A Healthy Dog

A Healthy Dog Loves Healthy Treats

2010-04-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

To have a healthy dog it is so important to serve your pampered pup only the best in healthy treats. Now how do you know if they are really and truly healthy ... well, make them yourself. I know this sounds like a big deal, but it really isn't ... and I use the dehydrator to make mine and they will last a long time without spoiling ... that is if they aren't all scarfed up .... hehehehe!

Healthy Dog Treat Recipes

Sweet Potato Dog Chews

Super simple dog chew/treat to make ... your dog will love this one.

Thoroughly wash sweet potatoes.
Slice the sweet potato into 1/4" slices or cut down the middle lengthwise and slice into 1/4" strips.
Dehydrate at the highest setting 145 - 155 until done.
Drying approximently 6-8 hours will leave them with a chewy texture.
For crunchier treats dehydrate longer until the desired consistency.

Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup oil
3 tablespoons peanut butter ... sometimes I use Almond butter .. no sugar added
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup oats
1/4 C Honey Crunch Wheat Germ

Mix up in a big bowl the flour, cornmeal, oats and wheat germ. Stir in oil, peanut/almond butter, vanilla, and water.
Knead till smooth, adding more flour or water as needed.
Roll out the dough to about 1/4" thick.

Shape into bars or use a fun shaped cookie cutter.
Dehydrate at the highest setting 145 - 155 until done.
Approximately 6 - 8 hours. Add time if needed as treats should be VERY dry.

Chicken Jerky

This is Houdini's very fave ... Houdini is my personal healthy treat tester ... LOL!

Take your slightly frozen boneless, skinless chicken breast and slice against the grain into 1/4" strips.
Place on your dehydrator tray ... make sure they are not stacked up
Dehydrate at the highest setting 145- 155 until done ... usually 5-6 hours

Just watch the results ... Oh MY!

It is a great feeling to know that you have provided the best healthy treats for your dog ... nothing artificial, no chemicals ... best of all not shipping from foreign countries ...

I use the best dehydrator that I could find ... mostly because we use it for ourselves also, when we eat raw. So if you don't have one be sure to check out the Excalibur Dehydrator ... for the price it will last longer and provide you and your pampered puppies and dogs with service for a very long time.

Excalibur Dehydrator 5 Tray Item #3500
    * Great for small families, small gardens or specialty gardens.
    * Contains 5 LARGE trays with 8 square feet of tray area.
    * Built-in on/off switch. 5" fan, 440 watts. Adjustable thermostat.
    * Unit Dimensions: 8-1/2"H x 17"W x 19"D
    * Shipping Weight: 16 lbs

Available in case color Black or Appliance White.White unit additional $10.00. All units come with a Black door and black trays.

Healthy Dog Loves the Pampered Puppies Adventures

2010-04-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

A Healthy Dog is always on the lookout for the best in Healthy Dog information. It looks like our Healthy Dog Pal, Houdini Clarke, has come up with his own "Pampered Puppies Adventures" that will feature the pampered pup himself, along with several of his other healthy puppy pals.

I received just a teaser of his first issue ....

In addition to laugh out loud funny dog adventures , he is also going to include:

Tips to living "GREEN" as a dog of the 21st Century
Important healthcare issues facing puppies and dogs
Cool Training Tips for Dogs and their Humans
Cutting Edge Pampered Puppies Fashion
Scrumptious, Healthy Dog Food Recipes

It looks like the perfect marriage of laughs and education for all of us concerned about our favorite puppies and dogs.

"a dog blog for the healthy dog"

Puppies and Dogs ...

2010-02-15T06:12:00.001-08:00

Puppies and dogs bring so much fun into your life! You need a good resource to consult, though, when you decide to make that move .... http://puppies-and-dogs.com is the site to search out that important information ...

in reference to:

"Puppies and Dogs Are you ready to be a puppy parent? Puppies and dogs are the cutest bundles of fur in the world, but if you aren’t prepared for this new member of your family it could turn your life upside down! First off, if you are thinking about buying a puppy or dog, be aware that this one small action will change your life … mostly for the better … and you need to be prepared, as this change will happen instantly upon bringing the new puppy or dog into your home."
- Puppies and Dogs - Puppies and Dogs (view on Google Sidewiki)

A Healthy Dog for the Holidays!

2009-12-22T09:33:00.000-08:00

A Healthy Dog and a Merry Christmas to All!

With the holidays upon us we all want to have a healthy dog. There are a few extra things to keep in mind in regards to your dog’s health.

Strange people in your home, loud noises and festive celebrations may upset your dog. In addition, many people may be uncomfortable around dogs so it would be best to keep him confined in a room that will not be used by your guests. If that isn’t possible, appoint someone from your family to keep watch and make sure that the dog does not get underfoot or into mischief!

Your dog is used to a certain routine … walking, feeding, etc. … try not to vary the routine.

Limit the amount of “people” food from the table or buffet that you give to Fido. This type of goodies can make your dog sick … in fact some food, like chocolate and grapes can be toxic … and do I need to say NEVER give your pooch alcohol.

Be sure to keep your holiday plants like holly, mistletoe and poinsettia out of reach. If not poisonous, they will certainly make your dog very sick.

Christmas tree lights should be kept out of reach. Many times dogs chew on them and get a terrible shock or even electrocuted.

Glass ornaments that break should be cleaned up quickly for the safety of everyone, but these can severely cut your dog’s feet or mouth.

Strings of popcorn and cranberries look awesome on the tree, but may be irresistible to your furry friends. Unless you want your tree knocked over, stick to the non-edible decorations … LOL!

Never let your dog eat tree needles … they are sharp, indigestible and are a real hazard to a healthy pet.

