Since I can remember, I’ve always had a pet dog. It was usually one of the many pets we used to have, because my father LOVES animals. The fact that my grandparents owned a cattle ranch influenced my childhood immensely, and I grew up knowing and learning all the facts of life through the many species of animals there. I loved to wake up at the crack of dawn and watch while they milked the cows to provide us with fresh milk (we did this dressed in pj’s and cowboy boots), let the chickens out of their cage and feed them (they sleep in a cage so the wild animals don’t hunt them at night), give fruit to the parrots and parakeets, and play around with the dog pack my grandpa so dearly loved, which then followed us around while we went horseback riding. We also had ducks, geese, tepezcuintles, donkeys, mules, and a wide variety of chickens.
With this background, it is no surprise my father is a dog enthusiast, and thanks to him, I can identify most of the breeds and know how to handle and take care of a dog. I’ve always been a dog lover, and since I don’t have kids yet, my furbaby is very, very spoiled. Boston Terriers tend to be highly allergic to grains and have sensitive skin, so her diet was a nightmare, a conversation we’ve been having with Barbara since we met, due to the fact that Frankie is a very picky eater. Now, Emma is another story. 😉
Looking back at all the posts I’ve written, I noticed that not one was dedicated to doggie food! Please keep in mind that I am no vet and that all the information I got, I got through online research, books, and dog nutrition forums (there is one specifically for Boston Terriers, can you believe that?).
Here are some tips on how to keep your mutt healthy:
· { First, what you should NOT feed them: }
Onions and garlic (and foods cooked with these ingredients), alcohol, sugar, grapes, coffee, nuts and especially, chicken bones—they can hurt your dog’s throat and/or choke them, since they tend to splinter when they break. Chocolate is also especially harmful for their health.
· { What you CAN feed them: }
Vegetables! Dogs can eat veggies too, and they make a healthy treat that won’t make them fat. You can also give them fruits as long as they don’t have a pit, since they can contain cyanide.
· Regarding wet or dry food, it all depends on your opinion and budget. I personally think that dry food keeps their teeth and gums cleaner and healthier, but it is a question of preference.
If you’re feeling especially generous towards your furry companion and want to indulge them, here’s a recipe for a homemade doggie treat from the almighty Cesar Millan (I’m a HUGE, HUGE fan):
APPLE CRUNCH PUPCAKES
(How cute is this name?!)
{ Ingredients }
2 3/4 cups water
1/4 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
2 tbsp honey
1/8 tbsp vanilla extract
1 medium egg
4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup dried apple chips (unsweetened)
1 tbsp baking powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix water, applesauce, honey, egg and vanilla extract together in a bowl
Add remaining ingredients and mix until well blended
Pour into lightly greased muffin pans
Bake 1 1/4 hours
HAPPY COOKING!
There will be a lot of tail-wagging when you take these out of the oven!
Until next,
faviorodas 