May: National Hamburger Month Topper
by Samantha Henson, licensed Clinical Pet Nutritionist and founder of Next Generation Pet Wellness
May is National Hamburger Month and what better way to celebrate it than to share our love of all things burgers and fries with our dog? This easy-to-make healthy hamburger-inspired topper is sure to have your dog celebrating all month long!
Ingredients:
– 1 lb 90/10 lean ground beef, grass-fed preferred
– 1 cup chopped ripe tomatoes
– 1 cup chopped romaine, red leaf lettuce, or any green your dog favors most
– 1 cup chopped fingerling or sweet potato
– 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions:
1. Brown the ground beef and potatoes in a pan and add the tomatoes and sesame seeds in the last few minutes of cooking. Move the mixture to a bowl.
2. Add in the chopped lettuce.
3. Fold everything together until well mixed, and store in refrigerator for up to 4 days.
4. Replace ¼ of your dog’s daily meals with this fresh food topper for added health benefits.
Benefits:
Lean Beef- The fat in beef can help your dog feel full and the vitamins and minerals help keep your pup’s coat shiny and healthy.
Tomatoes – Low in calories, high in fiber and vitamins for improved digestion
Leaf Lettuce- Powerful amounts of antioxidants and chlorophyll for improved immune function
Fingerling Potato- Loaded with potassium and magnesium for nervous system function
Sesame Seeds – High in calcium to help create strong bones, copper to lend a hand in the fight against joint pain
About the Author
Samantha has spent the last 12 years dedicating her life to the health and wellness of animals. She has helped well over 1,500 cats and dogs live their happiest and healthiest lives through proper, biologically appropriate nutrition, supplementation, and exercise. She gives pet owners the tools and education they need to help their furry family members. She started Next Generation Pet Wellness as a way for people to get unbiased information about pet nutrition.
April: “Eggstra” Special Topper
by Samantha Henson, licensed Clinical Pet Nutritionist and founder of Next Generation Pet Wellness
Have some leftover hard-boiled eggs from the Easter bunny? Let’s put them to good use!
This topper features some of the best ingredients spring has to offer and should leave your pup with a hop in his step.
Ingredients:
– 2 hard-boiled eggs
– 6 ounces chicken breast
– 1 large carrot
– 3 tbsp chopped fresh wheatgrass
– 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions:
1. Peel and chop the eggs. Add to mixing bowl.
2. Cook the chicken using your favorite cooking method, chop into bite-sized pieces, add to bowl.
3. Cut the carrot into bite-sized pieces and steam or cook until soft enough to puree.
4. Add the carrot, wheatgrass, and parsley to a food processor or blender and blend until well broken down. (feel free to add water or bone broth if needed)
5. Fold everything together until well mixed, store in refrigerator for up to 4 days.
6. Replace ¼ of your dog’s daily meals with this fresh food topper for added health benefits
Benefits:
Eggs – Packed with protein and rich in many essential amino and fatty acids, vitamins including A and B12, as well as folate, iron, selenium, and riboflavin. Eggs provide benefits ranging from improved skin and coat health to stronger teeth and bones.
Chicken – Great source of protein and amino acids used to build lean muscles in dogs. Even picky eaters typically eat foods with fresh chicken in them.
Carrots – Rich in Vitamin A, which supports eye health, boosts the immune system, and helps make your pet’s skin and coat healthier.
Wheatgrass – Effective digestive aid that can improve bowel health as well as provide antioxidant benefits throughout the body. Sweet taste that dogs love.
Parsley – One of the best natural sources of Vitamin K you can give to your dog. Vitamin K helps maintain a healthy blood clotting system and promotes liver health. Parsley is also rich in folic acids and antioxidants.
About the Author
Samantha has spent the last 12 years dedicating her life to the health and wellness of animals. She has helped well over 1,500 cats and dogs live their happiest and healthiest lives through proper, biologically appropriate nutrition, supplementation, and exercise. She gives pet owners the tools and education they need to help their furry family members. She started Next Generation Pet Wellness as a way for people to get unbiased information about pet nutrition.
Petworks Fresh Food Topper of the Month
March: Green Goodness Topper
by Samantha Henson, licensed Clinical Pet Nutritionist and founder of Next Generation Pet Wellness
St. Patrick’s Day is going to the dogs! In this healthy topper, we turn the almighty egg and some fabulous greens into a topper your pup is sure to love.
Ingredients
• 2 large eggs, free-range if possible
• 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
• 1 cup chopped fresh broccoli
• 1 tbsp plain greek yogurt
• 1 tsp organic coconut oil
Instructions
1. Heat coconut oil in a pan over medium heat, add the eggs and spinach and scramble until the eggs are no longer runny, add to mixing bowl.
