June 2006 Pet Tips & Recipes

It is now the first Tropical Depression…soon to be Tropical Storm. Can’t wait for another Hurricane Season in Florida! Make sure that you have an emergency plan for evacuation that includes your pets (see last month’s newsletter for ideas).

 Don’t Forget to check out our new 101 Romantic Ideas and 101 Keys to Success

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IMPORTANT PET TIPS

Grapes Can Be Deadly to Dogs

Grapes may seem like a healthy snack for humans, but they can be deadly to your dog. The laceName w:st="on">AnimallaceName> laceName w:st="on">PoisonlaceName> laceName w:st="on">ControllaceName> laceType w:st="on">CenterlaceType> researched the effects of grape consumption in dogs and cats and the findings are scary. Do not offer your dogs grapes or raisins. The toxic level remains unknown. It is not known whether quality or quantity is the cause for canine deaths. The safest measure you can practice is simply not to offer grapes or raisins to your pets at all.

Summertime Tips

It is extremely important for pet owners to take measures to help protect
their pets from the summer heat.

Never, never, EVER leave your pet unattended in a parked car. EVEN FOR A
FEW MINUTES! If it’s 85 degrees outside, your car temperature - even with
the windows OPEN, can reach 102 degrees within 10 MINUTES! During this
short time, your pet could suffer heatstroke, dehydration, and even death!
So if you have to go somewhere where Fido/Fluffy can’t come in with you,
PLEASE leave them at home!

Of course, do take them for a ride if the pet enjoys it! But remember,
before transporting them anywhere, run the air conditioning in your car for
a few minutes (before you or the pet get in the car). It’s the only humane
thing to do.

Rides in the car can be fun. But also remember, your pet may seem to like
to put his/her head out of the window, but have you ever been hit in the eye
by a Japanese beetle at 65 MPH? It could easily put their eye out, lodge in
their throat or nose. It’s best to teach your pet to sit while riding (and
not in your lap) or safely in a kennel carrier. They also make a great
safety belt that attaches to your pet’s harness and to the car safety belt.

And if you much take your pet somewhere and they cannot ride inside the
car, PLEASE DO NOT let them ride freely in the back of a pick-up! This can
not only be deadly to your pet, but to you and other drivers if he/she were
to fall out. Plus the tool box and bed of the truck are far to hot for
tender pads. If you must take them, please secure them in a kennel crate,
secured in so it does not slide back and forth.

Keep your pet indoor during the day. If you have an outside dog, make sure
they have plenty of shade (morning and evening), plenty of fresh, clean
water and a safe place to get out of the rain. Try to exercise your pet in
the cooler morning or evening hours (make sure to wear lighted
collars/visible colors at night). Hot asphalt can burn tender paw pads.

And last but not least, know the signs of exhaustion and dehydration. Some
symptoms include: excessive panting, glassy stare, dizziness, vomiting or
collapse. If your pet shows ANY of these symptoms of heatstroke, move it in
to a shady area and reduce its temperature by soaking it with cool water and
go immediately to your vets office.

HUMAN TREATS

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Oven-Baked Dutch Apple Pancakes

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

2 cans apple pie filling
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a 10-inch cast iron skillet, warm the apple pie filling, butter, cinnamon. In a bowl, beat the eggs until frothy. Add the milk, flour, sour cream, lemon zest, and salt. Beat just until batter is smooth. Pour over the hot apple mixture in the skillet, and immediately put the pan in the oven. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the pancake is puffed up and golden brown. Using a small, fine sieve, lightly dust the top of the pancake with confectioners' sugar. Serve warm.

PET TREAT RECIPES

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Pooch Peanut Butter Swirls

Dough #1 4 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup cornmeal 1 1/3 cups water 1/3 cup peanut butter 1 egg

Dough #2 4 cups whole wheat flour 2/3 cup cornmeal 1/2 cup banana --mashed 1 egg 1 1/4 cups water 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons molasses 2 tablespoons cinnamon

Combine all #1 ingredients and mix thoroughly. Knead on a lightly floured surface. Set aside.

