Happy, Healthy Holidays!
It's just about impossible to forget our furry friends during the holidays. This year, why not treat your pet to some healthy, nourishing homemade food or treats to show how
much you care?
In addition to some fabulous seasonal treat recipes to make at home for the pups you love, this issue contains some valuable information on poisonous plants to avoid (some are especially prevalent during the holidays) and some homeopathic
tips to combat seasonal over-indulgences!
10% Off For Everyone!
In celebration of the holidays, we're offering 10% off all products, store wide in our online shop! This special offer will last only until Midnight on New Year's Eve! To
obtain your 10% discount simply enter coupon code THK10off in the designated area of the checkout process. We'll take care of the rest! (Be careful if you cut and paste the code, not to include any spaces as this will prevent it
from working. Grr!)
Delicious Holiday Recipes
This month we have two delicious treat recipes that your pup is sure to devour.
The first was devised by one of our customers, Amanda Johnson from Lakewood CO. Amanda and husband Bryan are guardians to Dexter, Hanako, Zephyr & QP. Here's the
scrumptious recipe she cooked up, which can be made with any of our Honest Kitchen diets.
Nutty Pumpkin Rounds
Ingredients
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup HK dry diet
Optional:
1/4 cup unsalted almonds -- finely chopped
Carob powder
In a small bowl, mix pumpkin and almond butter together using a fork. Mix in HK. Place in refrigerator for about an hour until, firm. With your hands, roll rounded teaspoonfuls of mixture into balls.
Optional: Roll balls in almonds or Carob powder, coating them evenly.
Place on cookie sheet in freezer. When completely frozen, pack into airtight containers and store in freezer.
Amanda states, "The plus is that the treat is grain free, egg free, and peanut free (with the use of the almond butter) so all my kids can eat them!"
Our second recipe was created by Jenna Hill, our very own Customer Service Director and baker extraordinaire!
Banana Pup-cakes!
Ingredients:
3 cups Embark
½ cup almond meal
1/4 cup sesame seeds
2 eggs
1 cup cold water
2 tbspn honey, nectar or molasses
2 bananas, mashed.
Optional:
Plain yogurt topping or cottage cheese.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pre-grease a 12 muffin, muffin pan (you can use butter or vegetable oil).
Combine in a bowl the Embark and the almond meal and sift together. Mix in the sesame seeds.
In a separate bowl whisk the eggs together at high speed for 3 minutes. Gradually add in honey and water.
Reduce the speed to low and add in the dry mixture cup by cup. Fold in chopped bananas.
Bake in oven for 25 minutes, until you can insert a toothpick and it comes out clean.
Let cool on a rack for 10 minutes.
Top with plain yogurt or cottage cheese if you'd like.
Serve 'em up - and feel ever so popular!!
Jenna's Boston Terriers, Texy & Roxy, were the willing taste-testers for this recipe!
Poisonous Plants
While many plants, herbs and botanicals can be valuable tools in a holistic approach to managing health, others are terribly toxic to our animal companions.
Here are just a few of the many plants that are poisonous to cats and dogs. This list is adapted from the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center materials. For a more extensive list, along with other
dangerous household substances click here
Lilies These popular flowers are considered to be highly toxic to cats. While the poisonous component has not yet been identified, it is clear that even ingesting a very small amount of the plant, can cause severe kidney damage.
Tulip / Narcissus bulbs These bulbs contain toxins that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.
Azalea / Rhododendron Members of this plant family contain substances known as grayantoxins, which can produce vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness and depression of the central nervous system in animals. Severe azalea poisoning
could ultimately lead to coma and death from cardiovascular collapse.
Oleander All parts of this attractive shrub are considered to be toxic, as they contain cardiac glycosides that have the potential to cause serious effectsincluding gastrointestinal irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia
and even death.
Cyclamen Cyclamen species contain cyclamine, but the highest concentration of this toxic component is typically located in the root portion of the plant. If consumed, Cyclamen can produce significant gastrointestinal irritation,
including intense vomiting. Fatalities have also been reported in some cases.