2. Steam broccoli until soft enough to puree.
3. Add broccoli and greek yogurt to a blender or food processor and blend until well incorporated.
4. Fold everything together until well mixed, store in refrigerator for up to four days.
5. Replace ¼ of your dog’s daily meals with this fresh food topper for added health benefits
Benefits:
Eggs – Packed with protein and rich in many essential amino and fatty acids, vitamins including A and B12, as well as folate, iron, selenium, and riboflavin. Eggs provide benefits ranging from improved skin and coat health to stronger teeth and bones.
Spinach – Incredibly nutrient-rich superfood. Dense in iron and magnesium, as well as essential vitamins A, C, and E for improved circulation, energy levels, immune function, and more.
Broccoli – Highest level of vitamin K in dog-friendly vegetables. Vitamin K can help strengthen bone structure, help with cardiovascular health, and provide anti-aging benefits when given regularly.
About the Author
Samantha has spent the last 12 years dedicating her life to the health and wellness of animals. She has helped well over 1,500 cats and dogs live their happiest and healthiest lives through proper, biologically appropriate nutrition, supplementation, and exercise. She gives pet owners the tools and education they need to help their furry family members. She started Next Generation Pet Wellness as a way for people to get unbiased information about pet nutrition.
What Should I Feed My Newly Adopted Pet?
By Sarah Lyman, owner of Bonafide Pet Nutrition & Counseling
Whether you recently adopted a new puppy, kitten, adult dog, or cat, it’s important that you set your pet up for success with a healthy diet. This will ensure a strong and vibrant immune system — not to mention general health and well-being. Here are a few essential nutrition tips for pet parents who recently adopted a pet.
Keep Your Pet Safe During the Fall Months
by Dr. Karen and Rob Twyning, founders of Pet Loss At Home
A number of potentially poisonous substances come out of storage in the Fall. They include rat and mouse poisons, antifreeze and mothballs. Mushrooms and toadstools are also likely to pop up in Fall and can be deadly to pets as well. Take your pet to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect any type of poisoning.
The following are toxic food for dogs and cats:
1. Onions, garlic and chives
The onion family, whether dry, raw or cooked, is particularly toxic to dogs and can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage. Signs of illness are not always immediate and can occur up to a few days later.
2. Chocolate
However enticing chocolate is for humans and dogs alike, chocolate is another poisonous food for dogs. Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine (dark chocolate has the highest content of this) which is toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure.
3. Macadamia nuts
Macadamia nuts contain a toxin that can affect your dog’s muscles and nervous system resulting in weakness, swollen limbs and panting.
4. Corn on the cob
Corn on the cob could potentially be fatal if eaten by your dog. Although the corn is digested by dogs, the cob can cause a blockage in your dog’s intestine.
5. Avocado
Avocados are another poisonous food for dogs. Avocado plants contain a substance called Persin which is in its leaves, fruit and seed and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs.
6. Artificial sweetener (Xylitol)
Our desire for sweet treats, chewing gum and drinks together with low-fat, diet and sugar-free products (including some peanut butters so always check the label before using this as a treat) are often laced with an artificial sweetener called Xylitol which causes an insulin release in our bodies. However, if your dog digests one of these sweetened foods they can go into hypoglycaemia which is linked to liver failure and blood clotting disorders.
7. Alcohol
Alcohol has a huge impact on dogs even in small doses. The drink not only causes intoxication as it does in humans, but it can lead to sickness, diarrhoea and even central nervous system damage.
8. Cooked bones
Giving your dog a raw uncooked bone to chew on is great, but avoid cooked bones at all cost. These can easily splinter and in large quantities cause constipation or at worst, a perforation of the gut which can be fatal.
9. Grapes and raisins
Raisins are in many of the foods that we love to eat such as cakes, biscuits and cereals so it’s not just the fruit form we should be concerned with. The active ingredient which causes the toxin is unknown, however both grapes and raisins may cause severe liver damage and kidney failure.
What should I do if my dog has eaten any of these?
If consumed, even small amounts of these items can be fatal so always act immediately and take your dog to the vet.
About the Author
Pet Loss At Home was founded in 2002 by veterinarian, Dr. Karen Twyning. She was profoundly impacted after honoring the wishes of a client to euthanize her elderly cat at home. The experience was so very peaceful and beautiful, it is fixed in her memory. She left that home wondering, “Why is any pet euthanasia ever performed in a cold, sterile clinic?!” Since then, she’s been on a mission. With the help of her husband Rob, Pet Loss At Home is making home euthanasia service much more widely available nationwide.
For more information about Pet Loss At Home, please click here.
