Your Pets Daily - Dogs diet

Give your dog a merry little Christmas

Your Pets Daily Editor — Sun, 15 Aug 2021 08:08:13 +0000

Christmas isn’t just a time to spoil ourselves, we should also remember our pampered pooches. They have worked hard all year long to keep their humans upbeat and positive during the pains of the pandemic and so deserve the ultimate Christmas treat!

The pet nutrition experts at home-cooking platform, VetChef (www.vetchef.com) have put together a delicious Christmas recipe that is quick and very easy to cook and is filled with healthy goodness, festive leftovers and plenty of love.

Turkey & Trimmings

To serve one meal (providing half a day’s calories) for a typical 20kg dog, you will need:

200g turkey mince
300g potatoes
100g parsnips
100g brussels sprouts
1 tsp cranberry sauce
1 tsp dried sage

To prepare the meal, simply chop the veg into small chunks, and then mix all the ingredients together in a saucepan. Pour in 300ml water and place on the stove. Bring to the boil, and simmer gently for around 20 minutes, stirring regularly. Once the veg are all soft, allow to cool and serve.

If feeding this recipe regularly, nutritionists advise that it needs a source of calcium added to balance the mineral content. Half a tsp of calcium carbonate per serving would be ideal. You can source this from Vetchef.com, or simply use well crushed eggshells.

There are a number of popular Christmas treats that dog owners need to avoid letting their pups get their paws on. Dr Joe Inglis, Head Vet and Founder of VetChef says: “This Christmas, we’ll hopefully be making up for last year so there’s a high chance it’ll be a year of excess. However, it’s important not to feed your dog too much – or the wrong thing. And with friends and family visiting, it’s important to be aware of the dangers of some of our favourite festive snacks so you, or any of your loved ones, don’t accidentally poison your dog.”

Joe has listed the most popular Christmas foods that can cause problems:

Christmas cake, mince pies and Christmas pudding – The raisins and dried fruit can give dogs serious bloating and gastro-enteritis, potentially even kidney failure and long-term liver damage.
Chocolate – Keep that Quality Street lid firmly shut while the dog’s around as chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine which can cause heart issues, tremors, seizures and kidney problems in dogs.
Sage and onion or mushroom stuffing – Onions and mushrooms are toxic to both dogs and cats. Too much onion, garlic or chives can damage their red blood cells and cause gastrointestinal irritation.
Tomatoes and green peppers – They might be good for humans, but they can cause serious stomach upsets in dogs
Nuts, particularly macadamia nuts – These can make your pooch very poorly.
Foods that are high in fats and salts – Avoid fatty foods like roast potatoes and titbits that can cause diarrhea and pancreatitis
Grapes – You might be serving grapes with your after-dinner cheese platter so make sure your dog avoids them. Like raisins and sultanas, they can cause liver damage and kidney failure
Blue cheese –If you have blue cheese, like Roquefort or Stilton, in your platter, don’t let your dog get at it. They contain a substance called roquefortine C and in rare circumstances, this can cause dogs to develop muscle tremors and seizures.
Cooked bones – While dogs love a bone to gnaw on, make sure that they are raw bones because cooked bones are very dangerous as they splinter and can choke your dog.
Water from the Christmas tree stand – The sap from a natural Christmas tree can poison the water so make sure your pet can’t drink from it and, instead, they’ve got a steady supply of fresh water in their bowl ready when they need it.
Christmas decorations – They might look fun for a dog to play with but if they accidentally eat one of your favourite ornaments it could lead to major surgery to remove them from their stomach
Foods that have been leftover for too long – Using the right kind of leftovers to serve your dog some delicious homecooked food is a great idea. But, you need to make sure you’re not serving them anything that’s been out too long or has gone mouldy as that can be very dangerous.

Dr Joe Inglis is the founder of VetChef, the experts in home cooking for dogs. They supply recipes and supplements to make it easy and hassle-free to feed your dog fresh food and has been created by a team of expert nutritionists. For more information visit www.vetchef.com.

Is it safe to give my dog fruit? Here’s everything you need to know

Your Pets Daily Editor — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 14:25:34 +0000

Can dogs eat fruit?

When you think of a healthy diet, you probably imagine one packed with fresh fruit. That might be a winner for us, but it's not quite the same for our dogs.

So can dogs eat fruit? Well, fruit isn't off the menu altogether – packed with vitamins, antioxidants and fibre, it can be a great snack option for our four-legged friends. But it's also high in sugar, so moderation is crucial for long term weight control.

