Archive for August 2011

You don't have to be an accomplished baker to create a homemade batch of dog treats. The secret ingredient is a little bit of love sprinkled in! Whether or not you are an avid baker or its your first time getting your hands messy in the kitchen these Tender Tummy Biscuits are easy and simple to bake & master. Best part is that this recipe is tasty and doggy approved! We hope this recipe will inspire you to get in the kitchen with Fido. Bone Appetit!

Ingredients

1 cup brewed chamomile tea
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup cooked white rice
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 cup chicken, skinned, boiled, and chopped to 1/2-inch cubes

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Brew a cup of chamomile tea, and allow it to cool to room temperature. (It’s never a good idea to use hot liquids when mixing dough.)

3. Place the flours, rice, and parsley in a large bowl, using your hands or a wire whisk to gently mix the dry ingredients.

4. Add the cottage cheese and brewed tea to the dry ingredients, stirring with a sturdy spoon until the dough becomes pliable. Add the diced chicken cubes and stir until they are evenly mixed into the dough, taking care not to over mix.

5. Place the dough on a floured surface and roll out or pat down to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Using a pizza cutter, make horizontal and vertical slices through the dough to form cube shapes. The size of the cubes will be determined by the size of your dog’s jaw.

6. Place the biscuits on a baking sheet or pan covered with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.

Tip:

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when working with meat:

1. Always add the diced chicken to the dough last so that you don’t puree the pieces during the mixing and makeup process;
2. Don’t forget to store the finished biscuits in the refrigerator or freezer until your pet has finished them off.

Chamomile This flower has long been celebrated for its soothing properties. It’s thought to calm upset stomachs and promote drowsiness. In fact, chamomile tea is sometimes called nighty-night tea or sleepy tea because of its sleep-inducing ability. Experts say chamomile tea can also boost the immune system and fight infections associated with colds.

Courtesy of K-9 Nation Biscuit Book: Baking for Your Best Friend by Klecko.

Stay tuned for delicious dog recipes every Wednesday in our Weekly Drool Recipes blog series. Check out our other drool-worthy recipes! Also, remember food is meant to be shared! So be a pal and submit your favorite dog recipes to be featured in this delicious blog series by emailing us at bestbullysticks@gmail.com.

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Let's face it pets play a huge role in our lives and are honorary furry family members who we love to spoil. Just as parents child proof their homes, so should pet parents. Like infants and little children, pets are curious by nature. Dogs and cats love to explore and investigate their environment using their paws, claws and mouth. Unfortunately, pets don't always intuitively know what can be potentially harmful to eat, drink or chew. So it is up to us as loving pet owners to get down on all fours for a pets eye view. Seeing the world from our pets point of view will make sure our homes are a safe haven for our adorable furballs to roam and enjoy.

While you can’t prevent any and every danger, you can minimize the possibility of your pet getting hurt or sick by always being aware of their surroundings. Before you can begin to pet proof your home remember that knowledge is power! You need to be aware of dangers that should be avoided and out of paws reach. Our wonderful pet loving friends at the ASPCA have compiled an extensive list of common household items that pose a threat to your pet.

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet

• Alcoholic beverages
• Avocado
• Chocolate (all forms)
• Coffee (all forms)
• Fatty foods
• Macadamia nuts
• Moldy or spoiled foods
• Onions, onion powder
• Raisins and grapes
• Salt
• Yeast dough
• Garlic
• Products sweetened with xylitol

Warm Weather Hazards

• Animal toxins—toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions
• Blue-green algae in ponds
• Citronella candles
• Cocoa mulch
• Compost piles Fertilizers
• Flea products
• Outdoor plants and plant bulbs
• Swimming-pool treatment supplies
• Fly baits containing methomyl
• Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde

Medication

Common examples of human medications that can be potentially lethal to pets, even in small doses, include:

• Pain killers
• Cold medicines
• Anti-cancer drugs
• Antidepressants
• Vitamins
• Diet Pills

