Recipes and Remedies for Dogs

"DOGGY DIP"

3 tbs. peanut butter 2 tbs. honey
1 very ripe banana or a large jar of baby food fruit, any flavor 1 16 ounce
container
vanilla yogurt 1 tbs. whole wheat flour Mix the peanut butter, honey, and
fruit together until well blended. In a separate bowl, combine the yogurt and
flour, mix well. Add the fruit mixture to the yogurt and blend together. Keep
cold in refrigerator. Use this dip to coat or dip biscuits and treats into.
Allow treats to chill in refrigerator until coating is set and firm; this
prevents big messes!

"GREYHOUND GREEN BEAN GRUB"

1 lb. green beans, cooked and sliced (fresh or frozen)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup cheddar cheese + extra

Mix all ingredients together except beans. Place beans in oven casserole, add
sauce
mixture and stir well. Cover and bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.
Uncover the casserole and sprinkle top with more cheddar cheese. Bake 5
minutes more. Let cool. *This is great as an occasional treat with regular
kibble - plus humans can share also!

"GOULASH"

1 LB meat - ground beef, ground turkey, ground venison, etc.
2c cooked BROWN rice
2 cans veggies, or fresh veggies (about 3 cups)-(your choice> broccoli,
asparagus, sweet
potatoes, green beans, carrots, spinach, kale)
2 hard-boiled eggs chopped and shells crushed
1 can of mackerel
2 cloves of garlic, minced
chicken livers or gizzards, chopped (about $1.00 worth)

Pulverize veggies, either in a blender, etc. Mix all ingredients together in
a big pot. Add enough water to cover, mix well. if you feed raw, which we do,
place into individual
containers, freeze. We use plastic baggies. If you don't feed raw, cover the
pot and simmer for about 2 hr., stirring occasionally. When done cooking,
cool, and place into individual containers and freeze. Simply get out in the
morning to thaw in the fridge. Dogs get this every evening for dinner, with
1/4-1/2c kibble mixed in, depending on size of dog. **feed 1c per 15 LB body
weight**

"HOME-MADE DOG COOKIES"

* 1 lb. of liver cooked in water (not much) until brown.
* Food process liver + enough juice to allow to process + two eggs
(including shell) until smooth.

MIX
* 1 cup of wheat germ
* 1 cup of cottage cheese
* 3+1/2 cups of wheat flour

AND THEN MIX WITH THE BLEND MIXTURE

ROLL THIN, CUT OUT, BAKE AT 325º FOR ONE HOUR (make sure they are hard).

"Honey Bear Cookies"
Ingredients:
3/4 cups wheat flour
1 egg
1 Tbsp (Heaping) Honey
1 Tbsp (heaping) unsalted peanut butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Directions:
Heat honey and peanutbutter
in microwave about 20 seconds or until runny. Mix all ingredients together
in mixing bowl & drop by 1/2 tsp. size balls on cookie sheet &
bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. You can also roll out the dough & use
cookie cutters if desired!
Make treats according to the size of your dog.

"HOMEMADE FROSTY PAWS RECIPE"

32 oz vanilla yogurt
1 mashed banana or 1 large jar of baby fruit
2 Tablespoons peanut butter
2 Tablespoons honey
Blend together.
Freeze in 3 oz. paper cups or ice cube trays.
Microwave a few seconds to thaw slightly before serving.

"SATIN BALLS"

10 lbs. hamburger meat (the cheapest kind)
1 large box of Total cereal (or comparable brand)
1 large box of oatmeal
1 jar of wheat germ
1 1/4 cups veg. oil
1 /14 cup of unsulfured molasses
10 raw eggs
10 envelopes of unflavored gelatin
pinch of salt

Mix all ingredients together, much like you would a meatloaf. Divide into 10
quart freezer bags and freeze. Thaw as needed.

This recipe is one for putting weight on an animal quickly or for an animal that may have been ill and needs a weight gain program. It has also been reported that this recipe will help with some forms of hair loss, such as when your dog(s) blow their coat, to keep the coat healthy and shiny. This recipe is intended to be fed raw.

1/2 cup powdered milk
1 tsp. fresh minced garlic or garlic powder
1 Tbsp. Wheat Germ
1 tsp. unsalted beef bullion granules
1 egg
1/2 cup ice water
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all dry ingredients together in a bowl. Mix in egg
& enough ice water for dough to form a ball. Pat or spread until dough
is 1/2 thick. Cut into desired shapes, and place on lightly floured
pan. Use wheat flour only and bake 25 to 35 minutes.
Cool & treat your dog!

Preheat Oven to 250 degrees.
Rinse the beef liver well in cool water. Place the liver in a large pot of boiling water. Add Garlic powder 1-3 Tbsp to water. Allow enough room in the pot to prevent boiling over, and allow to boil for at least 1/2 to 3/4 hr or until cooked well. Let cool, cut into 1/2 inch sq cubes. Spread on a foil lined cookie sheet. Bake in a 250 degree oven for at least 2 hrs (longer is OK) or until dry to the touch. Liver will be shrunk to about 1/4 inch cubes when done.

