Dogs & Cats

Bone Appetit! Pup Cakes for Your Pooch

by Seasonal Wisdom on June 4, 2010

When our loveable mutt Maggie May celebrated her second birthday, we knew she deserved something special. So, we invited all her favorite pups over for a party in the backyard. But that’s not all. We also ordered a professionally baked pup cake by Chef Joanie Veage, owner of RYouBeingServed.
Over the years, Chef Joanie has cooked for well-known stars like the Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow, Def Leppard, Guns-n-Roses, Meg Ryan, Ozzy Osbourne, and other celebrities. But her favorite customers now are the four-legged kind, who she thrills with recipes like this one…

Muttballs and Pup Cakes

2 – 3 lbs raw, ground chicken or turkey (preferably antibiotic and hormone free)

4 cups of steamed, organic, sweet brown rice

1 cup grated summer squash or zucchini

1 cup grated broccoli

1 cup grated green beans

1 cup grated carrots

1 giant handful shredded spinach

1 small bunch grated parsley

½ cup grated celery

¼ cup coconut oil (optional)

1 tablespoon granulated, organic garlic powder

Prepare ingredients as suggested above. Joanie uses organic or clean, local vegetables in her cakes.

Using a food processor, finely grate vegetables. In a stand mixer, combine all ingredients. For muttballs, scoop 1 to 2 inch ball directly on a baking pan. For pup cakes, scoop directly into a lightly oiled (not sprayed) cake tin.

Bake in preheated oven, 350 degrees F. for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven. Cool.

Store in airtight container and refrigerate up to 5 days. Or, place in freezer bags for up to 6 weeks.

Serve as a small sliver. Or, mix a couple tablespoons with their dog food. For dogs not used to eating this type of food, it’s recommended to start with smaller portions.

As you can see below, the party was a big hit with birthday dog Maggie. Just look at that grin. It says it all.

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Poisonous Plants for Pets

by Seasonal Wisdom on April 16, 2009

Meet Maggie O’Connor, the newest addition to our family. She’s a sweet-tempered, lovable hound mix that we adopted from the Idaho Humane Society a few months ago. Isn’t she a beauty? Keeping her safe is our top priority. That’s why we knew it was important to familiarize ourselves with plants that could make pets like Maggie sick.

What’s Dangerous? According to the Humane Society, there are hundreds of plants that can cause everything from mild nausea to death in animals. Here’s their list

Coleus, chamomile, calla lilies and chrysanthemums are just a few popular plants that can make your pup ill, reports the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Incidentally, these coleus (or “coleuses,” if you’re a stickler for grammar) were grown by Elaine and Pat McCoy from seeds. Fortunately, the McCoy’s two dogs — Hillary and Clinton — stay far away from these plants.

Biggest Problems? To determine the plants most likely to poison pets, Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (VPI) reviewed more than 400 claims it received for these types of incidents in 2008. The top 10 poisonous plants most likely to be ingested by pets are:

1. Raisins/Grapes
2. Mushrooms
3. Marijuana
4. Lily
5. Walnuts
6. Onion
7. Sago Palm
8. Macadamia Nuts
9. Azalea
10. Hydrangea

Did Your Pet Eat a Poisonous Plant? If you think your pet is ill or may have ingested a poisonous plant, the ASPCA advises you to call your local veterinarian or its 24-hour emergency hotline directly at 1-888-426-4435.

As for Maggie… It’s discouraging that so many plants can make our pets sick. With Maggie, we’re limiting her exposure to various plants, and we’re correcting her whenever she tries to eat any plant. So far, she seems disinterested, fortunately.

Meanwhile, we welcome any pet-friendly suggestions for gardens that work for you.

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