Pumpking Carving - Do You Have the Guts?

It's that time of year and and over the next few days millions of pumpkins will meet their demise as we spill their guts all over the dining room table and transform the squashes into grotesque or humorous faces. One of the best parts of pumpkin carving is having all the seeds to toast.  Soak them overnight first and then follow my recipe for pumpkin pie seeds (for you).

That doesn't mean you have to leave your dog out of the fun or the treats.  When you separate the
stringy insides from the seeds, transfer them to you slow cooker along with any of the noses, eyes or goofy grins that you are discarding.  Just be sure to throw away any parts with mold, pen or pencil marks into the compost.  If you're carving 2-3 large pumpkins you'll easy end up with a pot full of pumpkin insides to fill the slow cooker.

• Sprinkle over 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and add 2-3 cups of water (you don't want it to be watery, just enough to keep everything steaming). 
• Put the lid on firmly, then set the slow cooker to low for 6-8 hours.  
• When it's soft and cooked down, mash with a potato masher or use an immersion blender to puree.  Freeze in 2-cup measurements for when your dog needs a little something interesting added to the bowl or to help firm up your dog's digestive system if diarrhea hits. 
• Feed Your Best Friend 2 tablespoons per 10 pounds per day. 

Pumpkin has a ton of beta-carote, Lutein+Zeaxanthin, and if filling even though it's low in calories. 

If you're looking for ideas for carving your pumpkin, use inspiration from these dogs.

Be Seen! It's Dark and Your Dog Still Needs a Walk.

This is the most difficult time for walking dogs. By the sun starts to shine in the morning, you're on your way to work. In the evening when you return home, it's already dark.

There are days when I get home later than planned, and it's just too dark and cold to go for a walk.  Then I think about what the dogs need.  Earlier in the morning they walked me to work and Gregory walked them home. For the next six to eight hours, Flynn and Frank are sequestered to the kitchen
while Duncan is given a respite from the others sleeping in his kennel, atop a heating pad.  (When we return home, Duncan is reluctant to leave his personal spa, and only does so when we mention that dinner is served.)

Most of the day the dogs are waiting for us  to return, anxious to experience the neighborhood and feel the fresh air whirl around them.  Fall evenings seem to ramp up their excitement because musty smells abound and the tracks of squirrels criss-cross our path. I know that I owe it to my boys to take them for a walk despite the hour or the lack of visibility.

Before I leash up the dogs, I search my wardrobe for a jacket. I'm looking for  color and brightness; the lighter the color the better. I also dress for warmth, using an underlayer. Dressing requires a planning for the event; I want to be seen, so darker underlayers are definitely less important than what people see.  Think about your neighborhood; how far do you walk between streetlights and how well are you seen?  More importantly, at intersections how well are you lit up.  The weather comes and goes, but in the rain will a driver's vision be obscured? When you are driving around, how well do you see other pedestrians?  When they are wearing dark clothing, it's pretty difficult. It's time to ante up and make sure that both you and your dog can be seen. Walks are essential no matter the season or weather, here are some of my favorite ideas to keep you both safe.

Headlamps: Okay, I'm a little vain. When I run into neighbors, I don't want to be the dork with a headlamp on my forehead. Instead, I strap a headlamp to my bicep and position it so that I can direct it around and see the "items" that I need to pick up. Here's a number of alternatives from amazon.com.


There are also some great alternatives that send a flashing light to signal to both other dog walkers and car drivers that say "Hey, watch out! I'm walking here."

At the minimum consider a reflective leash. (Quite honestly, I'd rather have you wearing a visible light.)

No matter how dark it is, your dog needs a walk.  When you're out and about, please be safe and visible.

Just so you know: I provide the amazon.com links above so you can search out quality products for yourself. I haven't tested all the products provided in the search results, but want you to find the product that works best for you and keeps you safe. No advertising or link fees are received, they are simply suggestions. If you find something you love, let me know.

Study Break

Since the first of the year I've been either holed up in the office at work or in my home office where I'm surrounded by piles of books on nutrition. Progress on my next book (Chow! Feed the Foods You Love to the Dogs You Love) has been good, but I feel the pressure of the impending deadline.  I have been working every weekday evening and throughout the weekend to complete something which I hope will be a benefit to dogs and the people who love them. 

Last night I completed two large phases of my research and find myself a little giddy with what has been accomplished.  With sufficient notes taken, it was time to clear my desk of the fifteen books I've borrowed from the library. (Total books referenced to date is over 50.)  So this morning I did a clean sweep of the office and went about running errands.  It was time for a study break.

I ran into the store owner of a local pet food store and we exchanged ideas and she sent me home with fermented fish stock to try and give her my feedback. It's an interesting idea, but I'm eager to learn more why it may be beneficial to dogs.  I stopped at the library to return my books and found another three books to add to my knowledge base. Later I ran into a local bookstore and pillaged their shelves for another four books with interesting concepts. I'm eager to see what gems I can pull from each volume. 

