(This article was originally written for Halloween, but the information and recipe is appropriate any time of year.)
AHHH HALLOWEEN!
And what is for dinner on these ghoulish nights? CERTAINLY NOT CHOCOLATE!!!
Most of us know that chocolate is bad for dogs. But what kind of chocolate, and how much? That's the big question.
Turns out that the offending substance for dogs is "theobromine". This is a naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean. Theobromine increases urination and affects the central nervous system as well as the heart muscle. While amounts vary by type of chocolate, it's the theobromine that is poisonous to dogs. For example, white chocolate has very little of this substance. Milk chocolate has more, but the amount of Theobromine in a Twix bar is pretty negligable. Not true of Sweet Cocoa, which only takes about 1/3 of a pound to be toxic to a 20-pound dog. Then there's the big gun - Bakers Chocolate! Just 2 one-ounce squares can be lethal to a 20-pound dog. Yikes!
TRY CAROB INSTEAD!
While chocolate is on the hot list for dogs, there is another substance that is a lot like chocolate, and that is actually GOOD for your dog! IT'S CAROB!
Dr. Juliette de Bairacli Levy, author of The Complete Herbal Handbook For The Dog & Cat, has been promoting the use of this food for many years. According to Dr. Levy, when fed to puppies, carob has shown good results as a protection against hip dysplasia. Carob has been a source of food for animals and people for thousands of years. It is packed with minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, magnesium, and silicon. It contains vitamins B1, B2 and Niacin, a little vitamin A and some protein. (You can learn more about the use of carob at: www.NaturalRearing.com
Carob Dog Treats Recipe
Ingredients:
* 1 package (12 ounces) Carob Chips * 1 cup fresh ground peanut butter * 3 - 6 tablespoons water
* 1 cup wheat germ
* ground flax seed
Instructions:
In double boiler, melt carob chips and water, stirring continually. You may also melt these in the microwave. Remove from heat and add peanut butter and wheat germ. Stir until mixture thickens enough to form balls in the palm of your hand. (It may be necessary to cool the mixture in the refrigerator) Form balls and roll or sprinkle with wheat germ. Finally, roll them in ground golden flax seed - one of my favorites! Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate.
Umm, yummy treats that are good for your dog! And you too!
NOTE:
This article have been written in an
effort to inform and educate. By no means
shall any article be taken as a substitute
for veterinary care or advice. Should you
have questions related to your dogs care,
please contact your licensed veterinarian.
Also, the information contained in these
articles are based on the opinions of the
author.
This
article may be reproduced in part or in
it's entirety provided the following
byline is attached:
Written
by:
Virginia
M. Dunn
Bella Rosa Cane Corsos
www.BellaRosaCaneCorsos.com
email: BellaCaneCorsos@aol.com
"Striving For Excellence"
