Pet Health

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! If you’re hosting the holiday feast, you’ve got a lot going on these next couple of days. From decorating your house to last-minute food shopping (and then, of course, cooking the entire feast) you don’t have time for a lot of extra stuff right now. BUT, while you’re in the kitchen making yummy meals, why not take just a few extra minutes to whip up something special for your pooch (and any canine guests you may be hosting) ?!  Or, maybe you’re a guest and looking for a great holiday hostess gift! If you’re dining with dog lovers then homemade treats wrapped in a cute mason jar or pastry box is a great idea.  The dog treat recipes on this list all feature holiday-worthy ingredients and flavors. Plus, they don’t take a long time to prep. Happy baking! Turkey Pumpkin Gelatin Bites These wiggly, jiggly bites offer a texture that resembles Jell-O and a flavor that screams THANKSGIVING FEAST! They’re simply lean ground turkey  (...

People always ask me how I keep my toy Poodle’s eyes and face so clean. Since my Gigi’s fur is white as snow, trust me when I say: It’s a lot of work. If I’m not diligent, dark/rust-colored stains will quickly form. They start from the inner corners of her eyes and continue all the way down her snout. In fact, if you look back at photos of her from several years ago, you’ll clearly see these aggressive and unsightly streaks. Since I started home-grooming a little more than one year ago, I’ve made it my mission to always keep her face stain-free and clean. Here are two photos, showing how far we’ve come! Before we dive into the prevention tips that have worked for me, let’s go over what causes these rusty stains in the first place. What Exactly Are The Rusty-Looking Stains On My Dog’s Face? To put it simply, those rusty and sometimes stinky stains are dried up tears. In order for the eyes to stay healthy, lubricated, and protected, the body naturally produces a thin film of tear...

While dog treats should never replace well-balanced meals, I view reward-worthy moments and snack time as another opportunity to provide our pups with extra nourishment. That’s why, whenever I’m in recipe development mode, I select each ingredient carefully and purposefully. Today’s savory soft chews only call for a few simple ingredients: lean ground turkey  (a quality protein) , 100% pure pumpkin purée  (which offers up digest-aiding fiber) , and plain gelatin powder  (great for joints, digestion, hair, skin, and nails) .  Watch the recipe video above for a step-by-step guide to making these wiggly, jiggly treats. As you scroll, the video should stick to the bottom right side of your screen. You can also view the video on YouTube HERE! The Backstory These Turkey Pumpkin Gelatin bites are a spinoff of my Chicken Jello dog treats , which I first released more than a year ago. I originally created that recipe after my aging chihuahua, Diego, was diagnosed wi...

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree. How lovely are thy branches!  It’s that time of year again … time to crank up the holiday music, flip on the Santa movies, bake all the cookies, and decorate the Christmas tree. If you ask me, this truly is the most wonderful time of the year. As you start decking your halls, consider these pet-proofing tips to keep a Fido-friendly space.  1. Consider an Artificial Tree Heading down to the tree farm to pick out and chop down a real Christmas tree is always a fun holiday experience. But, if you have four-legged furkids then you may want to consider switching to an artificial tree.  With real trees, both fallen pine needles and chemical-laden water pose risks to our pups. A dog who ingests fallen needles can suffer damage to their intestinal tract. Plus, as for the water, chemicals added are toxic to pets and can be deadly if ingested.  If you aren’t sold on the idea of an artificial tree just yet, here are some other benefits:...

It happened again the other night. One of my dogs suddenly froze in the living room with her elbows spread apart and neck/head extended forward. As her body remained still, she began to let out loud snorting noises. While the moment seemed like a lifetime, the episode lasted around 30 seconds. Nope, she wasn’t choking. She was reverse sneezing. What Is Reverse Sneezing A reverse sneeze is pretty much exactly what it sounds like — it’s the opposite of a sneeze. So, just think about it… In a regular sneeze, air is pushed out through the nose. On the flip side, in a reverse sneeze, air is suddenly, quickly, and forcefully pulled in through the nose. It causes a very loud snorting or gagging sound. It’s one that could fool a pet parent into thinking their pup is choking or having an asthma attack. Just like in the scenario above, dogs tend to stand very still when they experience a reverse sneeze episode. You will often find their legs in a wide stance with the elbows tilted away fr...

