and one they definitely should.

So many of us have taken up new hobbies while at home this year. Probably the top 2 are cooking and baking. I know that in our home, the number one taste tester is our dog Joleen. From the floor to the counter top and yes, I admit it, licking the bowl, Joleen has become quite the food aficionado. We are always very careful about what we let Joleen nibble on. Did we put onions in the gravy, some chocolate in the Mole sauce? Is there Xylitol in the peanut butter? True story; we had a client who was putting Thanksgiving gravy on top of their dog’s food as a special treat. The dog wound up in the ER in kidney failure why…onions in the gravy! If you’re wondering what to do with the leftover turkey drumstick don’t give it to the dog. Cooked bones can splinter and severely injure a dog’s organs. Think a little ham would be a nice treat, think again, way too much sodium for a dog

 Please see the following list of foods that are poisonous to dogs. 

https://www.caninejournal.com/foods-not-to-feed-dog/

Just like us, our doggie friends get upset tummies too. It’s tough knowing that our fur babies are feeling discomfort however, there are a few things we can do to alleviate their grumbly bellies. The number one and easiest thing to give your pooch is pumpkin. If it is fall and pumpkins are filling the stores, roast a few fresh sugar pumpkins at home, chop a few chunks for them and you can have the leftovers. Yum! All year round, adding a scoop of canned  pumpkin to their breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or midnight snack is a great way to give them something fun and nutritious. The high dose of all-natural fiber helps combat constipation and diarrhea, and the oils in pumpkin flesh promote urinary health as well. As an added bonus pumpkin is packed with vitamin A, iron, and potassium.

 So, if you are feeling up to a little fun in the kitchen then I have a great Pumpkin Dog Treat recipe for your doggies courtesy of SimmerTillDone.com. Not only is this full of pumpkin but it’s wheat free too!   

Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

2 tablespoons dry milk

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

2 1/2 cups brown rice flour *

1 teaspoon dried parsley (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

In large bowl, whisk together eggs and pumpkin to smooth. Stir in dry milk, sea salt, and dried parsley (if using, optional). Add brown rice flour gradually, combining with spatula or hands to form a stiff, dry dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface (can use the brown rice flour) and if dough is still rough, briefly knead and press to combine.

Roll dough between 1/4 – 1/2″ and use cookie-cutter to punch shapes, gathering and re-rolling scraps as you go. Place shapes on cookie sheet, no greasing or paper necessary. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully turn biscuits over, then bake additional 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely on rack before feeding to dog.

* Brown rice flour gives the biscuits crunch and promotes better dog digestion. Many dogs have touchy stomachs or allergies, and do not, like many people I know, tolerate wheat.

Makes about 65 biscuits.