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Nutritious, Delicious Pet Treats You Can Make in a Flash
(Healthy Pets - Dr. Becker)

Pets love treats! And pet parents love being able to offer them to four-legged family members.

Unfortunately, the majority of commercial pet treats, while yummy tasting to dogs and cats, are neither species-appropriate nor do they contain high quality ingredients.

In fact, most species-appropriate pet treats won't remotely resemble the cute and colorful dog biscuits and cookies you may be used to seeing on store shelves.

Forming treats into tiny dog bone or fish shapes requires the use of undesirable ingredients like grains and other starches, not to mention fillers, preservatives, sugar, and other additives.

Wouldn't it be great to be able to offer delicious, delectable treats to your pet that also provide your dog or cat with species-appropriate nutrition?

I certainly think it would be, so I asked my team to keep their eyes open for some excellent alternatives to the usual pet treat fare.

I'm sharing a few of the results of our research with my readers here at Mercola Healthy Pets.

I hope these recipes, tips and ideas will inspire you to make those treat calories count by offering nutritious, biologically appropriate snacks to your furry loved ones.

Super Easy Nutritious Pet Treat RecipesCrunchy Beef Cubes

What you'll need:

• 1 pound lean beef
• Baking sheet covered with baking parchment

To prepare:

• Dice beef into half-inch cubes
• Place cubes close together on baking sheet
• Put baking sheet into cold oven and heat oven to 300oF
• Cook for 1 hour
• Reduce oven temperature to 200oF and prop open oven door (to allow moisture to escape)
• Continue cooking for 2 additional hours
• Remove beef cubes from oven and allow to dry overnight at room temperature
• Place beef cubes in airtight container and keep refrigerated or frozen until ready to serve

Chewy Liver Strips

What you'll need:

• Beef livers (butcher shops sometimes throw these away or you can buy them at the supermarket)
• Food dehydrator*

To prepare:

• Cut liver into 1-inch slices
• Apply a non-stick spray on the dehydrator drying racks
• Place the liver slices into the dehydrator for 24 hours
• Seal in airtight container and refrigerate or freeze until ready to serve

*An alternative to using a food dehydrator is to put the liver strips on a greased or non-stick baking sheet and bake them in a 325oF oven for 45 minutes to an hour.

Livertaters

What you'll need:

• 1 pound liver
• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 ¼ cups potato flakes
• Beef or chicken broth
• Food processor
• Greased 13 x 9 pan

To prepare:

• Preheat oven to 400oF
• Cut liver into approximately 1-inch pieces (to help with the blending and cooking process)
• Place the liver pieces, egg, garlic powder and potato flakes in food processor
• Pulse ingredients to combine
• Add as much broth as needed to make the mixture spreadable (the consistency will be very thick)
• Spread mixture into pan
• Bake for 25 minutes; cool on wire rack for 5 minutes
• Loosen sides with a knife, turn pan over and empty mixture onto wire rack
• Cool completely before slicing
• Place slices in airtight container and refrigerate or freeze until ready to serve

Turkeyballs

What you'll need:

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon chopped parsley
• ¼ cup shredded cheese (optional)
• ½ cup chopped veggies (optional)

To prepare:

• Preheat oven to 350oF
• Mix all ingredients in bowl
• Shape mixture into bite-size balls
• Bake for 10 minutes or until brown
• Cool and serve or seal in airtight container and store in fridge or freezer until ready to serve

Turkey Mash

What you'll need:

• 1 egg
• 1 to 2 tablespoons mashed potatoes
• ½ cup diced cooked turkey meat
• ½ cup chopped cooked veggies
• ¼ cup grated cheese

To prepare:

• Warm a small amount of olive oil in a medium-sized skillet
• Blend the egg and potatoes in a bowl and then spread in the skillet
• Lay the turkey and veggies on top in even layers
• Cover and simmer until the egg is cooked and the mixture is warm
• Sprinkle cheese on top of mixture and cook a few more minutes until cheese is melted and egg is golden brown
• Cool thoroughly, cut into wedges, seal in airtight container and put in fridge or freezer until ready to serve

How to Quickly Turn a Can of Pet Food into Nutritious TreatsIf you buy commercial (hopefully human grade) canned food for your dog or cat, you can 'repurpose' a can for use as a supply of healthy treats.

