Archive for February 2013

Comfort food is a short-term cure for the winter blues. A chilly night paired with a warm meal can make you forget about dreary winter days at least for a while. BestBullySticks.com knows your dog is no different. Give your dog a warm and healthy treat with this easy doggy comfort food recipe, Turkey Pot Hold-The Pie.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 pound deli-sliced turkey, chopped
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
• 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions
1. In a small skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour for 1 minute, then whisk in the chicken broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and simmer until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Stir in the turkey, veggies and parsley and cook until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool to almost room temperature, then serve.

Makes: 4 servings • Prep: 10 mins • Cook: 10 mins

Want more easy dog recipes? Check out all of Best Bully Sticks Weekly Drool Recipes to whip something up for your pup! 

Recipe and photo courtesy of Rachael Ray.

February is the month of love! And BestBullySticks.com knows that one of the best ways you can love your dog is caring for his mouth! Yes, you read that right! Unfortunately pet dental health is often overlooked, and if left untreated can lead to serious health problems such as heart, lung and kidney disease.  Today, BBS will show you how to monitor and treat your dog’s dental health.

Warning Signs

• Abnormally Bad Breath: By nature, dogs don’t have the sweetest of breath, but when something is wrong, your dog’s breath will be particularly bad.
• Excessive Drooling
• Swollen Gums
• Tumors or cysts on gums or under the tongue
• Loose Teeth

Problems
But what do the symptoms mean? Here are some of the most common dental problems your dog can encounter. 

Periodontal Disease: This is an infection that occurs between a tooth and the gum that causes tooth loss and can even spread to the rest of the body. This disease is very painful for dogs.

Gingivitis: Just like humans, dogs can get gingivitis, which is an issue caused by the buildup of plaque, tartar and bacteria on the gums. Swollen, reddened and bleeding gums and bad breath are all symptoms.

Halitosis: Bad breath can mean bad health. This is one of the first signs of many different oral issues and can be caused by stuck food or tartar build up.

Inflamed Gums: This is also caused by tartar build up or getting food particles stuck in teeth.

Mouth Tumors & Cysts: Lumps can begin forming on your dog’s gums because of neglected oral hygiene. These can sometimes be malignant and have to be surgically removed. Salivary cysts can also appear in your dog’s mouth. These large, fluid-filled blisters show up under the tongue or corners of the jaw. These sores require drainage and the damaged saliva gland must be removed. Read more

Cold. Wet. Rainy. Snowy. Being outside in winter weather can tend to be miserable and staying cooped up indoors isn’t always so much fun either. The same is true for your dog; outdoor playtime might decrease dramatically or indoors your pup may not be stimulated enough. However, BestBullySticks.com thinks winter months can force us to be creative with our day-to-day routine. We’ve come up indoor playtime activities for the winter months because, after all, your dog still needs exercise. 

Hide & Seek
Throw a treat to your dog and while they’re gobbling it up, run and hide in a different part of the house. Your dog will want to come find you if you have more treats and will tire your pooch out in the process. Use small, low calorie treats like Halo Liv-A-Littles or Purebites.

Scavenging & Dinner Games
Remember your dog is a scavenger by nature and enabling these characteristics can stimulate both mind and body. Use a puzzle food bowl or a hollow dog toy like a Planet Dog Orbo with frozen food to challenge your dog while he eats. You can also hide treats around the house and have your dog track down their location.

Indoor Agility Course & Training
A homemade agility course can test your dog’s navigation skills and stimulate brain and body. Use chairs as weave poles, using a broomstick over a couple buckets or holding a hula-hoop in your hands as a jump can make for a fun and rousing playtime. Winter can also be a great time to have dedicated training time with your dog. Want to teach your dog to high-five, shake or roll over? Use your regular outdoor playtime and substitute it for training. Your dog will emerge into Spring as a well trained pooch! Read more

Hip Hip HOORAY! It's Friday!! Did you miss any of BestBullySticks.com BARK-tastic blogs this week?  If you did miss any of the High-Fiving/Dog Rescuing/Dog Treat Making/Westminster Newbie fun, catch up before Monday with all of this week's great BBS Blogs!

So snuggle up to your favorite pooch (or pooches) and read the BBS Healthy Dog Blog! Happy Weekend Reading! Click the links below to find out more about:

Tip #199: Teach Your Dog to High-Five • Rescue Spotlight: Posh Pets •  Gluten-Free Rosemary Cheddar Crisps via Doggy Dessert Chef • Breed Spotlight on the Russell Terrier

SUPER HOWL 2013 FINAL is here! VOTE for your favorite to win the Grand Prize! Rescuzilla, NY & Southwest Michigan German Shepherd Rescue are duking it out for next 3 days! Vote here: http://bit.ly/Xk6OnG

Also in your free time this weekend, check out our fun Pinterest Page! We've got TONS of great dog videos, adorable dog photos, funny dog photos, DIY dog project and more!