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Do you have questions about dental care for your dog?
Here are some common questions asked about pet dental health: Q: I’ve heard dental problems are common in dogs. How will I know if my dog has a dental problem? A: Dental disease is the most common disease in dogs. About 70% of dogs over the age of 3 are affected with dental disease. Check for redness or bleeding at the gum line, as well as tartar accumulation on the teeth. Also look out for signs of discomfort or foul smelling breath. If any of these symptoms are noticed, contact your veterinarian for a dental check-up. Q: What is tartar and why is it so bad? A: Bacteria naturally inhabit yours and your pet’s mouths. If allowed, it will breed on the surface of teeth to form an invisible layer of plaque. Plaque accumulation will eventually mineralize and thicken around the base of the tooth at the gum line and become visible tartar. Tartar begins to irritate the gums, causing inflammation known as gingivitis. If not removed, this process will continue and gums will become even more inflamed, leading to infection known as periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a serious condition which can lead to gum recession and eventually loss of teeth. Infections from periodontal disease can spread to other parts of the mouth, as well as internal organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys. Q: What can I expect when I bring my dog in for a dental exam and cleaning? A: A dental exam will include examination of the mouth, teeth, and gums, as well as a full physical examination to rule out any underlying health issues. If it is determined your pet would benefit from having tartar and plaque removed, your veterinarian will perform a dental cleansing and polishing. Plaque and tartar can only be removed by those specially trained and is performed under anesthesia. Blood work is needed to determine adequate liver and kidney function to ensure that anesthesia can be given safely during a dental cleaning. It may also be determined that your dog be started on antibiotics prior to a dental cleaning. During the cleaning, careful attention is made to remove the tartar above and below the gum line. Gum recession can occur when tartar accumulates below the gum line. If a diseased or loose tooth is found, an extraction may be necessary. Fluoride applications may be given to strengthen tooth enamel, along with antibiotics given to treat any bacterial infection. In addition, polishing the teeth creates a smooth surface which deters bacteria from accumulating. Polishing is an important part of preventative care because plaque and tartar naturally begin to form on teeth in as little as 6 hours after a dental cleaning. Q: What about special dental diets and treats? A: Special dental diets can play a role in reducing the accumulation of plaque and tartar formation. There are veterinarian approved diets that have tartar reducing ingredients or have larger kibble which are textured to aid in plaque removal. In addition, there are also special canine chew toys and treats that have tartar controlling ingredients. Many products such as oral rinses and water additives are also available that cut down on bacteria or have plaque reducing enzymes. Your veterinarian can give you specific dietary and dental aid recommendations that will help guide you in your pet’s dental health program. Daily brushings are the best form of tartar prevention in between dental cleanings. Q: How do I go about brushing my dog’s teeth? A: As important as the cleaning and polishing is to remove hardened deposits on the teeth, the prevention of plaque build-up is just as important. A dental program should include daily brushings using a veterinarian approved toothpaste and toothbrush. This helps maintain good oral hygiene and prevent build-up of disease causing plaque and tartar. Be sure to choose toothpaste made for dogs, which comes in a variety of canine-friendly flavors. Human toothpaste should NEVER be given to your dog, as it may contain harmful ingredients. When it comes to your dog's dental health, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Schedule your dog's dental evaluation today! Dr. Jeni Gustafson Dr. Kasey Stopp Dr. Sarah Clifton This is a great article about the top 5 vaccine myths:
The veterinary healthcare team often encounters clients who bring their pets for a wellness visit but are unwilling to vaccinate because they do not believe in vaccines. Team members must be able to dispel myths and educate clients about the need for preventive healthcare. The following can help dispel these common vaccine myths. 1 “My pet does not spend time outside. Vaccines are not necessary.” Vaccine administration should be considered for each individual patient based on exposure risk, geographic location, and pet lifestyle. Vaccines have been divided into core and noncore groups. A one-size-fits-all vaccine protocol does not exist.
