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So, as with people this time of year, it might be a good time to start to concentrate on your pets weight gain. I know it is easy to get carried away on treats for your dog, who doesn’t want to give a good dog a treat? I even give “cookies” to my patients when I walk in the exam room.

Here are some easy substitutes you can give as a treat instead of a “cookie”. Also, if your dog is on a diet and looks at the empty food dish depressingly, these are healthy natural ways to help your dog feel full while keeping a low calorie content.

All nutritional information is referring to the “raw” state of the food:

APPLES: 1 SMALL SIZE is 55 calories and 3 grams of fiber
Apples contain Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium, and calcium. They are crunchy and sweet, and a good substitute for dogs with food allergies. My Golden Retrievers and Bull Dog all suffer from food allergies, and they will do anything for an apple. Just make sure you are not giving it to them whole. Slice it just like you would for a little kid.

BROCCOLI: 1/2 CUP is 20 calories and 4 grams of fiber
Broccoli contains Vitamin C, iron, and potassium. Some dogs will turn their nose up to this, others prefer it to be frozen.

CARROTS: 1/4 CUP is 10 calories and ~1.7 grams of fiber
Carrots are probably the most common vegetable that dogs enjoy. They are crunchy like a bone. Carrots contain Vitamin C, Vitamin K, magnesium, manganese, B vitamins, and potassium.

CELERY: 1/4 CUP is 5 calories and 2 grams of fiber
Celery contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, B vitamins, and potassium. Our dogs dogs like the stalk as a whole, but enjoy them cut up and added to their dry kibble.

CRANBERRIES: 1/4 CUP is 12 calories and 2 grams of fiber
Cranberries contain Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and manganese. They also contain phytochemicals that support the urinary tract and prevent bacterial infections. Cranberries are a little tart, so I usually give them with a sweeter fruit to offset.

GREEN BEANS: 1/2 CUP is 10 calories and 2 grams of fiber
Green Beans are full of Vitamin K, Vitamin C, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, copper, iron and manganese. Some dogs don’t prefer it to be served raw, so feel free to steam them. Just remember not to boil, as you lose most of the nutritional value in the process.

PEAS: 1/2 CUP is 60 calories and 9 grams of fiber
Green Peas contain Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and B vitamins. They are bite size, sweet, and an amazing source of fiber. Our dogs prefer them frozen, they practically melt in their mouth.

Also, I found interesting that dogs enjoy the jarred baby food of fruits and veggies. Our 10 month old twins think they are “big people” now and do not want anything to do with the baby food. They want whatever we are having. They will gladly munch on steamed, diced broccoli instead of jarred baby food. So We have a cupboard full of unused jars. Don’t want to waste them, so we add them to the dogs dry kibble and mix it up, and they think they are eating a delectable treat. Dogs are funny, especially ours. We always try to keep them entertained.

Just remember to stay away from onions, grapes, raisins, or high quantities of garlic.

You would think that once my cat chased down a honey bee and continued to shove it in her mouth to munch on, that the sudden inflammation and discomfort that followed would deter her from any more bee chasing. Well, that is not the case, in fact, I think she considers herself a “professional” hunter when it comes to ANY venomous insect. Luckily her allergic reactions are not life threatening, she can always breathe normally, but she always gets a swollen lip.
An easy remedy in mild allergic reactions is Apis or Apis Mellifica, which is made from the “bee’s glue” that holds their hives together. A few tiny sugar pills and it should prevent the reaction from getting worse, and allow some comfort.
APIS WILL NOT STOP AN ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION! So, it is safest to use when your pets breathing is not compromised and their reaction is not life threatening.
Apis can also be used for swelling, itching, or redness from any type of insect. Maybe your pet has an allergic reaction to a flea bite, or unfortunately rolled in the dirt with red ants. Those instances are a great example of a non threatening allergic reaction, where there is inflammation or discomfort on a mild to medium level. You can use a potency of 6X or 30C and give 1-2 pills every hour until symptoms subside.
So now when my cat starts pawing at her face I know that is her first sign of a bug gone bad. Apis always comes to the rescue.

So with the holidays rapidly approaching, I thought I would start with a holistic remedy for gastroenteritis “upset stomach”.

What is Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie???

Well, plain canned pumpkin (not canned pumpkin pie mix) offers remedies to both extremes of an upset stomach: diarrhea and/or constipation. Due to the high fiber content in pumpkin, it is an easy emergency item to keep in the cupboards. 1/2-1 tablespoon per 10 pounds can be added to your pets bowl. Most pets often think of it as a treat, and it is safe to use on a daily basis if needed for senior citizen pets.