The Benefits of Feeding Yogurt

July 21, 2010

You've probably heard about the health benefits associated with humans eating yogurt, but did you know that your dog can benefit, as well? It's true. Yogurt not only improves the digestive health of your canine friend, but 1 teaspoon - 1 tablespoon per day can also help ward off infections in the body due to high yeast, such as ear and skin infections. Additionally, feeding yogurt helps to build a strong immunity and can ease the negative effects associated with taking antibiotics.

You can buy yogurt from your local market (our dogs prefer vanilla, rather than plain), but be sure to get the fat-free variety. If you want to stretch your dollar to make a little go along way, here is a recipe:

1) Preheat oven to its lowest setting, then turn the oven off, leaving the door closed.

2) In a heavy pot or double boiler, heat 1 gallon of milk (low-fat) to almost a boil, then remove from heat source and let it cool to 110 degrees Fahrenheit (about the temperature of a baby's bottle).

3) Stir a small amount of the warmed milk into 8 ounces of yogurt (be sure it contains live cultures) until blended. Gradually continue to stir in small amounts of milk until the mixture becomes thin, then pour the mixture into the remainder of the warm milk and stir until blended.

4) Pour the milk-yogurt mixture into plastic containers and cover with lids. If you prefer, leave the mixture in a covered pot, then transfer it to containers later.

5) Place in the warmed oven overnight. Leave the oven light on to provide warmth (if necessary, prop the oven door open with a wooden spoon to keep the light on).

6) Refrigerate the finished yogurt in the morning. This yogurt can be used to start the next batch.

I am a firm believer in the benefits of yogurt. My old Labrador, BlackJacks, suffered with severe, chronic ear infections for 7 years. After a strong round of antibiotics, we started giving him a tablespoon of yogurt every day. BlackJacks lived for 8 more years without another ear infection.

As many Japanese Spitz owners know, they can be prone to sensitive stomachs. With our JS, I have found that a bit of yogurt helps with their digestive issues, by providing beneficial bacteria called probiotics.

So, grab a couple of spoons and share a tasty yogurt treat. Not only will your furry best friend be healthier, but I'm willing to bet he'll be a tad bit happier, too!

The 4-1-1 on Heartworm Disease

July 14, 2010

The sad truth, according to the American Heartworm Society, is that only 55% of dogs in the U.S. are on heartworm prevention medication, which means 27 million dogs are at risk of acquiring the disease. Out of that 27 million, it is estimated that 80% - 90% will acquire the disease. If not treated in time, heartworm disease has a 100% fatality rate.

HOW CAN YOUR DOG BECOME INFECTED? When Adult Heartworms reproduce, millions of microfilaria (baby heartworms) result. Microfilaria circulate in the blood of the host (infected animal). A mosquito bites the host, thereby ingesting the microfilaria. The mosquito then feeds on your dog, transmitting the infectious microfilaria into your dog's blood stream. The microfilaria molt in your dog's tissues for 3 - 4 months. Once the Microfilaria become worms (reaching up to 14 inches in length), the worms migrate from the tissues to the heart and surrounding blood vessels, where they mature to adulthood and the cycle continues. Adult heartworms cause severe heart and lung damage in canines.

IS THERE A PREVENTATIVE AND HOW DOES IT WORK? Yes. There are monthly heartworm preventatives. And it is much easier and cheaper than treating the disease after your dog has developed adult heartworms. Heartworm preventative kills the molting microfilaria in your dog's tissues. The preventative must be given monthly, otherwise it may be rendered uneffective. It is important to note that the preventative does NOT kill adult or near-adult heartworms. It is also important to note that if your dog currently has heartworm disease, consult your veterinarian before giving the preventative. Giving a heartworm positive dog a preventative prior to completion of treatment for the disease can prove to be fatal for your dog. For this same reason, all dogs should be tested for heartworm disease prior to beginning treatment.

CAN HEARTWORM DISEASE BE TREATED? Maybe. It depends on the stage of the disease. Stages 1 & 2 carry the best prognosis for survival (95% or more). Stage 3 patients have a fatality rate of 5 -20%. Statistics for Stage 4 patients are contradicting. Treatment involves killing the heartworms, which unfortunately, can also kill your pet. Dead worms can clog small blood vessels, causing your dog's organs to fail. Since vessels constrict during excitement and exercise, it is imperative that your dog stay calm, and possibly confined, during the months of treatment. The treatment is extremely expensive.

