Since ice cream is made with milk, feeding your dog ice cream could lead to gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or vomiting.

The second problem with ice cream is that it is loaded with sugar, and feeding your dog sugary foods can lead to weight gain, which can lead to other health problems. Even if the ice cream says it's sugarless, you need to be careful to read the label to make sure that no xylitol is used, as this sweetener is extremely toxic to dogs.

The final problem with ice cream is that some flavors may actually be dangerous for dogs. Chocolate, for example, can be toxic for dogs because their bodies cannot efficiently process a component of the chocolate: theobromine.

While not a major danger if given in small amounts as a treat, for dogs with obesity, diabetes, allergies or dairy intolerance, ice cream could be a big problem. Although some dog owners do feed their dogs ice cream, we cannot say that it is a good dessert for dogs, especially when there are other options that are not likely to cause digestive problems.



 

Alternatives to Ice Cream

If you want to give your dog a summer treat, frozen yogurt might be a better choice. Because yogurt is fermented, it contains less lactose, so it is easier for dogs to digest. Don't feed your dog a commercial frozen yogurt, since it will be loaded with sugar. Instead, buy a plain, unsweetened yogurt, and put it in your freezer at home. Use caution when giving it to your dog. Although yogurt is easier for dogs to digest, not all canines can tolerate it.

Another good summer treat for dogs is "nice cream," a vegan ice cream alternative that is made from frozen bananas. You can easily prepare nice cream at home with only a food processor. This fruit-based dessert is safe for dogs to eat, and it actually provides some nutritional value. The humans in your family might even like it, too!

Adult Dog Teeth How to brush dogs’ teeth

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The number 42 resonates with people for any number of reasons. The number was retired permanently by Major League Baseball in 1997 as a tribute to Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson. I would lose all of my nerd cred if I didn’t mention that a fictional supercomputer in the work of Douglas Adams revealed that “42” was the “answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.” When it comes to dental health for our dogs, 42 is also the answer to another important question, to wit, “How many teeth do dogs have?”



Like humans, dogs have baby teeth as puppies. Due to their rapid development and maturity, they lose those baby teeth and have a full set of adult teeth by the time they’re six months old. Baby teeth are also called deciduous teeth. Like deciduous trees, which shed their leaves, the 28 teeth that puppies have and lose over the course of their first half-year are only temporary. The 42 that come in and replace them tend to last longer than human teeth because the shape of canine teeth and the tendency of dog food to be low in sugar, which means that cavities are a rare occurrence in dogs.

However, plaque and bacteria buildup can be just as devastating for dogs over the course of their lives. However, the 42 teeth that dogs have will be dependable for life with simple care and maintenance. Each February, veterinarians and dog health advocates everywhere promote National Pet Dental Health Month, but dental health for your dog should be a year-round concern. Dental disease in dogs is far too prevalent a cause of pain and suffering that can and should be avoided. Knowing the basics of dental care for dogs extends beyond knowing how many teeth dogs have.

How to brush dogs’ teeth

We all know that dogs can be hesitant to submit themselves for regular baths, much less tolerate regular dental care. Veterinarians — like human dentists, of course — recommend daily brushing, which may prove impractical. Home care for canine teeth, though, is essential, and you should try to brush them at least once a week, or, at the very least, once a month. The earlier you start a dog on a regular dental care regimen, the more likely they will tolerate it. The first step is acquiring, or making, the right toothpaste. You should never use your own toothpaste on a dog — there are canine-specific toothpastes available at pet stores, or you can fashion your own from baking soda and warm water.



The same goes for toothbrushes. If you cannot get a toothbrush designed for dogs, a child’s toothbrush, smaller with soft bristles, will serve. Alternately, wrapping gauze around your forefinger and using that to massage the paste into your dog’s teeth and gums may prove more salutary to a dog unaccustomed to having a completely foreign object pushed around in his mouth. There are also special toothbrushes that fit over your finger, allowing you to pet and soothe a dog while you maintain secure control of the brush.

