Healthy Holiday Treat

Often you are told what not to give your pet; no human food, no chocolate no and no excess! I thought I would share with you some ideas for the Holidays which are Healthy for your pet. You can have fun baking a gift basket for the pet who has everything.

Many canned dogs foods that are "loaf" (solid) are suitable for slicing and baking. They are already in circles once you slice them. Bake as you would cookies on 350 degrees for 12-20 minutes until toasted. Be prepared for the odor. Dogs love it but it may be offensive to the humans.

Raw produce such as carrots, apples and broccoli are very tasty to the dog palate. In addition they are low in calories and help maintain clean oral hygiene. There are commercial , edible chewies such as "Greenies" which are naturally delicious and have a unique shape that dogs love. Try to avoid treats with high fat content such as pig ears. Rawhides are acceptable in moderation if your dog chews them thoroughly and doesn't "woof" them down. Cats love the fresh grown greens. They offer fiber and clean the oral cavity. Catnip toys are fun and safe. Your cat will not become a drug addict if you

offer catnip. Catnip is a member of the mint family. The smell is the aromatic oil of the plant and lasts only a few minutes. Here are two of my favorite recipe suggestions:

Homemade Dog Bones

2 cups whole-wheat flour

½ cup soy flour

1 cup cornmeal

1 tsp bonemeal

½ cup unsalted sunflower seeds

½ tsp garlic powder

1 tbsp yeast powder

2 tbsp butter or oil

½ cup unsulfured molasses

2 tsp dried mint leaves

1 tsp salt

2 eggs with 1/ 4 cup milk

Mix the flours, cornmeal and seeds together. Add the garlic and yeast(smells great). Combine the butter (oil), molasses, salt and egg mixture; set aside. 1 tbsp of this liquid mixture and combine the rest with the dry ingredients. Add more milk if necessary, to make a firm dough. Knead (the fun part) together for a few minutes and let the dough rest ½ hour or more. Roll out to ½ inch thick. Cut into bone or stick shapes and brush the remainder of the egg mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until lightly crisp. You can leave in the oven with the heat turned off for an hour. These are low in protein and fat so they are a healthy treat for young and old dogs.

Kitty Catnip Cookies

1 cup whole-wheat flour

2 tbsp wheat germ

1/4 cup soy flour

1/3 cup powdered milk

1 tbsp kelp

12 bonemeal

1 tsp crushed dried catnip leaves

1 tbsp unsulfured molasses

1 egg

2 tbsp oil or butter

1/3 cup milk or water

Mix the dry ingredients together. Add the molasses, egg, oil, butter and milk or water. Roll out (the fun part) on an oiled cookie sheet and cut into small shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly toasted. These are suitable treats for young and old.

Have fun making your holiday basket!