This liver is very dry when done, and can be stored in the freezer in a plastic or ziploc container. The dried liver will last all day in your pocket, and won't stain your clothing.

1 qt. of 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 to 2 tsp. of liquid dish soap (Dawn is recommended)

Mix JUST before using and do not store.
Spray dog down with this solution and wash into dog's coat
with solution saturated sponge. Rinse with tap water. Some recommend
a shot glass of Scope mouthwash added.

I have 2 concoctions for ears. The first one is for general maintenance.
Mix white vinegar and alcohol together 1:1. Pour in ear,
squish around and wipe out. I use this once a week.
The second is for ears with lots of gunk in them. Mix
mineral oil and Betadine Solution together. Use about 3 parts mineral
oil to 1 part betadine solution. Shake well and put about 1.5ml in ear.
Squish well and wipe out. The gunk will float out. Betadine WILL stain.
From, Beth (Vet Technician)

***** OR *******
Next, what I have done when one of mine has problems is to wash out the
ear carefully with apple cider vinegar and alcohol in a 1/1 ratio. Then
I apply (after the ear is dry) an ear oil of mullein oil and garlic oil
to prevent bacteria and fungii to re-establish themselves. It works
well. The ear oil can be bought in a health food store (or you can make
your own, if you know your herbs).

***** OR *******
My dog used to get them all the time, used peroxide mixed with water and a
little A.C. vinegar to clean, and used panalog after. Changed from corn
food to Nutro Natural Choice and no more problems. Have since gone back to
a corn food, and got them back again.
I am now using Monistat 7 in her ears after cleaning, once a day till it
clears, no more itching, rubbing head up and down the length of trailer
floor, etc.

***** OR From Jill*****

The Berner breeders up here swear by apple cider vinegar, about a tbsp. in
the food daily. Apparently counteracts the overgrowth of yeasts, you could
try that, I see no harm in giving it. I would think that a dog who has
upright ears that do get chronically infected has an underlying problem
with yeasts and it likely is food related. Trying to find the cause/cure
can be hard. I always steered clear of Panalog and other gucky ear meds,
unless there is a really bad irritation inside the ear that need be treated
by medication, they seem to clog up the canal and prevent drying, and had
much more success with just the good cleaner. A lab breeder friend uses
Bonnie Belle 10-0-6 astrigent to clean her dogs ears, a squirt every few
days keeps them clean and dry, and her dogs are working retrievers so do
get a lot of gunk and water in the ears. That is certainly cheaper than a
commercial ear cleaner, and easy on the ears. Stay away from straight
alchohol, too drying and irritating.

I have heard a few treat bad ears with Monistat too, and I cannot see why
this would not work, I doubt it's harmful at all. I would think a thorough
cleaning days after treatment would be in order though, to get the residual
out and allow the ear canal to dry up a bit.

****OR From Peter****

For cleaning ears we use NOLVASAN OTIC cleansing solution. It's made by Fort
Dodge Laboratories. You can purchase Nolvasan from Foster & Smith vet mail
order company. Their number in Wisconsin is 800-826-7206.

We've used Nolvasan Otic for many years = it works. Cleans out wax, dirt,
and keeps out bacteria, fungus, and yeast. The otic solution is mild. I
clean the ears weekly. More often if necessary i.e. dust storm or out in the
field training, etc.

I used to pre-soak surgical instruments in the concentrated nolvasan
solution. At one time, we also used the concentrated nolvasan to disinfect
kennel floors.

Using nolvasan otic, we may apply one drop of antibiotic in each ear and
leave in overnight. We use erythromycin ophthalmic ointment (requires a
prescription like panalog). I like to use the ophthalmic antibiotic, because
it has a balanced pH for use in eyes. When used in the ear canal, the mild
pH doesn't "burn" when it comes into contact with a raw area in the ear
canal.
Usually it only takes one application of antibiotic to clear the infection
when you clean with Nolvasan. This addresses the norm. Difficult cases may
require a few more days of ointment along with more frequent ear cleansing.

****OR****

2 cups vinegar
1 cup Avon Skin So Soft
1 cup water
1 tbsp. Eucalyptus oil
1 tbsp citronella oil

Put in a spray bottle and spray dog's coat.

If your dog is miserable from a ride in the car. What can you do, short of
doping the animal up?? Here are just a few suggestions -

1. One of the best herbs for nausea of any kind is ginger - be it a couple
of ginger snap cookies ginger ale/beer, crystallized ginger, or a 500 mg
capsule of the powder. Just give it about 30 minutes before any car trip.
Good for people, too. Even for seasickness.Try powdered ginger root
capsules. Ginger root does help calm the stomach. Ginger can be given in
tea, too, if the animal prefers it. Ginger root raw is a little strong, and
most animals don't like it. Scale down the human dosage for animals, and
give a little before the car ride as well as during the trip if needed. You
can buy Hofel's High Strength Ginger 'Pearles' (a fancy name for capsules!)
for the dogs and their car sickness. Each capsule contains the same as
12grams of fresh ginger and you only need one per day, given about half an
hour before traveling. They have found that it really does help in reducing
salivation and nausea.