Since dental care for dogs is unusual or uncomfortable for them, acclimate them to the taste of toothpaste over the course of several days to a week, and to having their heads held as you examine their teeth and gums. A circular motion is recommended, along with brushing at roughly a 45-degree angle. The more quickly you can get through brushing your dog’s teeth, the less time your dog needs to be uncomfortable.

Other options for dog oral health

Oral care for dogs goes beyond brushing their teeth. A dog’s gums should appear pink and their teeth white; red, inflamed gums may indicate gingivitis, and yellowing or browning at the tops of canine teeth are the signs of plaque and bacterial buildup. Is your dog resistant to brushing? There are other options to make sure that the 42 teeth your dog has, the gums that cradle them, and the breath that emerges from his mouth stay fresh and clean, including chew toys and specially formulated foods.

Chew toys may seem to provide an innocuous way to keep your dog entertained, but they also serve important purposes for dogs who don’t have patience for dental care that isn’t administered under anesthesia by a vet. Look for chew toys that are safe and recommended for your dog based on age, size, and breed. Nylon, rawhide, and rubber toys are most frequently cited for the benefits they provide at keeping a dog busy, helping to remove buildup, and working the gums.



Additionally, there are dog treats readily available with ingredients that support dental health. Varying your dog’s diet to include hard kibbles that include dental supplements can be of great value to dogs that resist traditional brushing of all 42 of their adult teeth.

Share your experiences with doggy dental care!

Every visit to the veterinarian should include a basic dental checkup, and that checkup should be scheduled at least once a year, particularly at and after age three. More than two-thirds of dogs develop preliminary symptoms of gum or dental disease by the age of three, making regular maintenance essential to your dog’s overall health. How do you and your dogs deal with dental health care? Do you have difficulty with brushing, but better luck with other methods? Share your tips and experiences in the comments!

Bonita Beach Dog Park Bonita Beach Dog Park In Bonita Springs Fl

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When visiting Naples, Florida, you'll have to leave the pets at home during most of your trips to the beach. Within the city of Naples, the few places you can let your animals run free are dog parks, all located well inland from the community's white-sand beaches. However, venturing a little farther afield will get Fido's tail wagging again; you can bring canine pets to a couple dog-friendly beaches elsewhere in southwest Florida.

Bonita Beach Dog Beach

In Bonita Springs, just north of Naples, dog owners may bring their pets to the area's only off-leash dog beach. Located between Bonita Beach and Fort Myers Beach, Dog Beach is recognized by Lee County Parks and Recreation, though the park system provides no facilities or amenities. They do set and enforce a number of rules, however. You must be 15 years or older to bring a dog, and may bring no more than two dogs. Children under 5 are not allowed on the off-leash area. Non-neutered, non-spayed, aggressive or sick dogs are prohibited from entering the beach area. The beach is open from dawn to dusk.

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

While Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park won't give your furry friends full reign, it does give dogs a chance to splash in the water. Plus, it's conveniently located in North Naples. You can't walk your dogs along the beach, whether on leash or off. However, you can lead them, on leashes, to the boat and canoe launch area, where they're welcome to swim in the shallow water of Water Turkey Bay. You'll have to wade in, too, as park rules require that you keep your dog on a leash at all times. The park is located off Gulfshore Drive; head due west on Immokalee Road until you reach the coast. The beach is on your left.

Bonita Beach Dog Park In Bonita Springs Fl

On-Leash Beaches

Heading north to the beaches of Lee County, your two alternatives to Bonita Dog Beach are rather less dog-friendly and a longer drive from Naples. However, if you decide to spend a day exploring the Fort Myers area, take your pooch for a walk along the public beaches of Fort Myers Beach or the City of Sanibel. Lee County Parks and Recreation lets dog owners walk their dogs, on leashes, in both areas, provided they clean up after their pets.