Festive burning candles really add to the mood of the holidays, but make sure that they are up and out of the way of any happy, wagging tails.

Many dogs love to “root” around wrapped packages … you may want to place them out of reach of your inquisitive hound.

By just following these few simple tips you and your dog should be able to celebrate the holidays stress free!

"A dog blog for the healthy dog"

A Healthy Dog Means a Happy Owner!

2009-12-21T12:47:00.000-08:00

A Healthy Dog is a Happy Dog!

Everyone wants to have a healthy pet and the real key to dog health is to be aware and monitor your furry friend daily:

Skin - Healthy skin is supple and smooth, without white flakes, red areas, growths or scabs. The skin will be pale pink to brown or black in color, depending on the breed. Speckled skin is common, whether the dog has a spotted or solid coat. Be sure to check your dog for fleas, ticks, lice, or other external parasites. To do this, blow gently on your dog's stomach or ruffle the hair backward in a few places to see if any small specks run away or if ticks are clinging to the skin. The black dirt on your dog's skin or bedding may be a sign of flea poop.

Coat - A healthy coat, whether short or long, is lustrous and supple. There should be no bald areas, dandruff or excessive oiliness to the coat.

Eyes - Healthy eyes will be bright and shiny and while mucus and watery tears are normal, they should be minimal and clear in color. The pink lining of the eyelids should not be inflamed, swollen, or have a yellow discharge. Sometimes you can see your dog's third eyelid, a light membrane, at the inside corner of an eye. It may slowly come up to cover his eye as he goes to sleep. The whites of your dog's eyes should not be yellowish. Eyelashes should not rub the eyeball.

Ears - The skin inside your dog's ears should be clean and a light pink in color. There might be some yellow or brownish wax, but a large amount of wax or crust is not normal. There should not be redness or swelling inside the ear, and your dog shouldn't scratch his ears or shake his head habitually. Dogs with long, hairy ears, such as Maltese, need additional attention to keep the inside of the ears dry.

Nose - A dog's nose is usually cool and moist. It can be black, pink, or the same color as the coat, depending on the breed. Discharge from the nose should be clear, never yellowish, thick, bubbly, or bad smelling. A cool, wet nose does not necessarily mean the dog is healthy, and a dry, warm nose doesn't necessarily mean he's sick. Taking his temperature is a better indication of illness.

Mouth, Teeth and Gums - Healthy gums are firm and pink, black, or spotted, just like the dog's skin. Young dogs have smooth white teeth that tend to darken with age. Puppies have 23 baby teeth and adults have around 42 permanent teeth, depending on the breed. As adult teeth come in, they push baby teeth out of the mouth.

To check your dog's mouth, talk to him gently, then put your hand over the muzzle and lift up the sides of his mouth. Check that adult teeth are coming in as they should, and not being crowded by baby teeth. Make sure the gums are healthy and the breath does not have a bad odor. Look for soft white material or hard white, yellow, or brown material. This is plaque or tartar and should be brushed or wiped away.

Mouth infections can lead to serious problems in the gums and other parts of the body, including the heart, so it's important to give your dog's teeth and mouth special attention.

Temperature - A dog's normal temperature is 101 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 to 39.2 degrees Celcius). To take your dog's temperature, you'll need a rectal thermometer. Put some petroleum jelly on the bulb of the thermometer. Ask someone to hold your dog's head while you lift his tail and insert the thermometer about an inch or so into the rectum. Do not let go of the thermometer. Hold it in until the temperature is read (about 3 minutes for a mercury thermometer), and then remove gently.

Heartbeat and Pulse - Because dogs come in a wide range of sizes, their heartbeats vary. A normal heart beats from 50 to 130 times a minute in a resting dog. Puppies and small dogs have faster speeds, and large dogs in top condition have slower heartbeats. To check your dog's heartbeat, place your fingers over the left side of the chest, where you can feel the strongest beat. To check the pulse, should be the same speed as the heartbeat, press gently on the inside of the top of the hind leg. There is an artery there and the skin is thin, so it's easy to feel the pulse.

Elimination - Urine is a good indicator of a dog's health, and should be clear yellow. Most adult dogs have one or two bowel movements a day. Stools should be brown and firm. Runny, watery, or bloody stools, straining, or too much or too little urination warrant a call to the veterinarian.

Weight - A healthy dog's weight is the result of the balance between diet and exercise. If he is getting enough nutritious food and exercise but still seems over or underweight, he may have a health problem. Don't let your dog get fat by giving him too many between meal snacks and obese dogs often develop serious health problems. The best way to tell if your dog is overweight is to feel his rib cage area. You should be able to feel the ribs below the surface of the skin without much padding.

"A dog blog for the healthy dog"

Healthy Dog Facts

2009-12-20T13:57:00.000-08:00

A healthy dog is what all dog owners strive for. It is important to know a few dog health facts that can save you needless worry. Our furry friends are different from us so lets take a look and be sure to bookmark this site for handy reference.

Normal Body Temperature

Adult dog: 100 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 to 39.2 degrees Celsius)

Average: 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit (38.5 degrees Celsius)

Newborn puppy: 94 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit (34.4 to 36.1 degrees Celsius)
4 week old puppy: 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.3 degrees Celsius)

Normal Heart Rate

Adult dog: 60 to 160 beats per minute

Toy breeds: up to 180 beats per minute
Newborn puppy: 160 to 200 beats per minute at birth

Normal Respiratory Rate

Adult dog: 10 to 30 breaths per minute

Average: 24 breaths per minute at rest

Newborn puppy: 15 to 35 breaths per minute up to 2 weeks of age

"A dog blog for the healthy dog"