Cold Dog Treats for Hot Temperatures

Written by: Nomi Berger, content writer for our newsletter

 

Like us, pets need proper protection from the heat and adequate shade from the sun. This year, take shelter from the swelter and turn each day into a holiday. Spread a sheet on the grass, fill a small wading pool or set up an umbrella on the balcony. Then, invite your pets to feast on their own, specially prepared doggie desserts.

Recipe One: Jewel-Toned Jello

1 pkg. cherry jello

1 chopped apple, banana and pear 

Mix jello as per instructions and stir in fruit. Pour into ice cube tray or small, individual moulds. Refrigerate until firm. Turn over onto plate and garnish with sliced strawberries. 

Recipe Two: Peanut Pupsicles

Peanut butter treats. Photo credit: Jennifer Yu from userealbutter.com

3 very ripe bananas

1 cup peanut butter

½ - ¾ cup wheat germ

½ cup unsalted peanuts finely chopped

Mix bananas and peanut butter. Add wheat germ to make dough. Form into one inch balls and roll in peanuts. Freeze on cookie sheets. Arrange on plate and garnish with frozen banana slices.

Recipe Three: Yummy Yogurt

½ cup blueberries

½ cup plain, low-fat yogurt

2 tsps. honey

Puree ingredients in blender or food processor. Pour into ice cube tray or small, individual moulds. Freeze at least 6 hours. Turn over onto plate and garnish with blueberries.

Recipe Four:  Cool Cupcakes

4 cups rice milk

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

1 tbsp. honey or peanut butter

Place paper cupcake liners in muffin tins. Stir ingredients and pour into cups. Set tiny dog biscuit into center of each cup and freeze. Peel back paper liner and arrange on plate. Garnish with more tiny dog biscuits.

Two words of caution:

(1)   Ensure that your dogs aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients you’re using.

(2)   Serve cold treats on a hot day in moderation. Too much cold in their systems can reduce their core temperature.

Bach Flower Remedies for Pets

Help Your Pets Overcome Their Depression or Anxiety With Bach Flower Remedies

Our pets can get just as depressed or nervous as we do. Lots of situations can bring their sad side out, like the absence or loss of an owner or someone who was close to them. They can get nervous simply from going to the vet or from fireworks outside.

CC image courtesy of Lulu Hoeller on Flickr

Unfortunately, we can't make them understand that the fireworks are harmless and will go away and that only time can cure the sorrow after a beloved one's loss.

If you want to soothe your pet's nerves, TAGS recommends using Bach flower remedies, a natural option to help your pet (or even yourself) overcome such emotions. These remedies were developed by Edward Bach in the 1930s. Bach discovered that the dew found on the petals of flowers contains the healing properties of that plant.

The remedies nowadays are made from spring water infused with wildflowers, and the ones that are safe for animals (alcohol free) are preserved with glycerin. They are considered vibrational medicines and rely on the concept of "water memory." Despite often being labelled as homeopathic, they do not bear the same characteristics.

CC image courtesy of Desi on Flickr

The most common flower remedy is the Rescue Remedy, which is a mix of five Bach flower remedies:

• Star of Bethlehem
• Rock rose
• Cherry plum
• Impatiens
• Clematis

 You can read more about these remedies here.

This is a great and natural solution to help soothe the mind of you and your pets!