Elsewhere in Southwest Florida

For the most dedicated dog owners who are willing to take a lengthy trip for their dogs' enjoyment, several dog beaches exist a few hours' drive from Naples. The Fort De Soto beach and park, located near St. Petersburg in Pinellas County, permits dogs to run free in designated areas. At Honeymoon State Park, in Dunedin, Florida, pups can run free in the designated dog beach area. Elsewhere in the park, the dogs must stay on leashes.

Dog Beach is a strip of beach land on the outside edge of Lover's Key State Park along the Fort Myers/Bonita Springs line. It’s an off leash beach to let your dog run free and frolic in the shallow, calm water of the Gulf of Mexico. There are no fences, leashes or worries. Just plenty of dogs of all sizes to play with. Many visit that don't even have dogs, but enjoy watching them run and play with their furry friends on land and water. You can't see if from the main road, but follow the signs around the trees and a clearing will open up to Dog Beach. During high tide you may have to wade through some water to get to it so be prepared. There is a portable toilet, and no running water so remember to bring some for your pet. Please follow the rules to make it a safe, clean enjoyable place for all. For more information visit www.leeparks.org or call 239-533-7275.

Bone Broth Recipe For Dogs

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Bone Broth for Dogs

Bone broth is a simple way to add some extra nutrients to your dog’s diet, either as a daily supplement or to provide an extra boost to those recovering from illness or surgery. Chock full of health promoting ingredients, here’s my recipe for bone broth that your canine friends are sure to love….

Ingredients (as a general rule use an 80/20 ratio of meat to vegetables):

• Raw kangaroo tail (see my alternatives below if roo tail is not readily available)


• Kale Oregano Parsley Zucchini Yellow squash


• Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (Acidity helps to draw nutrients from the bones)

Method:

1. Place ingredients in a crockpot, cover with water and add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.


2. Simmer ingredients gently for 20-24 hours.


3. Allow to cool. Remove all bones from the broth using a strainer if necessary (do not feed these bones to your dog).


4. Pour into single-serving size storage containers and freeze. Defrost and serve as required.

If you feed a natural diet such as Vet’s All Natural Raw 76, Complete Mix or Health Roll, bone broth can serve as the perfect complementary supplement to bolster your dog’s immune system and promote good joint and gut health.

You can add bone broth to your dog’s existing food or serve separately in addition to their regular meal but just
remember the broth alone is not nutritionally complete and shouldn’t be used for long-term exclusive feeding.

How To Make Bone Broth For Your Dog

• Nutrition And Diet


• / By Dana Scott

One of the most common questions we get here at Dogs Naturally is how to make bone broth.

Bone broth is a pot full of delicious and nutritious minerals and nutrients that dogs love … and I love that so many of you are starting to make this super-easy, super-nutritious treat.

And speaking of love, when you take the time to make your own bone broth at home for your dog, they’ll know you’ve gone the extra mile to give them sparking good health!

Why would you want to make bone broth for your dog?

• It helps maintain a healthy gut, especially for dogs with digestive issues


• It supports your dog’s immune system and detoxes his liver


• It helps protect his joints


• It’s full of minerals, including calcium, silicon, sulphur, magnesium and phosphorus

(Related: Bone Broth For Dogs? Here’s Why It’s A Great Idea!)

But best of all, bone broth is super easy to make!

So now that we know why you should make bone broth for your dog, you’re ready to start cooking, I’m going to give you a step-by-step guide to how I make bone broth for my crew so you’ll know how to make bone broth for your own dog.

Step 1: Add Bones, Water And Vinegar

First, I fill my crockpot with bones. Because I like to make sure there’s lots of healthy, joint protecting gelatin in my broth, I use bones with a lot of joints in them like chicken feet. I’ll also add some garlic for health and flavor (and if you think garlic is dangerous for dogs, just leave it out or read this article).

