How To Celebrate a Pet-Friendly St. Patrick's Day

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

St. Patrick's Day is just a week away!  Are you ready to celebrate with Irish foods, drinks, and friends?  

We remind pet owners to always proceed with caution when feeding pets table scraps - including during your St. Patrick's Day celebrations.  Celebrate a pet-friendly holiday with a better understanding St. Patrick's Day pet food safety.

St. Patrick's Day Food Safety:

• Table Scraps - Table scraps can be high in calories and the drastic change in diet can give your pet an upset stomach.  
• Corned Beef - Corned beef is a beef brisket soaked in salt and vinegar pickling brine.  Due to this curing process, it's extremely high in sodium.  While a little salt is unlikely to be harmful to your pet, too much salty food in one sitting can cause sodium ion poisoning.  In addition, the broth used to cook the beef can contain garlic and even onions.  Both of these are highly toxic to cats are and dogs.
• Soda Bread - If you're making soda bread at home, be sure to keep the dough out of your pet's reach.  As dough expands, it can give your pet a bloated stomach.   Soda bread also often contains raisins or dried currants, which are both poisonous to dogs, and in some cases cats.
• Guinness and Whiskey - All alcoholic beverages are dangerous to pets.  However, Guiness and Whiskey tend to be the go-to alcoholic drinks for St. Patrick's Day celebrations.  In addition to the risk of alcohol poisoning, hops - one of the main ingredients in beer - is toxic to dogs and cats.  

Check out this article from dogtime.com for more tips on how to celebrate a pet-friendly St. Patrick's Day.  You can also contact one of our offices with any questions you have about how to keep your pets healthy this March.

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Healthy Treat Recipes for Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day!

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Happy Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day!  

While we love to give our pets treats, you don't want to add an excessive amount of calories to an otherwise healthy diet.  It's important that we reward dogs with treats that are safe and and low in calories.  Here are a few healthy treat options that you can make at home!

Homemade Low-Calorie Dog Treats:

"Easy Homemade Dog Biscuits"

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup brewer's yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1.5 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup low-sodium canned chicken stock + additional for brushing

Visit the Martha Stewart website for baking directions.

"Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Biscuits"

Ingredients:
1 egg
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup mashed banana
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 egg white for brushing

Stir together egg, peanut butter, banana and honey thoroughly.  Then stir in the flour and wheat germ.  Turn dough onto floured board and roll into 1/4 inch thick pieces.  Cut into your desired shape, brush with egg white and bake biscuits at 300 degrees for 30 minutes.'

"Low Fat Carrot Treats"

Ingredients:
1 banana
1 cup of shredded carrot
1/4 cup unsweetened apple juice
1/8 cup of water
1.5 cups of whole wheat flour
1 cup rolled oats

Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl.  Knead the dough until it's about half an inch thick and use a cookie cutter to cut the biscuits.  Bake the treats at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Visit this website for additional baking directions.

"Blueberry Dog Biscuits"

Ingredients:
1.5 cups oat flour
2.5 cups quinoa flour
3/4 cup flax meal
1/2 cup frozen, unsweetened blueberries
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large egg

Mix ingredients in a large bowl and roll out dough onto a plastic wrap sheet.  Use a bone-shaped cookie cutter to cut out your biscuits.  Space the biscuits 1 inch apart and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Visit the Martha Stewart website for additional baking directions.

Treats and snacks should only make up 10% of your dog's daily caloric intake.  If you have any questions about how you can improve your pet's diet and help them achieve a healthy weight, contact on of our offices.

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Tooth Brushing Tips to Help Keep Your Pet's Teeth Clean

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

When was the last time you took a look at your pet's teeth?  Although many pet owners don't realize it, dental health care is important for cats and dogs, too!  Since February is Pet's Dental Health Month, here are a few tooth brushing tips to help keep your pet's healthy.

Tooth Brushing Tips:

• Develop a Cleaning Routine - If you can, try to get your pet used to teeth cleaning at a young age.  The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends getting cats used to the process when they're kittens by using a finger cot or gauze, along with toothpaste.  You can help your dog adjust by gently cupping their muzzle and eventually lifting the lips.  Reward them at the end of the session with a treat!
• Use Special Toothpaste - Fluoride can be harmful if ingested by your pet.  Use a toothpaste that is specifically designed for your pet.
• Stimulate the Gums - Inflammed gums are the first sign of tooth decay.  Try to massage your pets gums to accelerate healing and prevent gum problems further on.  The gums should be pink and healthy, not red or irritated.
• Schedule a Checkup - A dental checkup is an important part of your annual vet visit.  Just like us, your cats and dogs can suffer from periodontal disease and tooth decay if their teeth are left unchecked.

Check out this article for more tooth brushing tips or contact our office.  Our experienced vets can help make sure that your pet's teeth are beautiful and healthy.  Visit our website to learn more.

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How to Keep Your Pets Safe During a Blizzard

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

The snow is starting to accumulate - are you ready for the blizzard?  Make sure your pets are ready too.

These tips will help keep your pets safe and make sure you're prepared for the storm.  Stay safe and warm today!

Blizzard Safety Tips:

• Stay Indoors - You should always try to keep your pets indoors during the winter months.  Limit time outside to brief bathroom trips for the duration of the storm.
• Keep Your Pet Dry - After your pet goes outside to the bathroom, towel dry them when they come inside.  
• Keep Antifreeze Out-Of-Reach - Antifreeze is a deadly poison to both cats and dogs.  Make sure you wipe up any spills an store antifreeze in a place where your pet cannot reach it. 
• Wipe Their Paws - Salt and other de-icing chemicals can irritate your pet's paws.  Wipe them down with a damp towel to keep your pet from licking the chemicals off of their feet and irritating their mouth.

ABC News offers tips on how to keep your pets safe through the storm tonight and tomorrow.  

We hope everyone stays safe and warm!  Contact our office if you have any questions about how to care for your pet on cold days.

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