Festive Feasts: Holiday Meals for Your Four-Legged Family Members

Festive Feasts: Holiday Meals for Your Four-Legged Family Members

Health & Wellness, Holidays, WagBreeze Life

Written by Dawn Guidry | Photography by Sydney Bassett

You can prepare a holiday feast for your dog that is both safe and healthy. Cooking for your dogs can be fun. The rule of thumb is to keep it simple, use healthy ingredients, and avoid processed foods.

All of the following recipes are dog and people-friendly, even though the flavors will be bland for people.

Recipes can be made ahead, though some may need warming or thawing. Feeding amounts should be adjusted to your dog’s size.

Photograph of Dog-Harmony's "Barkuterie" (charcuterie) board recipe for dogs

Barkuterie Board

Keep this one simple by purchasing your dogs’ favorite treats from your local dog store.

Suggested Ingredients

  • Fresh Carrots and Apple Slices (remove core and seeds)
  • Sam’s Yams Sweet Potato Treats
  • The Honest Kitchen Liver Chips
  • The Honest Kitchen Goat’s Milk Pumpkin Cinnamon Cookies
  • Freeze-Dried Chicken or Turkey Necks, Duck Hearts, Duck Feet

Instructions

Arrange compiled ingredients in a visually pleasing way.

Turkey Meatloaf *

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs Ground Turkey, lean
  • 1 cup Brown Rice, cooked
  • ½ cup Spinach, chopped
  • ¼ cup Carrots, grated
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 tbsp Parsley Flakes
  • Tomato Paste (enough to cover the top of the meatloaf)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray a loaf pan with non-stick spray. Mix the first five ingredients together in a medium bowl. Spoon and press the mixture into a loaf pan. Top with tomato paste and sprinkle with parsley. Bake for 45 minutes. Let cool before cutting or serving. Leftovers should be refrigerated.

* This recipe can also be rolled into meatballs. Bake them on a lightly sprayed cookie sheet for 15 to 20 minutes.

Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Yum

Ingredients

  • 1 Sweet Potato
  • 1/4 cup Unsweetened Coconut
  • 1/4 cup Pecans or Walnuts, chopped

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°. Poke holes in the sweet potato with a fork. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes until soft. Then remove it from the oven and let it cool. Once the potato is cool enough to handle, peel and mash it. Top with coconut and nuts, and serve.

Breakfast Scramble

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbsp fresh Spinach, chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh Tomato, chopped
  • 1 tbsp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
  • Olive Oil for cooking

Instructions

Beat the eggs and set aside— feel free to add a couple of tablespoons of water for fluffiness. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a small, non-stick skillet. Add the spinach and tomato to a skillet and cook until soft— about two to three minutes. Add the eggs and scramble continuously until cooked through— about one to two minutes. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top. Let cool before serving.

Cranberry Carob Ice Cream

Ingredients

  • 16 oz Plain Yogurt
  • 1 Banana
  • ½ cup Dried Cranberries, chopped
  • 1 oz Unsweetened Carob Chips, chopped
  • 1 tbsp Honey

Instructions

Add all of the ingredients to a medium mixing bowl. Using KitchenAid or hand mixer, mix all of the ingredients together until well blended, and pour into popsicle molds, ice cubes, or Dixie cups with popsicle sticks. Thaw for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Foods to Avoid

When crafting the perfect meal for your pup, remember there are also many holiday foods you should not be feeding your pet. Here are a few of our suggestions on what to avoid:**

  • Cooked Bones
  • Fatty Meat
  • Chocolate
  • Sugar or Sugar Substitutes (Watch for Xylitol)
  • Alcohol
  • Added Salt
  • Processed Deli Meats
  • Grapes/Raisins
  • Apple Core & Seeds
  • Most Nuts
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Yeast
  • Chips, Crackers, Cereal
  • Raw Dough

**This is not a complete list, so when in doubt, it’s best to ask your veterinarian.

Avoiding Those Ghoulish Halloween Mishaps

Avoiding Those Ghoulish Halloween Mishaps

Holidays, Training, WagBreeze Life

Written by Robin Keene

Halloween is a spooktacular time for many. The most social dogs may love children and joyfully engage in goblin gatherings. No matter how social or timid your pet may appear to be, holiday precautions are always the sensible and safe thing to practice. Here are easy ways to keep your tail-waggers safe… and kids, too!

