Cut the potatoes lengthwise, no less than a 1/3-inch thick for larger dogs. Cut round slices for a smaller dog, making sure the slices are no less than 1/3-inch thick to retain chewiness.
Place potato pieces on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in a single layer.
Bake in the oven for about 2.5 to 3 hours, turning halfway through.
Allow to cool, and store in an airtight container in the fridge for about three weeks.
PB and Bacon Doggy Biscuits
Instead of highly-processed dog treats, why not make a batch of healthy homemade biscuits? You can customize the recipe by adding shredded carrots, shredded zucchini and even cheese!
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups regular oats ground to flour
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin
1/4 cup organic, all-natural peanut butter
2 slices crumbled bacon
1/2 cup hot beef stock (or chicken stock)
Optional: Add liver powder, shredded carrots, shredded zucchini, wheat germ or shredded cheese — whatever your dog’s preference.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add all ingredients together in a large bowl.
Knead dough for about 3 minutes until it forms a ball.
Roll out dough to 1/2-inch thick.
Using a bone-shaped cookie cutter, cut out shapes.
Place dough pieces on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until browned.
Allow to cool and store in an airtight container.
We love our pets and want only the best for them. So, read nutrition labels on treat products just like you would read the nutrition labels on packaged foods for people. When possible, consider baking your own doggy treats. Only then can you truly be sure you’re not feeding your dog an ingredient that could make them ill!
Cat owners should exercise caution when using essential oils. Phenols, a chemical group in thyme and oregano oils, monoterpene hydrocarbons in pine oils, phenylpropanes in basil and cinnamon, and many ketone oils including wormwood and pennyroyal should be avoided altogether.
Citrus oils like orange, lemon and grapefruit also spell bad news for cats. Other oils to avoid around cats include wintergreen, clove, birch, anise, hyssop, juniper, tansy and tea tree oil.
Essential oils to avoid around dogs
Cats aren’t the only pets that can have an adverse reaction to essential oils. Dogs can also be affected by some of the oils that are safe for use with humans. By and large, dog owners should avoid using anise, clove, juniper, thyme, wintergreen and yarrow essential oils around their fur babies. Garlic and horseradish essential oils can also cause a range of allergic responses.
Essential oils that are toxic to birds
Birds are particularly susceptible to fragrances from household chemicals and candles. So, it goes without saying that they can also be affected by essential oil diffusers as well. Some resources online note that cedarwood, citronella, pine and melaleuca are poisonous to birds, so if you own a bird, it might be best to avoid these.
How to safely use oils around your pets
Essential oils enter the bloodstream quickly through topical application, ingestion or inhalation. Even very small amounts can have a large impact on the body — human and animal alike.
The most important consideration is the type of oil you use. Many essential oils on the market are fragrance-grade and not therapeutic or medical grade oils. While Young Living and dōTERRA are not the only companies selling these high-quality therapeutic grade oils, they are reliable companies. In fact, Young Living provides a guide for using oils, but we encourage you to talk to your vet if you have any questions about the safety of essential oils. dōTERRA does not currently list animal information on its website, but many distributors claim they have safely used oils on and around their pets for years.
When introducing a new oil to your household, diffuse it for a short amount of time and pay careful attention to your pet. Make sure that the room is well ventilated and that your pet doesn’t stand directly next to or over the diffuser. Begin with essential oils that are assumed to be safe for short-term use like lavender or frankincense. Then, monitor your pet for a few hours to make sure they’re acting normally.
Dr. Roark suggests a water-based diffuser in an open room that animals can leave if they don’t like the smell. Use only three to four drops of the oil at a time to avoid over-exposure.
Stop diffusing the oil and open the windows if you notice your pet acting strangely. In severe cases, call or visit your vet to make share your furry friend receives the care they need to recover from the exposure.
How to know if essential oils are harming your pets
It’s fairly easy to spot signs of poisoning in your cat or dog. In addition to a loss of appetite and trouble urinating, your pet may exhibit running eyes, vomiting, excessive panting, rubbing face, muscle tremors, diarrhea, rashes and drooling. Birds may experience wheezing, signs of dizziness and incoordination, weakness, anxiety, seizures or depression.