Sago Palm All parts are poisonous, but the seeds or "nuts" contain the largest amount of toxin. The ingestion of just one or two seeds can result in very serious effects, which include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures and
liver failure.
Kalanchoe This plant contains components that can produce gastrointestinal irritation, as well as those that are toxic to the heart, and can seriously affect cardiac rhythm and rate.
Yew This tree contains a toxic component known as taxine, which causes central nervous system effects such as trembling, in-coordination, and difficulty breathing. It can also cause significant gastrointestinal irritation and
cardiac failure, which can result in death.
What To Do If Your Pet Is Poisoned
- Don't panic but try to think clearly and work quickly.
- If you know what has poisoned your pet, take a moment to gather a sample along with any package labeling. Be sure to take the product container with you to your vet. Also, collect in any chewed or vomited material in a zip-lock bag.
- If you witness your pet consuming material that you suspect might be toxic, do not hesitate to seek emergency assistance, even if you do not notice any adverse effects. Sometimes, even if poisoned, an animal may appear normal for several
hours or for days after the incident.
Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435. There is a $55 consultation fee for this service.
The following information will be required when you call:
- the species, breed, age, sex, weight and number of animals involved
- the animal's symptoms
- information regarding the exposure, including the agent (if known), the amount of the agent involved and the time elapsed since the time of exposure.
If your animal is having seizures, losing consciousness, is unconscious or is having difficulty breathing, telephone ahead and bring your pet immediately to your local veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic. If necessary, he or she
may call the APCC.
Always consult a veterinarian or the APCC for directions on how and when to use any emergency first-aid item.
News from HK's HQ
If you live in Ohio, you're probably all too familiar with the legal battles we've been facing, to get our human-grade pets foods licensed in your state. We have
great news to report!
The Honest Kitchen has prevailed in its six-month lawsuit against Ohio Department of Agriculture. The department earlier this year refused to grant a license to our company, because the labels describe the our pet foods as ‘human food
grade'.
The court has ruled in favor of The Honest Kitchen, citing the company's right to truthful, commercial free speech.
The court determined that the labels were not in fact untruthful or misleading and ruled that The Honest Kitchen had a constitutional right to make truthful statements about the quality of its products, on the labels.
The Honest Kitchen has been the only pet food manufacturer in the United States to have proven to the Federal FDA that every ingredient it uses in its products are suitable for human consumption, and the products are manufactured in a
human food facility.
We'd like to say a big thank you to all the tremendously loyal customers in Ohio who sent their good wishes and words of encouragement, during the court case! Thanks for encouraging us to stand up for ourselves!
Eco Friendly Packaging is Here!
Have you seen our new boxes yet? We're in the process of rolling out our brand new, eco-friendly packaging! It reduces materials usage
and waste with a fine, recyclable ‘minimalist' and unprinted barrier bag that efficiently protects the food inside. The bag is fitted with a fold-down coffee tie to keep the food fresh after opening.
That bag is enclosed in a 100% recycled box made from unbleached kraft paperboard. The box is printed with soy- based inks and the finished product is 100% biodegradable or recyclable again after use, too. Hope
you like 'em!
Puppy Got a Tummy Ache?
Sometime, hounds eat just a little too much - especially during the holidays. If your pups eyes were bigger than his belly, or seasonal stresses have caused some GI discomfort, the following homeopathic remedies might offer a little relief. Of course, as always, this advice is not a substitute for expert veterinary care.
Arsenicum Album is one of the first remedies to consider for vomiting or diarrhea, especially if your pet is restless, chilly or thirsty. Arsenicum is often indicated for food poinsoning or garbage eating.
Nux Vomica is the remedy of choice for over-eating, garbage poisoning and other toxic conditions. The patient may be irritable and chilly with painful vomiting and diarrhea.
Ipecac is recommended for vomiting caused by over-eating rich food.
Pulsatilla may be helpful for vomiting of undigested food several hours after eating. Pulsatilla patients often crave fresh air, and are sweet but needy and love to be petted.
Holiday Giving
Throughout December, a portion of our profits will be donated to the Humane Society of the United States to assist companion animals less fortunate than our own.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
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