The Honest Kitchen - pet food with a passion

December 31^st

Remember that fireworks, party poppers and balloons can be very startling to pets who aren’t seasoned party-goers. Reassure and confine your pet appropriately to help reduce stress. He might appreciate a nice juicy marrow bone to help take his mind off the festivities – and consider leaving a music CD or iPod on tonight if he’ll be home alone – the TV and radio will likely have the sound of yet more fireworks and startling noises on the countdown to midnight. Here’s wishing you and your animals a healthy, prosperous and peaceful new year!

December 30^th

Make time to rest. Exercise is excellent of course, but over-stimulation during the holidays can be a real bother, especially for younger pets who are easily jazzed up. If your pet tends to get ‘wired tired’ and excessively amped up with all the comings and goings of the holiday season, try to spend some quiet time together to get some much-needed R&R. A gentle walk in the fresh air followed by a snooze on the couch might be just what’s needed to get behavior back on track.

Young dogs in particular, need planty of rest during the busy holidays.

December 29^th

Take a hike! Heading out to the trails in your local area is a great way to explore natural habitats and benefit your health, plus spend quality bonding time with your hound – and it’s usually free of charge, too! At this time of year, many of us are far too sedentary but taking to the great outdoors can help to get the heart pumping, relieve holiday stress and burn a few holiday calories too.

December 28^th

Make Your own treats! Invest in some good quality ingredients (or use some that you already have on hand) and prepare some homemade cookies for your dog!  Not only does this save money on unnecessary packaging, but homemade treats are usually healthier for your too!  By making your own treats, you can tailor the recipe to suit your dog’s particular food sensitivities or dislikes – and you’ll know exactly what’s in them. Plus, homemade treats are infused with love and good intention – and will be so much more appreciated by your dog; you’ll know it by the way he sits and gazes at you while you’re mixing and baking for him. Dogs have an uncanny way of intuitively knowing something is for them!  Need some inspiration? Click here for some ideas.

December 27^th

If you haven’t been keeping up with your pet’s annual exams, now is a great time to make an appointment for a wellness checkup, which can catch many looming health problems in the making. Uncovering problems early can save money in the long run, because it’s often possible to use more moderate and less invasive approaches. Taking time to find out what health problems may be on the horizon for your dog can also shed light on preventive measures such as different food or supplements, which can slow down the progression of a disease like arthritis and possibly delay the use of costly prescription drugs. This approach is holistically better, too – many prescription drugs recommended by conventional vets have adverse side effects like upset tummies, which in western medicine, would be countered with – you guessed it – more costly prescription drugs!