Open a can of your pet's favorite brand, preferably something with a strong aroma, and spoon out little treat sized amounts onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.

Put the baking sheet into the freezer until the bite sized bits of food are frozen. Then move them to an airtight container and back into the freezer they go until you're ready to treat your pet to a treat! (Most dogs will enjoy the treats frozen, but you'll need to thaw them to a chewy consistency for kitties.)

Additional Ideas for Quick-and-Easy Pet TreatsDon't count out people food when it comes to offering healthy treats to your pet.

Fed in moderation (meaning fed only occasionally, and in very small amounts – no more than a 1/8 inch square for a cat or small dog and no more than a ¼ inch square for a bigger dog), any of the following items from your kitchen can provide a nutritious snack for your dog or cat:

• Fruit
• Cheese
• Raw almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts
• Blueberries
• Frozen peas

No matter what treats you feed, they should be counted as part of your dog's or cat's daily caloric intake. It's easy to imagine, as you're handing a tiny morsel of this or that to your pet, that those extra calories are inconsequential in such small amounts.

Most pet owners would be surprised at just how many extra calories a treat here and there can add to a pet's daily energy intake.

10 Warning signs of Cancer
(Animal Fair)



10 warning signs of cancer in both dogs and cats. Please understand that these are just potential warning signs and should not panic you, but prompt a visit to your veterinarian.

1. Swollen lymph nodes: These “glands” are located all throughout the body but are most easily detected behind the jaw or behind the knee. When these lymph nodes are enlarged they can suggest a common form of cancer called lymphoma. A biopsy or cytology of these enlarged lymph nodes can aid in the diagnosis.

2. An enlarging or changing lump: Any lump on a pet that is rapidly growing or changing in texture or shape should have a biopsy. Lumps belong in biopsy jars, not on pets.

3. Abdominal distension: When the “stomach” or belly becomes rapidly enlarged, this may suggest a mass or tumor in the abdomen or it may indicate some bleeding that is occurring in this area. A radiograph or an ultrasound of the abdomen can be very useful.

4. Chronic weight loss: When a pet is losing weight and you have not put your pet on a diet, you should have your pet checked. This sign is not diagnostic for cancer, but can indicate that something is wrong. Many cancer patients have weight loss.

5. Chronic vomiting or diarrhea-Unexplained vomiting or diarrhea should prompt further investigation. Often tumors of the gastrointestinal tract can cause chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea. Radiographs, ultrasound examinations and endoscopy are useful diagnostic tools when this occurs.

6. Unexplained bleeding: Bleeding from the mouth, nose, penis, vagina or gums that is not due to trauma should be examined. Although bleeding disorders do occur in pets, they usually are discovered while pets are young. If unexplained bleeding starts when a pet is old, a thorough search should be undertaken.

7. Cough: A dry, non-productive cough in an older pet should prompt chest radiographs to be taken. This type of cough is the most common sign of lung cancer. Please remember there are many causes of cough in dogs and cats.

8. Lameness: Unexplained lameness especially in large or giant breed dogs is a very common sign ofbone cancer. Radiographs of the affected area are useful for detecting cancer of the bone.

9. Straining to urinate: Straining to urinate and blood in the urine usually indicate a common urinary tract infection; if the straining and bleeding are not rapidly controlled with antibiotics or are recurrent, cancer of the bladder may be the underlying cause. Cystoscopy or other techniques that allow a veterinarian to take a biopsy of the bladder are useful and sometimes necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis in these cases.

10. Oral odor: Oral tumors do occur in pets and can cause a pet to change its food preference (i.e. from hard to soft foods) or cause a pet to change the manner in which it chews its food. Many times a foul odor can be detected in pets with oral tumors. A thorough oral examination with radiographs or CT scan, necessitating sedation, is often necessary to determine the cause of the problem.

Winter Poisoning Dangers for Dogs
(Dogington Post)

With winter weather still in full swing for many parts of the country, there are a couple very important poisoning dangers for pet owners to be aware of.

