Archive for September, 2010

Looking for a fall treat to give to your dog? Then be sure to try out this fabulous recipe for pumpkin dog treats. They’re loaded with vitamins like Vitamin C and nutrients like beta carotene, plus, they’re low calorie and rich in antioxidants. It’s like the perfect healthy treat! Try out these natural dog treats just in time for the arrival of fall. Trust us – your dog will LOVE them! Oh – and don’t worry about amounts. Just mix until you find the right dough consistency or the right amount!

Start out by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and while it preheats, grease a cookie sheet. Then, in a large bowl, mix together whole wheat flour, an egg, and some pureed pumpkin. Make sure that the pureed pumpkin isn’t pie filling! Use only natural, organic pureed pumpkin for the best results, which you can find in just about any store this time of year. Then, once the dough is the right consistency, roll it out on a lightly floured surface and use a cookie cutter to cut out fun biscuit shapes. Bake for about a half hour or until hard and crunchy. Cool and serve.

Also, if you’re looking to treat your pup to something special, try giving him a little bit of pumpkin straight from the can! It’s a tasty snack that’s good for him too!

Did you know that each year, more than 4 million dogs end up in a shelter or a rescue organization? It’s sad but true; many dogs just aren’t getting the love and care they need. However, Pedigree just launched an awesome drive that’s sure to help the cause.

The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive shines a light on dogs in need of a home and to help raise awareness for homeless dog, Pedigree is donating a bowl of food to shelter dogs for everyone who becomes a “Fan” or “Likes” the PEDIGREE Adoption Drive on Facebook. More than 1 million bowls have been donated already!

To also help with the cause, they’re also working with dog bloggers (like us!). For each blog post mentioning the Pedigree Adoption Drive throughout BlogPaws West, a dog bloggers event, they’ll donate a bag of new PEDIGREE Healthy Longevity Food for Dogs to shelters nationwide. So if you have a dog blog, get writing today! Then, just post yourself to the list to have your post counted in the grand total. So far, there are hundreds of posts – and hundreds of bags of food to be donated!

The drive runs from September 16-September 19, 2010, so do your part and become a fan on Facebook or write a blog post to share the importance of adoptions. Remember, more than 4 million dogs are without homes. They can use your help. Make a difference today.

Your Dog Needs the Right Diet. Be Sure He's Getting What He Needs By Following Our Tips.

Protein is an essential component of your dog’s diet as it helps your dog repair, regulate, and protect his body. As a building block of life, protein remains a key component of a healthy dog’s diet at all stages of life and if you want to make sure that your dog has the proper nutrition, you’ll start by taking a look at the requirements and facts regarding protein.

Requirements for Protein in Dogs
Puppy diets should have about 28% of their diet as protein. Adult dogs should have 18-35% of their diet as protein depending on their size and occupation. Racing dogs and performance dogs will tend to fall on the higher end of the protein scale. Pregnant or lactating dogs should have protein as 28% of their diet. These are just the general guidelines. If your dog has special health issues or concerns, always talk to your vet about proper dietary guidelines and practices.

Can You Feed Your Dog Too Much Protein?
Well, yes and no. Any protein that isn’t used up in your dog’s natural body process will usually be used or excreted in urine, however, if your dog has any kidney problems, it can be harmful. But let’s take a look at the issue closer.

A few years back, research was done that concluded that too much protein can lead to kidney damage. This study was conducted on rats, who differ in kidney function from healthy dogs. It turns out that excess protein isn’t really a problem for healthy dogs, as it will either be stored as fat, burned as calories, or excreted in urine. But in dogs with kidney damage, additional protein causes the kidneys to work harder, which can discourage healing. In cases where kidneys need less stress, a lower protein diet is recommended.

Picking the Right Dog Food
So what can you do to pick the right balance of protein in dog food? Well, for starters, you can take a look at some of these tips.

When it comes to picking dog foods, you’ll want to make sure that you’re choosing one that has the right balance of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Foods that are heavy in fillers (e.g. corn, wheat) aren’t as easily digested. You need to have dog foods that include the dietary values your dog needs to be healthy without compromising digestive function.

The general rule is to choose a dog food that is about 18-25%protein, 30-60% carbohydrates, and 15-19% fat. Carbohydrates usually make up a fair percentage of any dog food and are essential, just like vitamins and minerals, so don’t leave them out either. Same thing with fats.

Do you have any more questions about dogs and diet? Feel free to ask us in the comments!

Remember what it was like to own your first dog? Well, on My Mixed Up Mutt & Me, you’ll get to relive the experience through author April’s posts about her dog Toby. April adopted Toby in June 2009 and since then, her life has never been the same. Also, recently, she just added another pup to her household: Todd!

If you want to see some great posts on what it means to be a dog owner (and some pretty awesome product reviews and other tips), then you’ll love My Mixed Up Mutt & Me. Did we mention they feature adoptable dogs too? Such a must-read for any dog owner or dog lover!