If you don’t have a crockpot, you can use a regular old pot on your stove … but you have to leave it cooking overnight so I prefer the crockpot.

Organic, grass fed bones will be the best … don’t skimp on the bones and feel free to use discarded bones from your own meals … they’re just fine for broth.

Step 2: Add Water And Vinegar

Next, I’ll fill the pot so the bones are completely covered, plus an extra two or three inches of water on top.

The important part is to add raw apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to the pot … this is the magic ingredient that makes sure your broth has all of that great and healthy gelatin in it … it also pulls the nutritious minerals out of the bones.

I’ll add about three or four tablespoons of vinegar to a pot this size.

Once I’ve added the bones, water and vinegar, I put my crockpot on high for an hour, then I turn it down to low and leave it cooking for 24 hours. You can leave it cooking for two or three days if you want, but I find it starts cooking down too much after a day and I can still get a good jelly-like consistency after a day.

(NOTE: Get our Free Raw Feeding Videos and start your dog on the path to ultimate health today!)

Step 3: Strain The Bones

When the broth is finished, I need to strain the bones and meat out. These bones shouldn’t be fed to dogs, so I put them in the green bin. My dogs don’t need them anyway … I’ve already got the good parts in my broth.

Step 4: Get Creative

Here’s the fun but optional part.

When I turn the crockpot off, I’ll add some nutritious extras. For this batch of broth, I added some frozen kale and fresh leftover green beans. But I also like to add medicinal mushrooms, broccoli, kelp and herbs … and sometimes nothing at all. Check out this article for some ideas of nutritious veggies you can add.

Toss in any healthy herbs or vegetables your dog loves (and if he doesn’t love them, then bone broth is a great place to hide them).

I’ll add these ingredients while the broth is hot, right after I’ve turned it off. Then the broth will cool with the veggies in it, making them just soft enough for my dogs to get their yummy goodness.

Step 5: Let It Cool

Once my broth is cooled, I’ll put it in the fridge. This is where the magic happens … and in just a few hours, you’ll know if you’ve made a good batch!

Once your broth comes out of the fridge, it will have a hard layer of fat on top. You should chip this off and toss it in the green bin.

Underneath the fat, your bone broth should now look like jelly … the jelly means you’ve got lots of gelatin in there, and that’s what helps with your dog’s joints and the leaky gut that can cause allergies and digestive upset. That gelatin plugs the holes in leaky gut that can cause allergy symptoms, so the more jelly-like, the better!

If your broth doesn’t look like jelly, don’t worry … it just means you didn’t add enough vinegar. Next time just add a little more vinegar and your next batch will be just fine. But first use the broth you have because it will still be packed with healthy goodness!

Step 6: Store Your Broth

Because I have a lot of dogs, I just leave my bone broth in the crockpot in their fridge (yes, my dogs have their own fridge, but I’m sure there’s room in your fridge for bone broth). A pot this large will last my five large Labradors about 4 or 5 days. I wouldn’t want to keep it in the fridge for more than a few days anyway so I just make a fresh batch once or twice a week.

If you have just one or two dogs, you can take the broth and label it into mason jars and store it. If you’ve got small dogs, you can ladle your broth into an ice cube tray and just pull a cube out at a time.

Having a supply of bone broth in your freezer is a super idea … bone broth is incredibly nutritious and healing for sick dogs (think chicken soup). So make sure you have some on hand for emergencies.

Step 7: Give It To Your Dog!

The final (and best) step is to feed the bone broth to your dog!

I pull bone broth out of the fridge and give my large dogs two or three heaping spoonfuls over their dinner. It’s food not medicine, so I don’t get too hung up on exactly how much I give my dogs.

My dogs love hanging out in the kitchen when it’s cooking … and you can see above that Dottie can’t wait to sample it after smelling it all day!

So there you have it … it’s incredibly easy to make bone broth and your dogs will love the taste and reap the health benefits.

So what are you waiting for? Get cooking!