Category Archives: Pets

Tips for Tuesday 3/5/13

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Tips for Tuesday

I hope you’re having a good week so far! Who can’t use a few tips to make life easier, right? I have been wanting to do some Tips for Tuesday posts for a while now. While I can’t promise they will roll out every Tuesday, I will try to make it a regular thing to some degree. (Like how I’m giving myself lots of leeway, here?) Last week I posted a great way to keep your celery fresh. Are any of you trying that? I just love that tip. Here are a few more you might like to try…

In the laundry room:

washer Photo source

KEEP THE WASHER LID OPEN TOP KEEP ODOR AWAY ~ I have a top loading washing machine and I always keep the lid open after every wash. I never close it. I have never had a problem with mildew odor coming from my washer like I hear a lot of people complaining about. Granted, I do a lot of laundry so the lid doesn’t stay open for longer than a few days. If you only do laundry once a week, just give it 24 hours before closing the lid. It needs air to dry it out so if you close it as soon as you put the clothes in the dryer, it won’t get a chance to do that. I don’t know anything about the front loading washers (apparently they smell worse?) but I’m guessing you can do this with them as well, provided they are not in a high traffic area. (Nobody wants to bang their leg into that!)

First aid friend…
ketchup packets Photo source

USE KETCHUP PACKETS FOR ICE PACKS ~ We all get those little ketchup packets from time to time, so keep a few in your freezer for a handy ice pack! This is especially great for kids when they get hurt. Their size makes it easy for the kids to hold and put it right where it hurts. They start to defrost quickly so it conforms well to the hurt area in no time. Just give them a quick wash before freezing – you don’t know how many people have touched those packets. *shudder*

For your pets…

oats Photo source

USE GROUND OATS TO HELP FIGHT THE ITCH ~ If your dog has dry, itchy skin, try this in between his regular baths: Put some rolled oats into a food processor or blender and make into fine crumbs or powder. Add it to his/her bath and try to let your pet sit in it for as long as they can. (This is easier said than done – I can hear you!). Try to work it into the fur and skin with your hands. Rinse, but not completely so it can keep working it’s magic for a bit longer. Note: This is to help alleviate some of the itching due to dry skin, but it is not a cure. Your dog might have an allergic reaction or other condition causing the itch, so make sure you check with your vet as to the cause. P.S. you already knew you could do this for YOUR bath, didn’t you? :)

That’s all for now! I will have more on another Tuesday so make sure you follow this blog! You can also follow along on facebook. Have a great week…
Micha

Homemade Cat Treats

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My 11 year old cat Maddy has had a rough year. Last February, this furry, barking ball of energy came into her world and changed everything. She no longer wanted to come downstairs to the main living area and basically lived upstairs. She wanted nothing to do with this new member of the family. Anytime the puppy came upstairs to her domain, she’d jump to higher ground or hide. We built her a nice wide shelf up there where she could hang. She ate, drank and slept there and Oscar the puppy could not reach her. I always wondered when she would finally get used to the fact that he was here to stay and come downstairs to join the family again. 14 months after his arrival, she ventured downstairs. And she never looked back.

I decided I wanted to do something nice for her and bake her some homemade cat treats.

Maddy wondered what took me so long.

She loves tuna so the treats are tuna based – and healthy. There are only 6 ingredients and most of them you probably already have on hand: Canned tuna, cornmeal, wheatgerm, whole wheat flour, egg, and vegetable oil.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees…and I recommend lining your cookie sheet with parchment paper, but that’s optional.

Place these ingredients into a medium-sized mixing bowl:
6 ounces canned tuna, undrained
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup wheatgerm (found near the oatmeal in my grocery store, refrigerate after opening.)
1/4 cup whole wheat flour, plus more if needed
1 egg
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Mix everything together with a fork. If it seems sticky, add more flour a little at a time and mix again — until you can form it into a ball. Place the ball on your cookie sheet and using a rolling pin, flatten the dough into 1/8″ thickness. (This is why it helps to have the parchment paper down on your cookie sheet.) Using a pizza cutter or a knife, slice the dough into 1/2″ wide strips, then cut the strips on a diagonal to make diamond shapes.

Bake for about 12 minutes at 325 degrees, then take the cookie sheet out and separate the treats. Put them back in the oven for up to 5 more minutes so they get crispy throughout. (Baking time will depend on how wet your dough was and how thin you rolled it. You just want them to get golden and slightly crispy.)

Let cool on the cookie sheet. Store treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Now Maddy feels as special as Oscar who gets Homemade Dog Treats and Homemade Pupsicles!

I guess some cats can’t be rushed…but she’s worth the wait. :)
~Micha

Homemade Frozen Dog Treats: Pupsicles!

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When my dog Oscar hears me getting ice from the freezer, he comes running – even if he was in a doggie coma. I like to give him ice cubes to munch on, especially when it’s hot outside. A few months ago I tried and succeeded in making him some frozen treats that he adores. And now, when we get some ice cream from the little soft serve joint across the street, he can feel like he gets some too!

Here’s how you can make your own doggy pupsicles:

In a large bowl, add two (2) 6 ounce containers of plain yogurt. I use Dannon All Natural. Add in 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, and 1/3 cup applesauce. (I use one of the Mott’s Original 4 oz. snack size containers.) *To get the honey and the peanut butter off the measuring spoon more easily, just put a thin coat of olive oil on the spoon first.

Combine well with a spoon.

Divide up the mixture evenly among paper or plastic cups and freeze. The amount for each cup will depend on your dog’s size and how much you want him or her to have. For small dogs you can use an ice cube tray for something more bite-sized. I have a medium to large size dog and I fill an 8 oz. cup a little less than halfway. I get about 6 servings from this recipe that way. (That little bit of whining or barking is their way of offering to lick the mixing bowl for you. :) )

Freeze for at least 3-4 hours. When you are ready to serve your drooling pooch, just place the outside of the cup under the faucet with some warm water to release the frozen treat from the cup. (If you are using an ice cube tray, just sit the bottom of the tray in some warm water to loosen the treats.) If you want, you can remove all the treats and individually wrap them to go back into the freezer.

My dog has always had a sensitive stomach and these treats don’t upset his tummy. You can substitute mashed bananas for the applesauce if your dog likes them. Mine does not and makes that very clear. Because of these tummy troubles I haven’t tried other substitutions yet, but feel free to get creative if you don’t have that issue. You can also try my homemade baked dog treats that get Oscar’s Seal of Pupproval.

Frozen Dog Treats (aka Pupsicles) Recipe:
Ingredients:
2 containers (6 oz. each) plain yogurt
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1/3 cup regular applesauce (or a 4 oz. snack size portion)

Instructions:
Stir together all ingredients in a mixing bowl with a spoon until well combined. Divide mixture into small paper or plastic cups (or ice cube trays for bite-sized treats) and freeze for about 3-4 hours. Loosen treat by holding cup under warm water from the faucet and serve.

(Sometimes he appreciates a little help getting started to avoid brain freeze!)

~Micha