Common sense suggests that we would hear about essential oils poisoning more pets if they were highly toxic to our furry friends. But, since essential oils are a relatively new health trend, there’s an obvious lack of research on the topic. Be sure to talk to your vet before diffusing essential oils around your dog, cat or bird. Remember, what is safe for you may not be safe for Rover, Spot or Max.
Pets are one of life’s great joys. According to the National Institutes of Health, some 68 percent of American households have a pet, and their benefits are countless, from getting active to boosting mood. But as wonderful as our furry (or scaly, or feathered) friends are, there are certain health risks that come with having an animal in your home.
“Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) are those that can be transmitted between animals and people,” explains Christa Gallagher, BSC, DVM, an assistant professor of public health and epidemiology at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. “Animals, whether wild or domesticated, can transmit harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi to humans.”
“Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma Gondii) is a parasitic infection in which cats are the main source of infection,” explains Dr. Gallagher. While healthy people don’t typically contract the disease, it can cause serious health complications for pregnant women and immunocompromised people. Be sure to change the cat litter frequently (once a day if anyone has a weakened immune system in the house), and thoroughly wash your hands afterward. Pregnant women should avoid changing the cat litter altogether. Keeping your cat indoors will also help prevent them from contracting it.
Symptoms in pets: Cats don’t typically show symptoms of toxoplasmosis. Kittens, who are more vulnerable, may get diarrhea.
While it’s unlikely that you’ll contract rabies from your pet (it’s most commonly contracted from wild animals like raccoons and bats), it’s within the realm of possibility since it is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. “The disease is most commonly contracted through a bite, although potentially it could be transmitted through a scratch as well,” says Gary Richter, MS, DVM, a veterinary health expert with Rover.com. “Although human exposure to rabies from a dog is uncommon, it’s worth noting since rabies is almost 100 percent fatal if the person is not treated immediately after exposure.” The best way to prevent it is to keep your pet up-to-date with their vaccines.
Symptoms in pets: Foaming at the mouth is the most common sign of rabies, but other symptoms could include behavioral changes, fever, hypersensitivity to touch, light, and sound, hiding in dark places, staggering, loss of appetite, and seizures.
You’re probably aware that you can get salmonella from raw or undercooked poultry, but did you know you can get it from your pets? “This infection can also be caused by the bacteria that live on the skin of pet reptiles,” warns Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles. Jory D. Lange Jr, a food safety lawyer, also says they have seen cases of pet hedgehogs, backyard chickens, and dog food causing salmonella outbreaks.
To avoid it, wash your hands well after handling reptiles, especially after feeding them. Be sure to also clean pet toys and bedding outside.
Symptoms in pets: Reptiles don’t typically present with symptoms of salmonella, says Dr. Shainhouse.
“Leptospirosis is a bacteria that is shed in the urine of infected animals. Our pets can contract this infection from ground water that is contaminated by infected wildlife. Though this infection does require contact with infected urine, it’s much easier than you may think to inadvertently come in contact with your pet’s urine,” says Johanna Reel, NHV Natural Pet’s in-house registered veterinary technician. Get your pet vaccinated against the disease, and don’t swim in water that may be contaminated with animal urine.
Symptoms in pets: Some animals won’t show signs of leptospirosis, while others may have fever, vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to eat, depression, infertility, and other symptoms.
Most commonly contracted from the feces of dogs but sometimes from cats, toxocariasis is a parasitic disease from the larvae of toxocara roundworms. Dr. Shainhouse says, “Be careful to use gloves or a plastic bag or shovel to clean up doggy poop, and wash your hands well afterward.”
Symptoms in pets: Diarrhea, vomiting, bloody stool, worms seen in the stool
“While you can contract this by eating undercooked pork, you can also contract this from an infected pet,” explains Dr. Shainhouse. It is contracted via oral-fecal transmission through direct contact with pet stool (which is more common than you may think). You can prevent contracting tapeworm by handling animal feces with gloves or a shovel, and washing your hands thoroughly.
Symptoms in pets: According to Dr. Shainhouse, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rice-like pieces in the stool, fatigue, hunger or loss of appetite, and longer worms in vomit are signs of tapeworm. She says that pets with tapeworm also often drag their bottoms along the ground.
“Ringworm, which is a fungal disease (despite the deceptive name), grows on hair follicles. It is transmitted through direct contact,” explains Dr. Richter. Cleaning your pet’s bedding regularly, frequently washing your hands, vacuuming, and disinfecting are your best bets for avoiding ringworm.