The salt that is laid down on roads, sidewalks, and driveways can be a major health risk for our four legged pets. Dogs (and cats) step in salt and naturally want to lick their paws to clean them and relieve the skin irritation. However, this can cause a potentially fatal reaction to the chemicals they are ingesting. Some possible ways to prevent this is by not allowing your dog to walk on the salt, use a pet safe deicer, and wash your dog’s paws off before they get the opportunity to lick them clean.

Another major health concern during the winter months is the issue of anti-freeze ingestion. Many vehicles leak anti-freeze on roads and driveways. These puddles can be very appealing to our pets because of the color, odor, and taste…making it a very concerning issue for dog owners. Consumption of anti-freeze can be fatal to dogs and cats if not treated quickly. Possible symptoms of ingestion include: vomiting, seizures, increased rate of breathing, and appearing sleepy.

Prevention is often the best way to keep our dogs safe from these very common dangers. However, if you even suspect that your dog might have been exposed/consumed either road salt or anti-freeze, make sure you contact your Veterinarian immediately. Let’s keep our four legged family members safe during this winter season.

Steve Reid is a Certified Dog Trainer and owner of S.R. Dog Training, LLC based in Westchester, NY.  Steve’s mission is on “Changing the World for Dogs”.  For more information about S. R. Dog Training, send an e-mail tosteve@srdogtraining.com, call 914-774-7654 or visit srdogtraining.com

Acute Moist Dermatitis (Hot Spots) in Dogs
(Web MD)

A hot spot is a warm, painful, swollen patch of skin 1 to 4 inches (2.5 to 10 cm) across that exudes pus and gives off a foul odor. Hair in the area is lost rapidly. The infection progresses when the dog licks and chews the site. These circular patches appear suddenly and enlarge quickly, often within a matter of hours.

Hot spots can occur anywhere on the body, often in more than one spot. One very typical location is under the ear flaps in large breeds with heavy, hairy ears, such as Newfoundlands and Golden Retrievers. Hot spots occur most often in breeds with heavy coats, and tend to appear just before shedding, when moist, dead hair is trapped next to the skin. Fleas, mites, and other skin parasites, skin allergies,irritant skin diseases, ear and anal gland infections, and neglected grooming are other factors that can initiate the itch-scratch-itch cycle.

Treatment: Hot spots are extremely painful. The dog usually will need to be sedated or anesthetized for the initial treatment. Your veterinarian will clip away hair to expose the hot spot, then gently cleanse the skin with a dilute povidone-iodine shampoo (Betadine) or a chlorhexidine shampoo (Nolvasan) and allow the skin to dry. An antibiotic steroid cream or powder (Panolog or Neocort) is then applied twice a day for 10 to 14 days. Oral antibiotics are usually prescribed. Predisposing skin problems must be treated as well.

Your veterinarian may also prescribe a short course of oral corticosteroids to control severe itching. Prevent the dog from traumatizing the area by using an Elizabethan collar or a BiteNot collar.

In hot, humid weather, always be sure to dry your heavy-coated dog thoroughly afterbathing her and after she swims. Otherwise, the conditions are perfect for a hot spot to develop.

For Those That Think “It’s Just a Dog"
(Brandy Arnold in Heroic &nspiring, Lifestyle w/ Dog - Dogington Post)

From time to time people tell me, “Lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or “That’s a lot of money for just a dog.”

They don’t understand the distance traveled, time spent, or costs involved for “Just a dog.” Some of my proudest moments have come about with “Just a dog.” Many hours have passed with my only company being “Just a dog,” and not once have I felt slighted. Some of my saddest moments were brought about by “Just a dog.” In those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “Just a dog” provided comfort and purpose to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it’s “Just a dog,” you will probably understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person. Because of “Just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

For me and folks like me, it’s not “Just a dog.” It’s an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. “Just a dog”brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday people can understand it’s not “Just the dog.” It’s the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “Just a man” or “Just a woman.”

So the next time you hear the phrase “Just a dog,” smile, because they “just don’t understand.”

-Author Unknown