Cooking for Canines

Want to add variety to your dog’s diet?  Well, look no further than Cooking with Canines: 30 Fun Recipes for Man’s Best Friend! by Michelle Day.  The author uses fresh ingredients like fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, and peanut butter to create lip smacking goodies to feed your precious pooches.

The easy-to-follow instructions tell you everything you need to know about creating wholesome eats in the comfort of your own kitchen.  Day also writes about a subject she calls “Treat Smarts.”  Too much of a good thing can hurt your precious pets.  That’s why she states that, “Many experts suggest that treats should make up only around 10% of your dog’s diet.” 

Obesity can occur in dogs from overconsumption.  You can prevent this from happening by cooking your own homemade treats and handing them out sparingly.  If you’re training your dog and want to reward his or her efforts, create smaller servings that way you can award your pup without increasing his or her calorie intake. I’ve fallen in love with The Honest Kitchen’s “Pecks” treats for Opal and Dixie. With only .6 calories per treat, Pecks are made using 100% Human Grade Barley Flour, Filtered Water, Molasses, Buffalo, Eggs, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil and Blueberries and contain no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors.

Cost effective and healthy, homemade treats make use of many of the ingredients you have in your pantry.  For example, did you know that cinnamon can act as an anti-inflammatory which is perfect for older pets or ones with arthritis and joint issues?  Well, it is.  It also has been thought to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and has an anti-fungal effect that can fight yeast infections. Speak to your pet’s nutritionist about an appropriate amount to feed.

The best part of creating homemade treats is that you get to control what goes into the snacks.  You don’t have to worry about artificial colors and flavors when you’re the chef.  Create savory treats like Homemade Beef Jerky and Bacon Bites or something to satisfy your dog’s sweet tooth like Pawesome PB Cookies or Apple Snax.  The 69-page book is available for sale on Amazon for $9.99.  It’s available for Kindle devices like the Kindle, the Kindle Paperwhite, the Kindle Fire, and the Kindle HD.