Combine all #2 ingredients and mix thoroughly. Knead on a lightly floured surface.

Roll each dough separately to a 1/8 inch thickness, into rectangles. Lightly brush a little water over the top of the light dough. Place the dark dough on top, then roll up like a jelly roll. Wrap the roll in plastic and chill in the freezer for one hour. Cut the roll into 1/4 inch slices. Place them on a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

Pet Puffs

• 1 package Dry yeast

• 1/4 cup Warm water (110-115F.)

• 1 1/2 cups Whole wheat flour

• 1 cup All-Purpose flour

• 1 package unflavored gelatin

• 1 cup Non-fat dry milk powder

• 1/4 cup Corn oil

• 1 Egg 1 can pet food -- (6 to 8 oz)

• 1/4 cup Water

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Mix dry ingredients. Add all ingredients together. (Dough will be very stiff; it may be necessary to mix with your hands.) Drop dough by level half-teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated 300F oven 25 minutes.

Sheltie Scones

• 2 1/2 cups self-rising flour

• 1 cup beef liver --chopped

• 1/2 cup water --or beef stock

• 1/2 cup milk

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

(Chopped Liver: Just boil the liver until it is gray and a rubbery consistency. Or if you have a microwave, cook it on high for about 8 mins. Chop it up into small pieces and when cool put the pieces into a number of airtight bags and store in the fridge. Use liver pieces as treats when training)

Scones: Sift flour and salt into a bowl, rub in butter. Add chopped liver. Use a knife to stir in milk and enough water to mix to sticky dough. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead quickly and lightly until dough is smooth. Press dough out evenly to about 2 cm and cut into rounds. Place on prepared tray and bake in very hot over for 15 minutes.

Makes about 16-18.

Snickerpoodles Dog Treats

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• 1/2 cup shortening

• 1 cup honey

• 2 eggs

• 3 3/4 cups white flour

• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 cup cornmeal

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Mix vegetable oil, shortening and honey together until smooth. Add eggs and beat well. Blend in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Knead dough until mixed well. Shape dough by rounded teaspoons into balls. Mix the cornmeal and cinnamon together in a bowl and roll balls in mixture. Place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with a nonstick spray. Press the balls down with a fork twice going in 2 different directions or press with your favorite stamp. Bake 8 minutes at 400. Remove from baking sheet and cool on a rack.

Pasta recipe. form into the desired ravioli shape and size. Cover with damp cloth and set aside.

In a bowl, mix yogurt, whole wheat flour and eggs. Add salmon and parsley mix a few more moments.

Depending on ravioli size, place 1 to 4 teaspoons in center of each, moisten edges and fold.

Ravioli can be boiled or baked. If boiling, place in rapid boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes or till done. If baking pre-heat oven to 375, place ravioli on a baking sheet, put in oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

Note: use leftover meat such as beef, chicken, lamb etc. Also shredded veggies like carrots, sweet potato, etc. or chopped veggies such as green beans, broccoli, and kale etc. raw oat meal and cooked rice or cooked barley, can be used in place of meat.

Surprise Snacks

• 1/4 cup hot water

• 8 chicken bouillon cube -- or beef

• 1 package dry yeast

• 1 1/2 cups tomato juice

• 2 cups flour --divided

• 2 cups wheat germ

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

Place the hot water and bouillon cubes in a large mixing bowl and mash with a fork. Sprinkle yeast over this mixture and let stand about 5 minutes, until yeast is dissolved. Add the tomato juice, half the flour and the wheat germ and stir to form a smooth batter. Gradually work in the remaining flour and the whole wheat flour with your hands. Divide the dough into 4 balls. Roll each ball out on a floured board to about 1/4" thick. Cut into shapes and place on ungreased cookie sheets about an inch apart. Bake in a 3250F oven for 1 hour, then turn off the heat and let biscuits dry in oven for about 4 hours or overnight with the door propped open slightly. Store in airtight container.