Cold Weather Hazards

• Antifreeze
• Liquid potpourri
• Ice melting products
• Rat and mouse bait

Common Household Hazards

• Fabric softener sheets
• Mothballs
• Post-1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc)

Holiday Hazards

• Christmas tree water (may contain fertilizers and bacteria, which, if ingested, can upset the stomach.
• Electrical cords
• Ribbons or tinsel (can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction—most often occurs with kittens!)
• Batteries
• Glass ornaments

Non-toxic Substances for Dogs and Cats

The following substances are considered to be non-toxic, although they may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some animals:

• Water-based paints
• Toilet bowl water
• Silica gel
• Poinsettia
• Cat litter
• Glue traps
• Glow jewelry

As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous around the house please contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at (888) 426-4435.

Best Bully Sticks News!

Become a Facebook Fan, “Like” our page & Help us reach 10,000 fans.

When we reach 10,000 fan “Likes” all of our Facebook fans will be eligible to enter a giveaway to win a grand prize. We can’t spill the beans yet! The quicker we get to 10,000 “Likes” the sooner you can learn what that grand prize is. Thanks for “Liking” our page.

It’s key to provide a safe and comfortable home for you and your pets. Although our homes are safe havens there are often everyday dangers and toxins that lurk around the corner. Safety means a happier and healthier life for your furry family member. Here are a list of common pet hazards to keep away from your dog and out of paws reach:

1. Pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides.

2. Lawn and garden products (i.e snail and snug bait)

3. Rodent bait products

4. Certain plants- castor oil plant, poinsettia, dieffenbachia, philodendron, foxglove, monkshood, datura, oleander, milkweed, sago palm, morning glory and rhododendron

5. Garbage and rotten food (dogs love to dumpster dive)

6. Litter boxes

7. Prescription drugs

8. Over the counter medications

9. Household cleaners

10. Cigarettes

11. Electrical cords mistaken as chew toy

12. Lead painted wood

13. Gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze, petroleum products or solvents

14. Pressure treated wood

As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous around the house please contact your veterinarian or theASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at (888) 426-4435.

Best Bully Sticks News!

Become a Facebook Fan, “Like” our page & Help us reach 10,000 fans.

When we reach 10,000 fan “Likes” all of our Facebook fans will be eligible to enter a giveaway to win a grand prize. We can’t spill the beans yet! The quicker we get to 10,000 “Likes” the sooner you can learn what that grand prize is. Thanks for “Liking” our page.

At Best Bully Sticks we consider your pets part of our pack and family. Like our beloved pugs Sushi & Espy, we only want to give your furry family member the best in healthy, safe pet products. We are constantly searching for the best of the best so if you have any feedback or product suggestions please let us know. So here is what’s new on the site and in our wag of the woods! Please be sure to check out our bark-worthy new products for everything we have added in the last month.

Introducing Best Bully Sticks Stuffed Gullet Bites

These are just like our traditional 12 inch Stuffed Gullets except cut into 1" to 2" inch bite-sized pieces! They are available in 1 lb. bags with approximately 65-75 Stuffed Gullet Bites per bag.

Stuffed Gullets are a great bully stick alternative. They are more of a treat than a chew in that they do not last as long as bully sticks. They are still a firm treat and will give any dog something to chew on and enjoy. Gullets are the esophagus (the food pipe) of the bull which is high in Chondroitin (which helps with dogs joint health). As with all of our other products the stuffed gullets are all natural treats!

Best Bully Sticks News!

Become a Facebook Fan, “Like” our page & Help us reach 10,000 fans.

When we reach 10,000 fan “Likes” all of our Facebook fans will be eligible to enter a giveaway to win a grand prize. We can’t spill the beans yet! The quicker we get to 10,000 “Likes” the sooner you can learn what that grand prize is. Thanks for “Liking” our page.