Tag: dog

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.

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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.

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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!

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We always love getting emails from our customers & readers asking us to feature their dog or favorite breed for our Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed blog series every Thursday. As always we are honored to oblige.  Thanks all! We are excited to spotlight the Vizsla.

Height: Male 22-24; Female 21-23 inches

Weight: 45-65 lbs

Coat: The Vizsla breed comes in two coat varieties: the Smooth and Wire. The Smooth is short, dense, close to the body, and shiny. There is no undercoat. The Wire is hard, harsh, and loose fitting. There is no gloss or shine. There is a winter under-coat and the hair is brush-like on the back of the forelegs, head, muzzle, and ears. The Vizsla coat colors range from golden to russet. They are average shedders.

Color: Solid golden rust

Appearance: The Vizsla is a muscular, sleek hunting dog with an attractive short, rust-colored coat. The head of the Vizsla is chiseled and often described as aristocratic, with only a moderate stop. The square muzzle ends in a brown nose and the teeth should meet in a scissors bite. The eyes of the Vizsla are alert and expressive, and should compliment the color of the coat. The ears are pendant with round tips and are long, thin and silky to the touch. The tail is customarily docked to 2/3 length.

Temperament: Vizslas are lovingly referred to as “velcro dogs” because they want to be with the people they love 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This attachment goes back to the Vizsla's roots as a hunting dog. In the field, he never strayed too far from the hunter, which created a strong bonding experience. Vizslas are the perfect family dog for those who are already committed to an active lifestyle. Hunters can still use them to track and point in the field, and at home Vizslas make superb hiking, biking and jogging companions. They are fairly easy to train, and make a fine addition to active, outdoorsy families. The Vizsla is a versatile gun dog that is able to work in the forest, field, and water. They excel in retrieving, and are capable of covering difficult terrain in extreme weather conditions. The Vizsla has an easygoing nature and is an excellent companion.

The Vizsla is friendly, lively, and affectionate with their family and those they know. They are alert and watchful. They will bark when they sense danger or visitors. They are very reserved with strangers. The Vizsla is very demonstrative, but has a tendency to be willful and distracted. They get along well with older children and in most cases other dogs. They will tolerate cats they are raised with. The Vizsla loves to chew on anything and everything and is not a calm and placid breed. They will become destructive if they are allowed to be bored.

Health: The average lifespan of Vizsla is between 10–14  years. Potential health issues include: Hip dysplasia, Canine Epilepsy, Sebaceous adenitis, hypothyroidism, dwarfism, persistent right aortic arch, tricuspid valve dysplasia, and progressive retinal atrophy. Major risks include epilepsy and lymphosarcoma. Vizslas can also be prone to skin and food allergies.

Is your dog barking for time in the spotlight?

Have your dog say “bully sticks”! Send a photo and 2-3 sentence bio for your dog to be featured in an upcoming Spotlight on a Breed series we run every Thursday. Email bestbullysticks@gmail.com with the subject “Spotlight My Dog”

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Dogs will do anything for a delicious sweet treat! Especially if one of the main ingredients is ooey gooey Peanut Butter. These homemade PB and Banana Dog treats are a true crowd pleaser, easy, quick and healthy treat alternative. Not to mention packed with parsley that helps freshens not so pleasant dog breath.

Makes 2 Dozen

This recipe is easy to tinker with. You can substitute dried mint for half of the parsley, if you like. And don't hesitate to adjust the size of the treats to accommodate very small or very large dogs, baking them a few minutes less or a few minutes more, as needed. If your dog has challenges chewing, grind the rolled oats in a food processor before adding them to the mixture. Makes approximately two-dozen treats.

Ingredients

1 banana, peeled
1 cup oat flour
2/3 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup dried parsley
3 tablespoons peanut butter
1 egg, beaten

Directions

Preheat oven to 300°F. Put banana in a large bowl and use a spoon or potato masher to mash it thoroughly. Add oat flour, oats, parsley, peanut butter, and egg and stir well to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes.

Roll mixture into 24 balls, using about 1 tablespoon dough for each; transfer to a large parchment paper-lined baking sheet as done. Use the back of a spoon or the heel of your hand to press each ball into a (1 1/2 to 2 inch) coin. Bake until firm and deep golden brown on the bottom, 40 to 45 minutes. Set aside to let cool completely.

Tip: It’s best to store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Or, freeze them to give to your pal later; just be sure to thaw the treats before handing them out.

Courtesy of Whole Foods Market

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.

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.