Your pet's hair, even if a double-coat exists, will not protect your pet from the disease-carrying mosquitoes that pass along . Heartworm-positive pets have been found in all 50 U.S. States. If you value your pet's life, heartworm preventative is an absolute must. Your four-legged best friend will thank you.

* A special thanks to my brother for suggesting this topic.

BBQ Beef Bones

July 7, 2010

Summertime is the time for weekend cookouts and picnics. Why not let your four-legged friends partake in the paw-lickin' fun? PupDog Bakery in Illinois Amish Country has a great recipe to try.

Ingredients:
- 3 cups 100% whole-wheat flour - medium or fine grind. (For dogs with wheat allergies, you can substitute oat, rice, or potato flour at about 2 1/4 cups)
- 3/4 cup beef broth (low-sodium, no msg)
- 1/3 cup non-fat powdered milk (optional)
- 1/3 cup shortening, or 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1 egg
- 8 oz can of organic, low-sodium tomato sauce
- 2-3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon blackstrap molasses (you can use regular baking molasses, but blackstrap has significantly higher calcium and iron)

Directions:
1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2) Combine all dry ingredients.
3) Add the shortening or oil to the dry ingredients and mix well.
4) In a separate bowl, add egg to the broth, and beat by hand until smooth.
5) Pour the wet mixture into the dry, and mix by hand. Combine all the dry ingredients until a ball of dough is formed. If it seems too dry, add water (one teaspoon at a time) until dough pulls away easily from the sides of the bowl and your fingers. If the ball is very sticky, then its too wet, and you may add a little more flour (one teaspoon at a time) until desired.
6) Roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick, and cut using a bone-shaped cookie cutter.
7) Lightly spray or grease a cookie sheet; cookies may be placed close together. Bake approximately 15 - 20 minutes or until brown on bottom. Remove from the oven, and let cookies cool.
8) To make the sweet and savory BBQ sauce, add 1/2 teaspoon of molasses to the entire can of tomato sauce and mix well. The molasses will give the sauce a delicious-looking brown color.
9) Lightly brush cooled cookies with the sauce, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
10) Bake the treats at 350 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes, or until the edges of the bones begin to darken slightly. Let the treats cool overnight.

Alternate Version:
For BBQ Drumsticks, use chicken broth instead of beef broth, and cut into drumstick shapes. You can also use vegetable broth for a meatless treat.

This recipe makes about a pound of treats.

Independence Day, Noise Sensitivity & Safety Tips

July 2, 2010

As we all know, fireworks = loud, booming noises. These noises can be very startling for some of our four-legged friends. Have you ever wondered why one puppy may grow to fear loud noises while another completely ignores them? According to Chris Cos-Evick, writer for DogFancy magazine, there are three contributing factors:

1) Genetics. "Some breeds, specifically hunting and sporting breeds, were developed for their ability to ignore loud noises," says Cheryl Smith, behavior lecturer and owner of Forever Friends Dog Training School in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She believes this partly explains why Labrador and Golden Retrievers often adapt well to large families."

2) Socialization. "The brain develops more neurotransmitters with exposure to stimuli," Smith says. That means your puppy needs ongoing varied experiences to accept life's noises.

3) Negative Association. Consistently banging the crate or clapping loudly to startle a puppy into stopping undesired behavior can create a lasting negative sound association.

Overall, consider your lifestyle before choosing a breed, socialize well, and stop undesirable behavior through training to help your puppy avoid noise sensitivity. For dogs sensitive to noise, you may reduce the reaction by playing music or a television fairly loudly in the background.

For more information regarding how to keep your dog calm and comfortable during Independence Day celebrations, visit my previous blog entry here: http://www.sweetsamuraikennels.blogspot.com/2009/07/fourth-of-july-fireworks-fright.html.

For ASPCA tips on how to keep furry friends safe during this holiday, visit my previous blog entry here: http://www.sweetsamuraikennels.blogspot.com/2009/06/fourth-of-july-safety-tips-from-aspca.html