2 “Veterinarians just want to make money from vaccines.” When developing vaccination protocols for the veterinary practice, current evidence-based guidelines (see Vaccine Guidelines) should be reviewed. Multiple core vaccinations for dogs and cats have a proven duration of immunity (DOI) of more than one year, and administration is recommended every 3 years after the initial series. However, noncore vaccines have a shorter DOI and will need to be administered at more frequent intervals. Vaccine administration is based on the individual risk factors for that patient, not financial gain. Therefore, vaccination recommendations may vary between patients based on each patient’s risk factors. 3 “My puppy was vaccinated and then got parvovirus. The vaccine made my pet sick.” Vaccination is particularly important in young animals because they are generally more susceptible to infection and tend to develop more significant disease. Although modified live vaccines can rarely revert to their pathogenic form and cause disease in the patient, maternal antibody interference is more likely to be the culprit in this situation and is the reason pediatric patients require a series of vaccinations. The maternal antibodies need to fall below a certain level before vaccination is effective. The level, which is variable, can occur between 8 and 16 weeks, depending on the mother’s vaccination history and the successful transfer of maternal antibodies via colostrum. Unfortunately, the maternal antibodies can be high enough to block the immune response to the vaccine but not to protect the pet from an active infection. This window of susceptibility is a significant reason why an appropriately vaccinated pediatric patient can contract a disease despite being vaccinated. 4 “My dog was vaccinated last year and got sick anyway. Vaccines do not work.” Vaccination has been widely used in humans for more than 200 years and in companion animals for more than 50 years and has proven effective in controlling a range of major infectious diseases. The goal of vaccination is to create an adequate level of protective immunity to infectious disease. An effective vaccine mimics the immune system’s natural response. A vaccine’s failure to produce the anticipated results is considered a rare adverse event and should be reported to the vaccine manufacturer. A more common scenario is a lack of client education regarding vaccination goals. A good example is canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), which encompasses a wide variety of pathogens. Vaccination may completely prevent some pathogens (eg, canine distemper) but only lessen the disease frequency and severity in others (eg, Bordetella bronchiseptica, parainfluenza). Many other CIRDC pathogens do not have vaccines available, which can confuse clients because the term “kennel cough” is commonly used to describe their pet’s illness. Many clients equate kennel cough with Bordetella bronchiseptica and believe the vaccine given to their pet was not effective. 5 “My cousin’s cat had to have his leg amputated. Vaccines often cause cancer.” Feline injection-site sarcoma (FISS) is a rare but serious adverse event in cats. Reported rates are variable and current estimates are likely below 1 in every 10 000 vaccinations.4 Adjuvanted vaccines have been implicated in FISS formation because they may trigger a more significant inflammatory response, but this is controversial because many injectable products likely produce an inflammatory reaction. The AAFP recommends administering subcutaneous vaccinations in cats’ distal limbs to assist in identifying the likely causative agent for local reactions and neoplasia and to aid in management after a sarcoma has formed. Conclusion Rumors travel quickly when something like a vaccine is perceived as a danger rather than an aid to disease prevention. The veterinary team must be prepared to educate clients about the goals of vaccinations for their pets and explain why vaccinations are an important part of any wellness program. REFERENCES
AUTHOR Liza Wysong Rudolph BAS, CVT, VTS (CP-CF, SAIM)East Coast Veterinary Education, Aberdeen, Maryland Liza Wysong Rudolph, BAS, CVT, VTS (CP-CF, SAIM), has been working as a veterinary nurse since 2000 and began practicing in internal medicine in 2006. She earned her bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology from St. Petersburg College, Florida, and most of her clinical experience has been related to internal medicine and emergency and critical care. She enjoys educating and training veterinary nurses through consulting, lecturing, online continuing education, and publishing. Please see the complete article HERE Happy 4th of July!!!
As the holiday approaches take some time out to consider the safety and comfort of your pet(s). While the Fourth of July is a time for fireworks and celebration, for many pets and their owners it can be a nightmare. The loud noises, flashing lights, and smell of sulfur can cause excessive fear in pets. Nervous behaviors such as trembling, whimpering, and panting may be distressful to the pet, but the animal’s natural response to flee from what he interprets as a threatening situation may result in serious injury. Some dogs are so frightened by fireworks that they may run through glass windows, or escape from the yard and run the risk of being hit by a car. Here are a few tips to keep your pet calm and safe this Fourth of July:
To read more about firework fear and behavior, go to http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/pets/story/3090123/. While each cat has its own individual disposition and temperament, when it comes to body language, all cats communicate in essentially the same way! When you know what to look for, learning to interpret their message is not that difficult!
LEARNING THE BODY LANGUAGE OF CATS Tail Cat’s tails can be very expressive and are good indicators of the way they are feeling. For instance, the tail of a cat feeling:
A cat’s ears can provide a good visual indicator of their mood.
