Every dog owner should have two things at hand at all times in case of the puppy runs:
- Anti-Diarrhea medication (kaolin/pectin). I usually get the generic formula at Petsmart or Petco. Kaolin is the anti-diarrhea component, while pectin coats and soothes the digestive tract.
- Canned pumpkin. And NOT pumpkin pie mix! Nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice don't do anything to soothe their tummies. Canned pumpkin can be found in the baking aisle of your local supermarket. Some specialty pet stores will also carry them although they will cost you slightly more. And if you have small dogs like I do, one can will usually be too much.
Canned pumpkin is pumpkin in puree form. It is a good source of dietary fiber and provides bulk for your pup's digestive tract. It is low in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol. It is also a good source of Vitamin E, magnesium, and phosphorus. Some vets even recommend canned pumpkin for weight loss in dogs. Pumpkin will absorb the excess water present in the digestive tract. This makes your dog’s stool more firm and results can be seen within a few hours. I've been told to give your small dog one and a half to two teaspoons of canned pumpkin. For a larger dog, give two tablespoons instead.
If anyone has witnessed a parent attempt to give cough syrup to their child, you'll know of the lengths of trickery that sometimes parents have to go through to administer meds. My furbabies are no exception. Watch:
See? Trickery needed. One thing I've learned living with these puppies is that they can't turn down anything cooked in the kitchen. So I concocted up pumpkin treats with canned pumpkin.
You will need:
1/2 of 15oz. can of pumpkin (makes about 50 treats)
2 tsp peanut butter
1 egg
non-stick canola oil spray
1 cup of brown rice four (see below)
I used Bob's Red Mill Whole Grain Brown Rice Flour. I found it in the gluten-free area at Walmart, but I'm sure it is readily found at Whole Foods or other organic shops. Many, many dogs have wheat and corn allergies and brown rice flour is a great alternative to wheat flour. Next time I need to buy more, I will pick up Bob's Red Mill potato flour. I try to feed my dogs a grain-free diet and their food, Orijen, is excellent and uses potato as the binder for their food.
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, mix the pumpkin, egg, and peanut butter. (I added the egg and peanut butter because the pumpkin has the consistency of apple sauce and would otherwise require TONS more flour). Add enough flour so that your mixing spoon can stand on its own, about a cup or so.
Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Spread the batter onto the cookie sheet and flatten with your hands. It's been my experience that pumpkin will only cling to a rolling pin, so I've had to use my hands. Once flat on the cookie sheet, use the tip of a silicone spatula to cut the batter into squares. The edges don't have to be perfect.
Bake for 20 minutes. The center and bottoms of the treats will still be a little moist. Flip them over and bake for another 10-15 minutes. You can finish tearing them off into individual treats at this time.
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| I think I've caught someone's attention... |
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| Chip..would you like one? Are you sure? |
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| Alright, alright. You can have one. |
This recipe made about 50 treats. You can add bananas and applesauce with additional flour if you'd like, but my gullible puppy liked it with peanut butter. I added a dash of garlic powder for more aroma, but it's not necessary.
IMPORTANT: These treats will need to be refrigerated as there are no preservatives in them. My first batch, when stored in a Ziploc bag on the kitchen counter, started to mold after one week, so I highly recommend refrigerating them.
I hope your puppies like them as much as mine do!
