Thanksgiving is a wonderful tradition of food and family, but for your four-legged family members, it can present hazards. While you prep your sweet potato casserole, your furry family members can get into the trash behind your back and get dangerously sick.
Think of the traditional Thanksgiving foods, there’s fatty turkey trimmings – hello upset tummy! There’s cranberry sauce (loaded with sugar), dressing with onions, and other foods that can turn your Thanksgiving into an evening at the emergency vet.
Top Thanksgiving Hazards for Pets:

1-Fatty foods – Turkey skin is fatty. If you or a well-meaning guest give your dog turkey skin, your dog could develop a painful condition known as pancreatitis. It doesn’t take much either. Some dogs have sickened and even died from ingesting a small amount.
Other foods that are dangerous are onions, raisins, grapes and chocolate. So, don’t feed your pets dressing or chocolate pie either.
If you have guests who may be inclined to “share” with your four legged friends, please encourage them otherwise. Instead, allow your pet to join in the fun with some healthy pet treats or bones you make yourself using pet safe ingredients!

2-Trash – Whether it’s a tempting turkey carcass or a pile of “scraps,” the lure of the garbage may be too much for even the best-behaved pets to handle. It’s a good idea to exercise your “pet management” skills by either keeping your pets safely out of food prep areas or keeping the trash well out of reach – probably behind a cupboard door.

3-Decorations – Lighted candles, crepe paper, and other decorations can prove hazardous to your pet’s health if they’re of the mind to chew on anything available or haven’t yet learned about fire. Keep an eye on them when they’re around and be alert for any unusual behavior.

4-Be Aware of Poisoning Symptoms – Gastro intestinal upsets like vomiting or diarrhea are common symptoms of poisoning. This can occur when your pet has ingested things like chocolate, raisins, onions and other foods their bodies aren’t equipped to digest.
From toxicity to severe gastro-intestinal problems to blockages caused by splintered bones, the Thanksgiving table is rife with potential pet hazards.
If you suspect your pet ate something he or she shouldn’t have, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control hotline immediately. 888-426-4435.

While food is a big part of pet hazards at Thanksgiving, crowds and traveling are two other considerations.

Crowds – Like people, some pets are fine with crowds while others would prefer the safety of a quiet place away from the noise. You know your pets the best. If they’re used to having the run of the house, you might choose to allow that but if they seem stressed or nervous around visiting toddlers, then you can escort them (your pets) to peace and quiet.
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Road Tripping – If a road trip to Grandma’s is in your future, make sure your pets have secure kennels to ride in. Roaming pets can lead to distracted driving which can lead to traffic accidents.  Flying has its own rules of course and they vary by airline so you’ll want to check with them.
Now that you know these top Thanksgiving pet safety tips, exercise a little precaution when it comes to your pets and let your biggest concern be a perfectly cooked turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well I recently bought these bones by BOCCE'S BAKERY and my dogs absolutely LOVE them!!!!  They cannot get enough.  It's very important to me to find treats that are made here in the USA!!  These bones have "NO PRESERVATIVES" they are "WHEAT FREE" and are "100% USA SOURCED & BAKED!!!  The ones I bought recently are "CHICKEN CORDON BLUE" and have USA chicken in them and only have 4 ingredients!!  The four ingredients are:  ORGANIC BARLEY FLOUR, ANTIBIOTIC-FREE CHICKEN, CHEESE, NITRATE-FREE TURKEY BACON...and that is it!!!!! :)  
Best of all, they are made right here in NY!  
So give them a try... BOCCE'S BAKERY NYC... they are wonderful!!! Your' dogs will love you for it!! :)

Hello everybody!  Well, I've been on the search for different items and different products that I feel a connection to, I wanted to bring attention to some small mom & pop companies that produce quality dog/puppy products close to home, that are healthy and safe for our canine furry family members!  I am happy to announce that I have found some that I am personally trying and approving of, and will be adding them to my boutique within the next couple of months!!  Some items will even be given away in the goody bags and crate packages I offer when you bring home your new fur baby!  I have fallen in love with a few of these products, and feel they are must-haves!  So, over the next few months, I hope you will check out my boutique and if you are one of the lucky ones to be bringing home one of my fur babies... you will be one of the first to try some of the new products I will be offering! :)  

When your puppy or dog has an upset stomach, just reach into your pantry closet and pull out a can of 100% pure pumpkin!  Yes, you heard me correctly!! I recommend everyone keep a can of 100% Pure Pumpkin in their pantry at all times!!  With it's high fiber content, pumpkin speedily resolves bouts of diarrhea, and, conversely, relieves constipation too!!  Just add a couple of tablespoons (for Adult Dog) or teaspoons (for puppy) whenever you transition your dog/puppy to a new type of food, or when your puppy or dog has an upset stomach and discomfort!