The meaning of the way a cat holds its head depends upon the cat’s circumstances of the moment, for example:
Whiskers can be used to measure their mood, for instance, whiskers that are:
Cats use their eyes to try to send a message, for instance:
A cat will use its body in ways that are intended to show affection and trust, for example:
Sources: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/cat_communication.html#Body_language http://pets.webmd.com/cats/features/cat-body-language  April is Heartworm Awareness Month
Heartworms are transmitted to dogs and cats by mosquitoes. Heartworm disease develops when a dog or cat is bitten by a mosquito carrying microscopic heartworm larvae (juvenile worms) of a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis . As a mosquito feeds, these larvae are deposited on the pet’s skin and quickly penetrate the skin to begin their migration into the pet’s bloodstream. The larvae migrate through the bloodstream and tissues, eventually reaching the heart and lungs. Adult heartworms can grow 10 to 12 inches in length and make their home in the right side of the heart and pulmonary (lung) arteries, often causing lung disease and heart failure. Heartworm disease is a major health problem for dogs living in the United States and throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the world. Once thought to be only a disease of dogs and other wild canids (foxes, wolves, and coyotes), recent studies indicate that heartworm infection in cats is more common then ever believed. Without the protect ion of a heartworm preventive, your pet could get heartworm disease – a potentially deadly illness of the heart and lungs. While there is treatment available for dogs that get infected with heartworms, treatment can be expensive, difficult and can lead to serious side effects. However, there is no approved treatment for feline heartworm infection. Therefore, heartworm prevention given to your pet once monthly year-round is strongly advised to protect your pet from contracting this potentially fatal disease. The good news is that heartworm disease is essentially 100% preventable! Various heartworm preventives are available, including monthly oral and topical formulations. Heartworm preventives are effective when given properly and on a timely schedule. All heartworm preventive medications work by killing heartworm larvae acquired during the previous month and do not continue to protect pets from future infection. This is why it is important to administer heartworm preventives to your pet once every month year-round. All approved heartworm preventives are highly effective, safe, easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and often provide treatment for additional parasites. Please remember, it is your responsibility to faithfully maintain the preventive program you have selected in consultation with your veterinarian. The best way to eliminate the risk of heartworm infection in your pet is to institute a year-round prevention program. Prevention is always more safe and affordable than treating dogs with adult heartworm infections. Clinical signs of heartworm disease in dogs and cats can vary. Recently infected dogs may show no signs of the disease. Some common signs of heartworm infection in dogs include coughing, difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance, decreased appetite, weight loss and lethargy. Left untreated, heartworm disease may be fatal to your dog as it can cause “caval syndrome”, a sudden obstruction of blood flow through the heart and lungs, or development of heart failure. Signs of heartworm disease in cats range tremendously, from mild and subtle in appearance to severe and life threatening. Symptoms of feline Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD) can mimic many common diseases of cats such as hairballs, asthma, or pneumonia . Signs of disease may include loss of appetite, sluggishness, intermittent vomiting (not associated with eating), coughing, wheezing, and respiratory distress. The presence of just one heartworm may result in permanent damage – or even death – to a cat or kitten. In fact, sudden death may be the first and only sign of heartworm infection in some cats. Detecting heartworm disease in both dogs and cats involve simple blood tests; however, heartworm disease in dogs and cats do have some differences. Numerous blood tests are available for detecting heartworm infections in dogs, and your veterinarian will perform the test most appropriate for your dog. Tests cannot consistently detect infection until heartworms are at least six to seven months old. Moreover, tests are unable to detect infections if only male worms are present or if there are only one or two female worms. All dogs more than six months of age should be tested for heartworm infection before starting a preventive program. Annual heartworm testing is recommended for monitoring the success of any heartworm prevention program in dogs. If your dog tests positive for heartworm disease, then your veterinarian will need to perform a thorough physical examination, blood tests (e.g. a CBC and chemistry profile), and radiographs to assess your dog’s level of risk and stage of disease. To reduce complications, your veterinarian will educate you in great detail before beginning treatment. While the heartworm medication melarsomine dihydrochloride (Immiticide) is extremely effective in eliminating adult worms, some dogs will not be completely cleared with a single course of treatment. Testing is recommended six months after treatment to ensure all heartworms were killed. If tests are positive, additional adulticidal treatment may be indicated. For the feline population, two blood tests are currently available to assist in diagnosing heartworms in cats . Unfortunately, test results do not always produce clear answers, even with professional interpretation. Positive tests indicate heartworms were present, but do not necessarily mean the pet is still infected. Moreover, since tests cannot diagnose very early infection or those infections cause by only one or two worms, negative test results are not always accurate. Even when heartworm disease is highly suspected, confirming a diagnosis through testing in the cat can be difficult. Multiple blood tests along with chest x-rays and ultrasound imaging of the heart and lungs are often needed to make a diagnosis. Since no safe treatment exists for the elimination of heartworms in cats, the best option is the routine use of heartworm preventives to inhibit development of infection. All dogs are at risk for heartworm disease no matter where they live. Cats are at risk wherever dogs are at risk. The prevalence of heartworm disease has increased steadily since it was first identified. It now affects dogs in all 50 states. Even indoor cats can get heartworm disease. Some people think that indoor cats are safe from heartworm disease, but mosquitoes can get indoors, and cats can get out. Please visit the website of the American Heartworm Society (www.heartwormsociety.org) for more in-depth information regarding prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heartworm disease. FOR DOGS:
FOR CATS :
Spring has sprung!