The holiday season is quickly approaching and that means one thing —it’s time to parrrtttaaayyyy! Chances are, you’re going to attend a handful of holiday celebrations—starting with a food-filled Thanksgiving feast and ending with a New Year’s celebration. If you plan on bringing your pooch along to any holiday party then it’s a good idea to think about canine etiquette. Read on for some tips to make Fido a welcomed houseguest! Always Ask Permission First and foremost, never just show up to a holiday party with your canine’s leash in hand. Make sure to call your host/hostess first and ask if it’s okay for your four-legged family member to tag along. You never know if they’re inviting other guests who are allergic to dogs, if they have a dog who isn’t welcoming to other dogs, or they just don’t want the extra stress of looking after a furry visitor. Chances are, if you’re heading to a dog-friendly home then they’ll say yes. It’s just safer to ask first! Spiffy Up Just like you’ll ...

It’s November! As you decorate your home with pumpkins, turkeys, and other goodies for Thanksgiving, there are some other holidays us pet parents may want to observe. Here is a list of this month’s pet holidays and how you can celebrate!  ASPCA’S National Adopt A Senior Month Are you ready to expand your furry family? If so, consider taking a trip to your local animal shelter and adopting a senior canine! November is ASPCA’s Adopt A Senior Month. Did you know when people begin their search for a rescue dog, seniors are often overlooked? While many people dote over young pups, the truth is, senior dogs are an amazing addition to someone’s family! Most older pooches were someone’s pets prior to being in a shelter and, for some unfortunate reason, their former humans could no longer care for them. Potential benefits of adopting a senior: Older dogs tend to be calmer and more laid back than younger dogs They crave to be with you They’re often housebroken Senior dogs probably ...

If you’re a regular here at Proud Dog Mom then you probably know I’m a big believer in feeding my dogs fresh food filled with real meats and other whole ingredients. Just like with people, diet plays a large role in our dogs’ overall health and happiness. So, when it comes to mealtime, I try my best to offer my furkids an abundance of nutrients that will leave them feeling fueled and in tip-top shape. With all that said … If you feed kibble, many canine nutrition experts recommend bumping up their bowl with some fresh foods to replace nutrients lost during the high-heat processing. Here are some ingredients worth looking into! Sardines Sardines are tiny fish with a very big nutrient profile! In fact, they’re often called one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. They’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids  (these little guys are one of the best Omega-3 sources for our dogs since they aren’t high in ocean contaminants) , protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, selenium, calcium, and ...

Have you ever considered opening up your home to a foster dog in need? I recently asked my Instagram followers what type of dog-related reads they would like to see more of here on Proud Dog Mom and I quickly saw a trend in answers: Fostering! So, I immediately reached out to Rachel Fusaro, a popular dog vlogger ( she just hit over 100,000 subscribers on YouTube ) who is wildly passionate about pet health, animal welfare, and, you guessed it, fostering! Rachel has fostered animals her entire life, caring for more than 60 pups in search of a forever home. She’s even worked with rescue groups, helping to place foster animals with other caring families. You can watch my entire interview with Rachel in the video above (as you scroll, it should also stick to the bottom or side of your screen) . Below, I’ve also shared some highlights from our chat. First Steps “The way you can get involved in fostering is just reaching out to a local rescue group, shelter, humane society, pounds...

Now that my dogs are a bit older, they love taking afternoon snoozes.  (Which explains why I seem to be collecting dog beds and scattering them around my home.)  I recently shared a DIY tutorial for a fun teepee-style dog bed. If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out HERE. Those are a must-make for small dogs! Today, I’m back with another DIY dog bed tutorial. This time, it doesn’t require any sewing! DIY No-Sew Dog Bed If you scroll through Pinterest or YouTube , you’ll likely find this same DIY project. I’ve made a few adjustments that – while slight – make a big difference. For a complete step-by-step visual, watch the video at the top of this blog post  (as you scroll, it should also stick to the bottom or side of your screen) ! You can also see it on YouTube HERE. Dog Bed Sizing Guide X-Small – 17″L x 15″W Small – 24″L x 18″W Medium – 30″L x 21″W Large – 36″L x 23″W X-Large – 42″L x 28″W XX-Large – 48″L x 30″W What You’ll Need 2 Pieces of F...