2. In Pat Colby's book - Natural Pet Care, under the heading Travel
Sickness is says "In all species, (including humans) this is due to a
vitamin B6 deficiency". Goes on to say "give half a teaspoon of ascorbate,
one B complex and one B6, or half of each for a small dog (the two must
always be given together). If it is to be a long journey, giving all the
recommended vitamins on the feed the day before as well, and during the
journey, would also be a good idea as it would guard against the extra
stress"

3. Fenugreek, another herb, can be used just like ginger.

4. Rescue Remedy can be given just a few drops on a small treat. This is a
Bach Flower Remedy. It tends to calm down an animal but doesn't make them
dopey like drugs do. Give about 4 drops in the mouth or ears about 10-12
hours before starting the trip, repeating every four hours or as needed. You
can also spritz the car with a dilution made with spring water. RR is
absorbed anywhere through the skin, so even rubbing some RR in can help
calm. RR can also be given in drinking water - dilution does not affect its
efficacy.

5. Peppermint is wonderful for motion sickness. A drop or two of tincture of
peppermint might help or try brewing some peppermint tea and giving the
animal some cooled tea. This also calms the stomach.

6. Try giving a little raw honey before the car trip. It tends to calm the
tummy. Repeat as necessary. (If your animal has a heart problem, however, do
not give honey, as it tends to make animals retain fluid, which is not good
in the case of heart patients)

7. Behavior. Start the dog (or cat) out by sitting in the car. After several
times and the attitude is calm, try starting the car with the dog in it.
Wait until the animal is comfortable with a running parked car before
driving a short (and I mean SHORT, like down the driveway) distance.
*Slowly* keep increasing the time spent in the moving car until the animal
is more comfortable with being in a moving car. Spread the "training" out
over several weeks for best results. Dosing with any of the 4 remedies above
can help too. When in the car, keep your voice cheerful rather than
soothing. This will help the animal see that there is nothing scary about
being in the car.

8. Try the training on both a full and an empty stomach. Some animals need
to eat before riding, some need an empty stomach.

9. When driving to a destination for the first time, make sure it is a fun
place. Nothing will undo all your hardwork more quickly than the first visit
being a vet clinic or some other "unfun" place. Go to the park or the beach
or some other place your dog can look forward to.

10. Some doctors say that carsickness is from a lack of Vit B6, so try
giving your dog extra B vits on the morning of the journey. Raw liver (fed
the night before or that morning) has lots of B vits, and a human supplement
can also be given in pill form. Please give a B complex vitamin rather than
just one B vitamin, as they need to be balanced out for maximum effect.

11. Ask your homeopathic vet about perhaps trying one of the following
homeopathic remedies (in about the 6th potency): Petroleum, Cocculus,
Tabacum, Borax.

Always remember to secure your animal properly in the car. Loose in the back
of a truck may look "cool", but your animal can be injured and perhaps
killed this way. Crates tied or bolted down in the back of a truck or the
back of a car is the safest route. Seatbelts for animals are also available.
A simple downstay in the backseat may not be sufficient in preventing injury
should an accident occur.

What do you do if your puppy (or mischievous older dog) gets into your holiday decorations and eats some of the glass ornaments? This potentially lethal mishap can darken even the brightest holiday season. THE PROCEDURE Before the holiday isto go to a pharmacy and buy a box of cotton balls. Be sure that you get cotton balls not/the "cosmetic puffs" that are made from man-made fibers. Also, buy a quart of half-and-half coffee cream and put it in the freezer. Should your dog eat glass ornaments, defrost the half-and-half and pour some in a bowl. (Chicken broth is another suggestion for dipping.) Dip cotton balls into the cream and feed them to your dog. Dogs under 10 lbs should eat 2 balls, which you have first torn into smaller pieces. Dogs 10-50 lbs-should eat 3-5 balls, and larger dogs should eat 5-7. You may feed larger dogs an entire cotton ball at once. Dogs seem to really like these strange "treats" and eat them readily. As the cotton works its way through the digestive tract it will find all the glass pieces and wrap itself around them. Even the teeniest shards of glass will be caught and wrapped in the cotton fibers and the cotton will protect the intestines from damage by the glass. Your dog's stools will be weird for a few days and you will have to be careful to check for fresh blood or a tarry appearance to the stool. If either of the latter symptoms appear you should rush your dog to the vet for a checkup but in most cases, the dogs will be just fine.
An actual experience: I can personally vouch for the cotton ball treatment. While I was at the vet waiting for him to return from lunch a terrified woman ran in with a litter of puppies who had demolished a wooden crate along with large open staples. The young vet had taken x-rays, which did show each of the puppies had swallowed several open staples. He was preparing them for surgery when my wonderful vet came in and said no surgery. I watched him wet several cotton bails, squeeze out the water and pop them down their throats. Within 24 hours every staple was accounted for. This was a lesson I learned in the mid-1960s and have had to use several times on my brats. I wet the cotton bails and smear on some liverwurst and they bolt it down and ask for more. The cotton always comes out with the object safely embedded.
Copyright reserved to Sandy Brock. Permission is hereby granted for any nonprofit reproduction by any person or group - submitted by Susan Colinan Carr.