Safe Places and Happy Bellies

Give Spot plenty of exercise on Halloween day to decrease any over-stimulation the night may bring. Recognize signs of stress. If your dog is uncomfortable, remove her from the situation and put her in a safe place.

Keep your pets calm. If Buddy is anxious around a lot of activity or strangers, put him in a quiet room during the peak trick-or-treat hours. Only the most social and stress-tested pets should be allowed near children. Consider placing a barrier, such as a pet gate at the front door for extra precaution. Be sure all your pets are wearing their IDs and are microchipped in the event they decide to hunt goblins without your permission.

No sweet human treats! We love yummies and so does your best friend. But these can cause canine tummy distress or worse, a fatality. Chocolate is extremely toxic for dogs, and dark chocolate is the worst. Other ingredients like xylitol, found in many low-sugar candies, is a serious risk to your pet’s health. Keep candy out of Fido’s reach. Avoid the temptation to spoil him with a little nibble. Instead, have nutritious dog treats on hand or make homemade treats with dog-friendly ingredients.

If you like the idea of spoiling Champ with his own treats, consider some of the following ingredients: Oatmeal, peanut butter (free of xylitol), pureed pumpkin, apples, carrots, sweet potato, or wheat flour. Cranberries and blueberries are a yummy addition, too.

Jack-o’-lanterns can be easily knocked over by dogs or cats causing burn injuries. Keep them out of reach, even if you use battery-operated candles or décor. And while pumpkin is a good dietary supplement in many cases, it can still cause stomach upset. Check with your vet if you are unsure. Also, be mindful of wires or electrical cords, which are chewing temptations, especially for young pups. Avoid glow sticks! They can break with a bite and are very toxic!

Know the location and contact number of the local emergency vet and have the ASPCA Poison Control Center listed in your contacts: (888) 426-4435.

Considering Costumes

Benji might love dressing up for any occasion. Or, it might be downright stressful. Start with patience and try to understand your dog. Here is a little guidance:

Don’t wait to begin working with your dog. Even a month before the big day isn’t too soon, especially for the fur kid new to the whole costume gig. Most dogs will need some time to get used to being in a strange and amusing get-up.

Start with a lot of encouraging sniffing. Sit with the pup on the floor and allow her to warm up to the smell (washing it beforehand is probably a good idea). Little by little begin dressing her. Maybe just a paw for a few seconds and repeat. Lots of small treats for each little progression will help her overcome any ambivalence she likely has.

Continue a bit every day, increasing how the number of costume pieces with which you dress your dog. Then begin increasing the time, from mere seconds to building up to a minute or two at a time. 

When she’s decided she’s willing to humor you and participate in this odd human request, don’t wait until the big day for her to wear the costume for a long period. Do this days before…10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, and so on. And provide lots of yummy rewards along the way! Finally, she’s showcasing her way to becoming a grand prize winner!

That said, please be mindful that not all dogs have the disposition to wear anything but their birthday suit. Things to bear in mind:

  • Make sure the costume fits properly: It shouldn’t restrict movement or be so loose that the dog gets tangled up or trips.
  • Be sure your pet can see properly, breathe easily, and bark.
  • Remove pieces that can easily be chewed off to prevent a choking hazard.
  • Look for small signs of discomfort such as scratchy tags. (We all know how annoying that can be.)
  • Most importantly, don’t force it. If Doodlebug hates it, let him sport a cute bandana, and give him a treat and a boop on the nose for still being the best dog, ever.

*For creative Halloween costume ideas for pets and parents, click here.