Plus, some fruits can upset your dog's digestive system – or worse – so it's important to know your stuff before you stock up the fruit bowl.

What fruit can dogs eat? When prepared the right way, some fruits can be a tasty, healthy snack for dogs. Fruit dogs can eat include:

Apples - High in fibre and low in fat, apples make a delicious doggy snack. However, only serve the skin and flesh as apple pips contain traces of cyanide, a substance that's toxic to dogs (and humans – but we're big enough to tolerate the amount in an apple pip or two).

Bananas - Bananas cram a lot of nutrition into a small dog-friendly package. They're full of potassium, fibre, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, lutein and selenium. Always remove the peel, and serve in moderation to avoid giving your dog too much sugar.

Blueberries, Blackberries and Raspberries - High in vitamins C, E and K, and packed with antioxidants like anthocyanin, berries are great nutritional all-rounders. Blueberries contain good levels of B vitamins like folate and B6, too, while blackberries are a great source of potassium and magnesium. Meanwhile, raspberries are sweet, without being too calorific – great for dogs on a weight management diet.

Strawberries - These Wimbledon favourites are full of health-boosting antioxidants. But strawberries are also higher in sugar than other berries, so it's important to serve them in small amounts. Fresh and frozen are the same nutritionally, so see what your dog prefers.

Pears - Full of vitamin C, and packed with fibre, pears are another safe snack option. But as with apples, it's important to remove the cyanide-carrying pips before putting a pear anywhere near your dog's bowl.

Tomatoes - Tomatoes are refreshing and full of vitamins and are safe to serve in moderation. But it's important to wait until they're fully ripe, as tomatoes contain low levels of solanine, a poisonous compound that can affect the digestive and nervous system. The levels of toxin decline as the fruit ripen.

Apricots, Peaches and Plums - These squishy summer fruits are fine to give your dog, but the stone is poisonous, so never serve them whole. All three are bursting with antioxidants – like chlorogenic acid – and are rich in vitamins C,E,K, as well as B vitamins and potassium.

Which fruits are harmful to dogs? While lots of fruit can play a part in a healthy dog diet, others are a complete no-go. Fruits you shouldn't feed your dog include:

Citrus fruits - Oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit are all worth avoiding. The citrus extract is extracted for its antioxidant properties. Therefore, it lacks the essential oils and the Psoralen (toxic compound), which means that it can be used in the food without negatively impacting the dog and being added in a very small quantity. The whole citrus fruit can cause some digestive upset if fed in large amounts.

Grapes, raisins and currants - Nobody knows quite why these fruits are so dangerous for dogs – the leading theory is that they can contain traces of a mould that's toxic to dogs. Whatever the cause, they've been linked to symptoms as severe as kidney failure, so they're definitely best avoided.

Other dried fruit - When fruit is dried, the sugars get concentrated, making dried fruits like dates, figs, and apricots too high in sugar for dogs. The fresh versions are mostly OK, except grapes, which are harmful to dogs however they're prepared.

Hedgerow berries - While some berries are nutrient-packed and safe for dogs, a lot of the ones you'll see on your summer walks are far less friendly. Rowan, holly, juniper and elderberries are all harmful or poisonous, so if you see your dog making a beeline for a berry-dotted hedge, intervene.

How can I introduce fruit into my dog's diet? As with any food you introduce to your dog, slow and steady is the best approach. Top tips for adding fruit to your dog's diet include:

Make sure it's dog-friendly

Before giving a new fruit to your four-legged friend, it's a good idea to double-check it's on the list of foods dogs can eat. There are lots of exceptions and serving points to remember, so even if you think you know, it's always worth another look.

Check for mould

Only let your dog eat fruit that's fresh – mouldy fruit is as bad for dogs as it is for us. If you have fruit trees, keep your dog away at harvest time, so they don't accidentally eat any spoilt or infested fruit that's fallen on the ground.

Prepare it carefully

Thoroughly wash or remove the peel from any fruit you'll be giving your dog – just as you would if you were eating it yourself.

Introduce it gradually

Even if food is safe to give your dog, serving a bowlful straight away can lead to an upset stomach. To avoid any unpleasant reactions, give your dog a small piece to try, then increase to a snack-size amount over time.

Serve in moderation

Fruit can be good for your dog in small quantities, but serving too much can have the opposite effect. Be especially careful with high-sugar fruits like strawberries and bananas.