We all want to wish you a Happy March! With the warmer weather, we officially mark the beginning of flea and tick season. Fleas and ticks are external parasites that affect dogs, cats and humans too. The harmful effects of fleas and ticks can include more than just itchiness and discomfort. In fact, both fleas and ticks can carry serious diseases that are dangerous to both owner and pet. Thankfully, today there are a variety of products available through veterinarians that can help ensure protection from these pesky parasites. Fleas In addition to itchiness, or pruritus, fleas can cause numerous health problems in our pets. Fleas are small, brown, wingless insects that bite the skin and feed on blood. Because they feed on blood, flea infestations can lead to anemia. When a flea bites a pet, it injects small amounts of saliva into the skin that works to prevent blood clotting and allows it to better siphon blood. Some pets are allergic to the flea saliva, which can cause severe skin reactions, known as flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) or flea bite hypersensitivity. Fleas can also carry tapeworm larvae, which a pet can ingest and become infected with tapeworms and then pass through its feces (often looks like “pieces of rice”). Plus, fleas can carry the organism Bartonella henselae , one of the causes of “cat-scratch disease (CSD)” in humans. Ticks Ticks are another blood-sucking parasite of the arachnid family related to mites and spiders. Ticks are most commonly found on the ears or in between the toes, but they can be found anywhere on the body. Ticks can be harmful in small or large numbers, as they can transmit serious diseases to both animals and humans. Tick-borne diseases include: Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme disease. Erhlichia can cause anemia, low platelet counts, bleeding, fever, lethargy, neurologic disease and multiple leg arthritis. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can cause fever, neurologic disease, breathing difficulty, bleeding disorders and anemia. Lyme disease, caused by the organism Borrelia burgdorferi , is transmitted by the deer tick and can cause multiple leg arthritis, weight loss, lack of appetite, lethargy and fever. Ticks can also cause localized inflammatory lesions of the skin, and occasionally, a syndrome called tick-bite paralysis: weakness or paralysis associated with a toxin the tick secretes as it feeds. Signs of Infestation Often times pet owners will find fleas or ticks on their pets; however, some pets with flea allergy dermatitis/flea bite hypersensitivity may just be itchy, but no fleas are visible. Finding an adult flea is just the “tip of the iceberg” as the flea has other life-cycle stages that are more numerous and often times too small to see easily. Fleas lay eggs that fall off the pet into the surrounding environment. These eggs hatch into larval-stage fleas then form a pupa before maturing into an adult flea. Other signs of flea infestation are finding pepper-like debris (flea feces) in the pet’s fur, pruritus (itching/scratching/over-grooming), and irritated skin. Flea infestations can lead to secondary skin infections as well. Another indicator of a flea or tick problem is if pet owners find a tick or small bites on themselves. Flea and Tick Preventives Fortunately, there are a variety of flea and tick preventives available through your veterinarian. These products are safe and effective, and come in either topical or oral formulations. It is crucial that products designed for dogs should never be used for cats and vice-versa. The use of over-the-counter products is not recommended as they can have harsher ingredients and harmful side effects, especially if used incorrectly. Harmful side effects can include: allergic reactions, muscle tremors, seizures, and in severe cases, death for a pet. We have a variety of products here at Hope Animal Medical Center that can help you and your pet. We recommend using flea/tick control products once monthly year-round as insects are a year-round problem here in the south. Below is a brief explanation of the different products available. FOR DOGS: Nexgard = Afoxolaner, oral flea/tick control, lasts 1 month (Dogs Only) Simparica = Sarolaner, oral flea/tick control, lasts 1 month (Dogs Only) Bravecto = Fluralaner, oral flea/tick control, lasts 3 months Capstar = Nitenpyram, oral flea control, kills fleas quickly,lasts 1 day only Frontline Gold (New and improved from the original formula) = Fipronil/S-Methoprene/pyriproxyfen, topical flea/tick control, lasts 1 month Seresto Collar = Imidacloprid/Flumethrin, Flea/tick Collar that lasts 8 months Preventic Collar = Amitraz, tick collar, lasts 3 months (DOGS ONLY) Trifexis = Spinosad/Milbemycin Oxime, oral flea control plus heartworm prevention, intestinal parasite control, lasts 1 month (DOGS ONLY) Revolution = Selamectin, topical flea/tick control plus heartworm prevention, lasts 1 month FOR CATS: Capstar = Nitenpyram, oral flea control, kills fleas quickly,lasts 1 day only Advantage Multi = Imidacloprid/Moxidectin, topical flea control plus heartworm prevention, intestinal parasite control, and ear mite treatment/prevention, lasts 1 month Bravecto = Fluralaner, Topical flea/tick control, lasts 3 months Frontline Gold (New and improved from the original formula) = Fipronil/S-Methoprene/pyriproxyfen, topical flea/tick control, lasts 1 month Seresto Collar = Imidacloprid/Flumethrin, Flea/tick Collar that lasts 8 months Revolution = Selamectin, topical flea control plus heartworm prevention, intestinal parasite control, and earmite treatment/prevention, lasts 1 month. Please call for more information or visit our clinic’s website at www.HopeAMC.com. Spring has sprung!
We all want to wish you a Happy March! With the warmer weather, we officially mark the beginning of flea and tick season. Fleas and ticks are external parasites that affect dogs, cats and humans too. The harmful effects of fleas and ticks can include more than just itchiness and discomfort. In fact, both fleas and ticks can carry serious diseases that are dangerous to both owner and pet. Thankfully, today there are a variety of products available through veterinarians that can help ensure protection from these pesky parasites. Fleas In addition to itchiness, or pruritus, fleas can cause numerous health problems in our pets. Fleas are small, brown, wingless insects that bite the skin and feed on blood. Because they feed on blood, flea infestations can lead to anemia. When a flea bites a pet, it injects small amounts of saliva into the skin that works to prevent blood clotting and allows it to better siphon blood. Some pets are allergic to the flea saliva, which can cause severe skin reactions, known as flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) or flea bite hypersensitivity. Fleas can also carry tapeworm larvae, which a pet can ingest and become infected with tapeworms and then pass through its feces (often looks like “pieces of rice”). Plus, fleas can carry the organism Bartonella henselae , one of the causes of “cat-scratch disease (CSD)” in humans. Ticks Ticks are another blood-sucking parasite of the arachnid family related to mites and spiders. Ticks are most commonly found on the ears or in between the toes, but they can be found anywhere on the body. Ticks can be harmful in small or large numbers, as they can transmit serious diseases to both animals and humans. Tick-borne diseases include: Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme disease. Erhlichia can cause anemia, low platelet counts, bleeding, fever, lethargy, neurologic disease and multiple leg arthritis. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can cause fever, neurologic disease, breathing difficulty, bleeding disorders and anemia. Lyme disease, caused by the organism Borrelia burgdorferi , is transmitted by the deer tick and can cause multiple leg arthritis, weight loss, lack of appetite, lethargy and fever. Ticks can also cause localized inflammatory lesions of the skin, and occasionally, a syndrome called tick-bite paralysis: weakness or paralysis associated with a toxin the tick secretes as it feeds. Signs of Infestation Often times pet owners will find fleas or ticks on their pets; however, some pets with flea allergy dermatitis/flea bite hypersensitivity may just be itchy, but no fleas are visible. Finding an adult flea is just the “tip of the iceberg” as the flea has other life-cycle stages that are more numerous and often times too small to see easily. Fleas lay eggs that fall off the pet into the surrounding environment. These eggs hatch into larval-stage fleas then form a pupa before maturing into an adult flea. Other signs of flea infestation are finding pepper-like debris (flea feces) in the pet’s fur, pruritus (itching/scratching/over-grooming), and irritated skin. Flea infestations can lead to secondary skin infections as well. Another indicator of a flea or tick problem is if pet owners find a tick or small bites on themselves. Flea and Tick Preventives Fortunately, there are a variety of flea and tick preventives available through your veterinarian. These products are safe and effective, and come in either topical or oral formulations. It is crucial that products designed for dogs should never be used for cats and vice-versa. The use of over-the-counter products is not recommended as they can have harsher ingredients and harmful side effects, especially