Symptoms in pets: Animals get the same circular lesion as humans, but it can be difficult to see under their fur so look out for signs like red lesions, crusty skin, and patchy hair.
“This bacterial infection is caused by Bartonella henselae, which is carried by kittens. It is transmitted to humans via a scratch from the infected animal,” explains Dr. Shainhouse. According to the CDC, 30 to 40 percent of adopted shelter cats have documented cases of cat scratch fever. People with weakened immune systems are at higher risk, so they may want to hold off getting a kitten less than a year old, since they’re more likely to get the infection. If you do get scratched, wash the area immediately.
Symptoms in pets: Cats usually don’t show any symptoms but in some cases may have a fever, and in rare cases, may have labored breathing, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes, red eyes, and/or decreased appetite. And despite the name, dogs can also get cat scratch fever and may show signs of fever, arrhythmia, and inflammation of the heart (endocarditis).
“Pets can also pass some parasites on to their humans,” says Dr. Reel. “Giardia is a common intestinal parasitic microorganism, which causes severe gastrointestinal symptoms. This parasite can be spread through contact with contaminated water or contact with infected fecal matter.
Symptoms in pets: Painful gas, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting are common.
Not to be confused with human scabies, pet scabies can’t truly be spread to humans, but can cause some discomfort. “In pet scabies, the animal is the only viable host for the mite, meaning the mite only lives on the pet,” explains Dr. Shainhouse. “However, the mite can jump off of the pet, bite the human owner, then jump back home (aka, the pet’s skin).” The best way to protect you and your dog is to avoid having your dog around other animals that have it.
Symptoms in pets: Pet scabies can affect your pet-typically dogs-with severe itching, rash, blisters, and sores.
Camp-what? The name may be hard to pronounce, but the CDC estimates that Campylobacter is the top cause of bacterial diarrheal illness in the country. Though it’s typically contracted from raw or undercooked poultry, pets can also spread it. “Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial disease cause by Campylobacter species. Fecal-oral transmission can result in gastrointestinal symptoms in most healthy persons. More serious infections can occur if a person is very young, elderly, or immunocompromised,” says Dr. Gallagher.
That’s why it’s important to wash your hands frequently, especially if you come in contact with animal feces.
Symptoms in pets: Most common in puppies younger than six months old. Fever, vomiting, and enlarged lymph nodes are possible symptoms in your dog.
Although our furry friends get the brunt of the diseases that can be passed on to humans, our scaled sidekicks aren’t without their possible infections. Mycobacterium Marinum grows in fish tanks and can be spread to humans. “It is commonly seen in people who put their ungloved hands into fish tanks (like when you clean out your pet’s tank),” explains Dr. Shainhouse. So be sure to wear gloves when scooping out fish and cleaning the fish tank.
Yet another canine parasite, hookworms suck on the intestinal lining of dogs. The eggs in the pet feces could transfer through the skin if you come in contact with it. Thoroughly washing your hands will go a long way, especially after curbing your dog.
“Dog and cat bites that pierce human skin can cause severe skin infection and cellulitis if not treated immediately,” warns Dr. Shainhouse. “Cats’ mouths carry Pasturella multocida, while dogs carry Staphylococcus, Streptomyces and Capnocytophaga sp.” Avoid rough play with your pets or other animals that might result in them taking an unintentional nibble of your skin.
Though it’s not totally a disease, contact dermatitis is an irritating side effect of having pets for some people. “Pet kisses may be a sign of affection or loyalty, but it can cause skin irritation in humans,” says Dr. Shainhouse.
“If you are crazy enough to have a pet tarantula, know that they are not soft and fuzzy. Their ‘fur’ is actually spines that can be shed as protection when they are afraid or in fighting mode. These spines can prickle your skin and cause an irritant dermatitis.”
Take preventative measures especially if you have sensitive skin, like washing up after getting licked by your pet to prevent a rash.
Symptoms in pets: None
Symptoms in humans: Skin irritation, rash, and itchiness.Vets reveal the most dangerous diseases pets can give you Pets are one of life’s great joys. According to the National Institutes of Health, some 68 percent of American households have a pet, and their benefits are countless, from getting active to boosting mood. But as wonderful as our furry (or scaly, or feathered) friends are, there are certain health risks that come with having an animal in your home.
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