Easter and your pets

It’s time for another holiday and pets like to be included as well. But, be careful and know that chocolate is poisonous to dogs. This delicious creamy tasty treat seems harmless even delightful to us, but to our four legged friends even though they love the taste the effects are dangerous. Be sure to watch your pets for symptoms of poisoning with all the darling children and their treat baskets running around. If you find that your pet has consumed chocolate make sure you seek medical treatment right away to avoid a family pet tragedy.

Another thing to watch is that plastic grass that we use in the baskets. That could be something your pet finds interesting and if they ingest the little plastic strands it too could end up with a trip to your veterinarian.

Also, the beauty of the Easter Lily or any Lily for that matter delights us all during the spring months and for the holiday. But please keep in mind that this flower is poisonous to dogs! There are many plants that are poisonous to animals. It's always a good idea to check before you add it to your home.

Be sure to keep the number to the ASPCA poison control nearby when you can't get in touch with your veterinarian.

I like to treat my dachshunds during holidays so that they don’t feel left out with the excitement of the day. I make an empty basket for them and fill it with appropriate treats and toys that they all enjoy rutting their noses through until each one finds what they want. I love to watch them all running around with their new toys and wrestling around trying to take each other’s fabulous finds from one another. My dachshunds are most entertaining and I get the biggest laughs from them every day.

Each one of my dogs has their own favorites and I try to use this time of year to replace toys that have been chewed up and look ragged. Delbert, he enjoys a ball of any sort but can crush the doggy type tennis balls and they turn to flat felt covered rags. Smoochie likes anything that squeaks and although he finds them entertaining for hours the squeaking can get on even the most patient persons nerves. And, I think that is why Phoebe doesn’t really play with toys but loves to chew and destroy them, especially Smoochie’s. Who can blame her she has ears too!

All three of them love snacks and treats. If you ask them if they want a Smoochie snack they all run to the kitchen. We call all treats “Smoochie Snacks” because Smoochie loves treats and will sit pretty, on his back hindquarters and his little stubby paws in front of him, for his morsel. With the recent scare of contaminated pet foods I worry over their treats, so to ease my mind I find it’s easier to make my own.

I am adding a few tasty recipes so you can try your paw at them as well!

Doggie Biscuits

· 2 1/2 c Whole wheat flour

· 1/2 c Powdered dry milk

· 1/2 teaspoon Salt

· 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder

· 1 teaspoon Brown sugar

· 6 tablespoon Meat drippings

· 1 Beaten egg

· 1/2 c Ice water

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Combine flour, dry milk, salt, garlic powder and sugar. Cut in meat drippings until mixture resembles corn meal. Mix in egg. Add enough water so that mixture forms a ball. Using your fingers, pat out dough onto cookie sheet to half inch thick. Cut with cookie cutter or knife and remove scraps. Scraps can be formed again and baked. Bake 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from tray and cool on rack.

Chicken Liver Goodies

• 2 cups Flour
• 3 tbs. Vegetable oil
• 1 cup wheat germ or cornmeal if wheat allergies are a problem
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 tsp. parsley
• 1 cup cooked chicken liver, chopped

Combine flour and wheat germ. In separate bowl, beat egg with oil, and then add broth & parsley mix well. Add the dry ingredients to bowl a little at a time, stirring well. Fold in chicken livers and mix well. Dough will be firm. Turn dough out on lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out 1/2" thick and cut into shapes. Place on greased cookie sheet 1" apart. Bake at 400F for 15 minutes or until firm. Store in refrigerator.

Peanut Butter Bars

• 2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
• 1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375' In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix peanut butter milk, and then add to dry ingredients and mix well. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes, Bake for 20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until lightly brown. Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container.

So make your Easter holiday safe and happy for your pets as well and take some time to whip up a few treats to put in their basket with a new toy and be sure to have your camera ready!