if used incorrectly. Harmful side effects can include: allergic reactions, muscle tremors, seizures, and in severe cases, death for a pet. We have a variety of products here at Hope Animal Medical Center that can help you and your pet. We recommend using flea/tick control products once monthly year-round as insects are a year-round problem here in the south. Below is a brief explanation of the different products available. FOR DOGS: Nexgard = Afoxolaner, oral flea/tick control, lasts 1 month (Dogs Only) Simparica = Sarolaner, oral flea/tick control, lasts 1 month (Dogs Only) Bravecto = Fluralaner, oral flea/tick control, lasts 3 months Capstar = Nitenpyram, oral flea control, kills fleas quickly,lasts 1 day only Frontline Gold (New and improved from the original formula) = Fipronil/S-Methoprene/pyriproxyfen, topical flea/tick control, lasts 1 month Seresto Collar = Imidacloprid/Flumethrin, Flea/tick Collar that lasts 8 months Preventic Collar = Amitraz, tick collar, lasts 3 months (DOGS ONLY) Trifexis = Spinosad/Milbemycin Oxime, oral flea control plus heartworm prevention, intestinal parasite control, lasts 1 month (DOGS ONLY) Revolution = Selamectin, topical flea/tick control plus heartworm prevention, lasts 1 month FOR CATS: Capstar = Nitenpyram, oral flea control, kills fleas quickly,lasts 1 day only Advantage Multi = Imidacloprid/Moxidectin, topical flea control plus heartworm prevention, intestinal parasite control, and ear mite treatment/prevention, lasts 1 month Bravecto = Fluralaner, Topical flea/tick control, lasts 3 months Frontline Gold (New and improved from the original formula) = Fipronil/S-Methoprene/pyriproxyfen, topical flea/tick control, lasts 1 month Seresto Collar = Imidacloprid/Flumethrin, Flea/tick Collar that lasts 8 months Revolution = Selamectin, topical flea control plus heartworm prevention, intestinal parasite control, and earmite treatment/prevention, lasts 1 month. Please call for more information or visit our clinic’s website at www.HopeAMC.com. It can be a tough not to share your food when an adorable, doggy snout makes its way into your lap at the dinner table.
But relinquishing a bite isn't always the best idea. Many human foods, including chocolate, grapes and avocado, can be harmful to your dog. You don't have to cope with the guilt-induced puppy eyes. Instead, consider whipping up some canine-safe treats for your pup to enjoy. These 17 recipes below are definite tail-waggers. And, they look so scrumptious, we won't blame you if you sneak a nibble yourself. Note: Be sure to consult your vet before introducing new ingredients into your pet's diet.
Homemade Cat Treat RecipesLooking to supplement your pet’s diet with some tasty homemade cat treats? Try your hand at making your own. We’ve collected some easy recipes that will be sure to have your cat pawing for more.
Sunflower Cat Treats An easy treat for all your household pets, these snacks combine sunflower seeds, fruits, veggies, peanut butter, oats, flour in a large bowl and add in molasses to make a dough. Roll it out and cut into shapes using Santa, stocking, reindeer, or paw cookie cutters and bake or dehydrate until dry. Once they’re fully dried, gift wrap and stuff kitty’s stocking with them for a delicious, healthy treat. See the full recipe from Rodale here. Baby Food Mini Morsels These can treats are a breeze and can be made using baby food of any kind — meat, fruits or veggies. Combine three jars of food for every cup and a half of cream of wheat (or wheat germ). Add a splash of tuna juice and mix well. Pop spoonfuls in the microwave and cook on high until each morsel is firmed and cool in the fridge. See the full recipe from PetFinder here. Savory Cheese Bites If your cat loves cheese, these bites will be sure to make his Christmas wishes come true. Combine flour, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, yogurt and cornmeal and knead into dough. Roll the dough out and use those handy holiday cookie cutters to cut into shapes and place on a cookie sheet. Bake the treats for about 25 minutes and let cool before letting your cat sneak a bite. See the full recipe from Petplace here. Chicken Biscuits These easy cat treats are a great alternative to commercial treats that tend to use meat by-products or flavoring versus the real deal. Combine shredded cooked chicken, chicken broth, and margarine in a bowl and add flour and cornmeal to form dough. Bake on a cookie sheet and share with fellow cat owners for a festive snack. See the full recipe from Petplace here. We hope you and your pet enjoy recipes we’ve listed here, but please note that you should check with your vet before changing your cat's diet. |
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