With Thanksgiving approaching, you might want to include making some yummy goodies for your furry family members alongside making your' Thanksgiving Day Feast...after all with all those Thanksgiving Day Pies baking, your four-legged family members are going to be drooling...better have some of these around for them!!!  This recipe is super easy and sweet!! 

• Pre-Heat oven to 200 degrees.
• Simply slice a sweet potato into several thick slices, use a ridged cutter if you happen to own one.
• Bake at a low heat (200 degrees) until they have dried out.  Keep checking on them. 

These last longer than their usual dog biscuits, and your pups will thank you for them!!

Everybody loves baking around the holidays!! :)  All those delicious aromas coming from our kitchens also go noticed by our four legged family members as well!!  Don't think for a second that they aren't dreaming of what all those yummy aromas would taste like!!  Why not bake them some delicious dog-friendly doggie biscuits that look and taste just as good!!  How would you always like to eat the same old milk bones?  Time for a change!!  Put on your apron & surprise your loyal loved ones today!!!!

Here is a extra-yummy fall dog biscuit recipe for your puppies/dogs!  This would be great anytime in the fall, and around Thanksgiving when the ingredients are most likely already in your fridge/pantry!  This recipe is sure to keep your doggie howling for more!!  Enjoy baking! :)

Ingredients List:

• 1 sweet potato
• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 eggs

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Prick sweet potato several times with a fork. 
3. Heat sweet potato in your microwave on high until tender, roughly about 6 minutes.  
4. Cut sweet potato in half and scoop the flesh out of the skin and place into a bowl.  Discard skin.
5. Mash sweet potato with fork or masher and transfer about 1 cup-ful into a large bowl.  If you have a lot left over you can double the recipe and make more!! 
6. Mix whole wheat flour, applesauce, and eggs in the large bowl with the sweet potato until a dough forms.
7. Turn dough out on a well-floured surface and roll dough to about 1/2 inch thick.
8. Using a cookie cutter (bone shape or any fun-seasonal shape), cut out shapes.
9. Arrange cookies on a ungreased baking sheet.
10. Place in oven and bake until crisp, about 35-45 minutes.
11. Cool on the pans for approximately 10 minutes before removing to cool on a wire rack.

Happy Baking!  Your Furry Loved Ones Will Thank You For It!!! :)

I've told a lot of you about how keeping a can of pure pumpkin in your pantry closet is important, and can help your puppy or dog with an upset stomach, but many of you have struggled with how to get your puppy or dog to eat it!  Some fussy puppies turn their noses up to eating pure pumpkin from a spoon or lapping it up from a bowl.  So how do you get your dog to eat it????  The answer is pretty simple and has been under our noses the whole time:  Simply make Pumpkin Dog Biscuits!  All our dogs love their treats and eat up the biscuits and bones we give them!!!  So it's time to put on your apron, buy a dog bone cookie cutter and get creative!! :)  We all bake cookies for our hubbies and kiddies, it's time to do the same for our furry family members too!!

Our dogs love these simple biscuits and sick or not sick, they make great treats!  They're delightful!!  This is also a nice fall recipe for a seasonal treat for your dog! :) 

Pumpkin Dog Biscuit Recipe
 2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons dry milk
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 1/2 cups brown rice flour *
1 teaspoon dried parsley (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and pumpkin to smooth.  Stir in dry milk, sea salt, and dried parsley.  Add brown rice flour gradually, combining with spatula or hands to form a stiff, dry dough.  Turn out onto lightly floured surface (can use the brown rice flour) and if dough is still rough, briefly knead and press to combine.  
Roll dough between 1/4 - 1/2" - depending on your dog's chew preferences- and use biscuit or other shape cutter to punch shapes, gathering and re-rolling scraps as you go.  Place shapes on cookie sheet, no greasing or paper necessary.  If desired, press fork pattern on biscuits before baking, a quick up-and-down movement with fork, pressing lightly down halfway through dough.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven and carefully turn biscuits over, then bake an additional 20 minutes.  Allow to cool completely on rack before feeding to dog.

*Brown rice flour gives the biscuits crunch and promotes better dog digestion.  Many dogs have touchy stomachs or allergies, and do not tolerate wheat.

Makes up to 75 small 1" biscuits or 50 medium biscuits.


**Also please note:  This is not professional medical advice.  These biscuits are a heathy everyday treat, and useful for a dog with a sensitive stomach, or minor digestion issues.  If your dog is showing any signs of serious distress, remove all food and contact your veterinarian immediately.