Cheryl Gianfrancesco - Homemade treats for happy, healthy dogs

Cheryl GianfrancescoEdited by Kate Thompson and Nancy Ringer
Cover illustration by Rick Daskam
Cover design by Carol J. Jessop (Black Trout Design)
Text production by Leslie Noyes2000 by Storey Publishing, LLC All rights reserved. No part of this bulletin may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages or reproduce illustrations in a review with appropriate credits; nor may any part of this bulletin be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other without written permission from the publisher. The information in this bulletin is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author or Storey Publishing. The author and publisher disclaim any liability in connection with the use of this information.

For additional information please contact Storey Publishing, 210 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247. Storey books and bulletins are available for special premium and promotional uses and for customized editions. For further information, please call 1-800-793-9396. Printed in the United States by Walsworth Publishing Company Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gianfrancesco, Cheryl. Healthy, homemade dog treats / Cheryl Gianfrancesco. cm. (A Storey country wisdom bulletin; A-258) ISBN 978-1-58017-323-0 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. paper) 1.

DogsFoodRecipes. I. Title. II. Series. SF427.4G53 2000 636.70855dc21 00-040005

When Kooper arrived home, he was a fuzzy ball of fur eager to explore his new home.

He was immediately the king of my household. I did everything a new pet owner is supposed to do: I took him to a veterinarian, who gave him all the necessary vaccinations, and I fed him what I thought were the best premium dog food and treats available from specialty pet stores. I didnt know anything about pet nutrition, but I assumed that the companies making dog food knew what was healthful for a dog. If not, they wouldnt be in business, right? A few months later, Kooper began to vomit and have uncontrollable diarrhea. I immediately took him to the veterinarian, who told me that Kooper was having a reaction to the dog food and treats he was eating. He prescribed a food that was easily digestible and banned treats of any kind from Koopers diet.

Soon after Kooper began eating the new dog food, he was back to his old self. When I contacted his veterinarian with the good news, he told me that Kooper would have to eat that way for the rest of his life. I was crushed! I would never be able to pamper my dog; I would never be able to give him a treat as a reward for good behavior or just because he looked at me in that loving way with those big brown eyes. I refused to believe that Kooper was the only dog in the world who couldnt tolerate to his food and treats, and I began to do some research. Most of my local librarys books on dog health dedicated only a page or two to dog nutrition, but that was enough. Armed with all the information about nutrition that I needed, I searched pet stores and read endless lists of dog-food and dog-treat ingredients, hoping to find Kooper the best food and treats available.

I couldnt pronounce, much less recognize, more than half the ingredients listed on the labels of the brands I picked up. I was very frustrated: The time I had spent looking for commercial treats that wouldnt aggravate Koopers sensitive gut was wasted.

Having found no healthful dog treats in the stores, I began to think about baking my own treats for Kooper. I looked and looked for recipes. Unfortunately, all the ones I found were loaded with salt, sugar, and animal fat not the most nutritious ingredients. Finally, I decided to develop my own recipes using all-natural ingredients.

I began slowly, not sure if Kooper would have bad reactions to any of the ingredients I chose. I wasnt even sure if he would like how they tasted. To my surprise, he loved the treats, and he had no adverse reactions to any of them. I then slowly began to expand the range of natural products I was using. The results were the same: no negative reactions, and a very happy dog. Some of my friends had dogs with similar dietary problems.

I gave them some of my homemade treats for their dogs to try; like Kooper, they had no negative reactions and wanted more. The treats were a hit even with dogs that didnt have health issues! I believe variety is important, so I continue to develop more and more recipes for nutritious, all-natural homemade dog treats. I enjoy these baking projects, and I love seeing Kooper munch on treats that I know are good for him.

Have you ever looked at the list of ingredients on a box of dog treats? What color are the ones you give your dog orange, because theyre cheese-flavored? Or reddish brown, because theyre supposed to taste like liver? Now consider this: Have you ever seen a use by date or an expiration date on a dog-food product? It seems like this food can last virtually forever! Theres no way to know how long your dogs treats have been sitting on the shelf. Until Kooper got sick, I never checked labels or thought about all the additives and artificial ingredients in most dog foods. I just bought them because I liked the way they looked, or Id seen a commercial for them on television, or they had been on sale, never thinking much about their nutritional content or lack thereof.

And I certainly never wondered about how old those packaged goods might be when I bought them. Ive learned a lot since then. And as far as Im concerned, you should avoid any pet-food ingredients with the words by-products and meal on the label. Generally speaking, these are food-processing by-products that humans will not consume. Other undesirable even potentially harmful ingredients include chemicals, preservatives, artificial flavorings, and artificial colorings. Many of these substances are unpronouncable and unrecognizable to the average consumer, and none are safe for sensitive stomachs.

Proper nutrition and regular veterinary care are the two key ingredients for a healthy, happy dog. And I believe that if everyone was aware of the quality of ingredients in store-bought dog food and treats, more people would cook for their pets. The recipes in this bulletin include high-quality ingredients, no fillers, no added colors, and no preservatives or artificial flavorings and best of all, theyre easy to prepare. Making homemade dog treats is one way to take control of your dogs health and to do something special for your best friend. Alternatives to Baked Treats When you dont have time to bake for your dog, there are many other healthful foods you can offer as treats. Choose dried dates and dried apricots (both without sugar), baby carrots, and apple slices.

Be sure to remove any seeds, and wash fruits and vegetables well to remove pesticides and preservatives before feeding these foods to your dog. Keep portions small. And remember, any time you give your dog new foods, watch for signs of adverse reactions (see ).

While Im a strong advocate of making your own all-natural dog treats, I realize you may not always have the time, or the desire, to do so. If you must purchase dog treats or dog food, be sure to choose products whose primary ingredients (the first few listed on the label) are whole foods, such as chicken, beef, lamb, brown rice, whole wheat, barley, and oats. By-products, meal, corn, and any unpronounceable ingredients, if present, should be near the end of the list of contents.