As I drove down my street I saw neighbors tending to their yards and stopped to talk with them. Watching my neighbors I caught the gardening bug.  There would be no more research or writing done today. 

After unpacking my books and a few groceries, I grabbed my gardening gloves and pruners and went on gardening blitzkrieg. Frank & Flynn rolled in the grass and sunned themselves while I made a concerted effort at removing the debris of fall and winter.  With a few hundred snips the hydrangeas are now displaying the promise of minute green buds rather than the dead blossoms of last summer.  Tending for the garden pays me back similar to the way that caring for the dogs does; although I exert an extra effort, if I'm patient and take the time to notice the progression through the seasons I'm rewarded by the changes I see. I talk to the dogs and ask them what they are doing, then interrogate sprouting plants that surprise me with their new location. 

I call out to the dogs to see what they're doing; Frank is tossing a ball into the air for himself while Flynn is chasing a fly.  I watch them chase each other and follow each other around the yard and feel pleased that I'm not in such a hurry that I miss just watching them being dogs. When the wind picks up and rustles through Frank's coat I spy him lifting his nose to capture the scents blowing by. I'm charmed not only by vision of Frank's locks tumbling in succession from nose to tail but by the pure pleasure he receives from enjoying the wind. Flynn meanwhile has found a sunny spot that is shield from the wind by our outdoor furniture and he's leisurely reclined in the sun.

With my work done I decide to teach Frank (the new dog) a favorite game.  I toss a ball onto the roof, where it rolls down so that they can catch it. Flynn is familiar with the game and dashes off to retrieve the fluorescent yellow ball. Frank meanwhile acts like I'm some kind of magician and insists on a thorough investigation of my hands. He's obviously puzzled about how the ball can just disappear when suddenly it reappears in the jaws of my assistant; across the yard Flynn has somehow made the ball materialize.  We play the game a few more times and Frank just doesn't catch on, he's not tracking the ball and becomes more insistent on smelling my hands, demanding to know how I perform this trick.

The weather feels more like March at 55 degrees than last weekend's April-like 65 degrees. I'm unsettled by the unseasonable temperatures but with an approaching storm in the next week, I know that I need to make the most of it. I take a long walk with the dogs so we can soak up the sun and stop to talk with neighbors. Then we come home to nap. I didn't get enough work done today on my book, but I feel more accomplished in living a good life and enjoying the companionship of my dogs.

Today I studied on how to take a break.

Time for a Haircut

My old Barber moved, without leaving me an indication where to find him, and I needed to get a haircut before leaving on a business trip. We booked at a new place and I hoped for the best. Traffic was a bear and I spent an extra 15 minutes giving instructions to other drivers. I am not sure whether or not they heard me since both our car windows were rolled up. 

As I walked in 15 minutes late, I met my barber. He was cool about my tardiness and handed me a beer. I sat down and explained what my last barber did and he swirled me away from the mirror and went to work. A few minutes and a reversed swirl later I was amazed at what he had done. All of my hair was gone. (Stubble does not count.) He apologized, but there wasn't much to be done about it other than to make the remainder match and finish the beer.

Shorn more deeply than a lamb, I left in shock.

 

During dinner we talked about the weather; with temperatures climbing over one-hundred or at the minimum the high nineties. Flynn and Duncan, having very short coats would be in heave. Frank however, was already panting heavily and the temperature was only in the low eighties. I decided that Frank needed a haircut.

Up until this point Frank has not let us clean his eyes or inspect a paw. There have been snaps and angry growls with even the hint of something other than a pet or a scratch. Not everybody agreed a haircut was a good idea, but I figured it would help Frank.

Inside the house, I let him smell the clippers. He was okay with that. 

I ran the clippers, unplugged, through his hair. It was weird, but he was okay with it. Then we went outside, and I plugged the clippers in and held it away from his face so he could smell it. Still, good with it. I turned the clippers on and Frank gave me a sideways glance, obviously not as sure about the buzzing. Nervously, I started to run the clippers through the hair of his back.

Good boy, Frank." I reassured him. His eyes told me this was an odd experience for him. Frank just stood still while I continued running the clippers through his back and mentioning the reasons why this would be beneficial; "It is going to be really hot Frank, this will feel good." "You're going to look great. All the chicks love a sharp looking guy."  Despite being a little tense, there was no indication that a growl or bite were likely as long as I kept talking.

 "Does it tickle, Frank" Even without his collar on, Frank stood still. The back, sides, legs and undercarriage were taken in stride. When I neared the top of his head and eyebrows, Frank tried to follow the motion of the clippers with his eyes. It seemed likely that his eyes were going to roll back into his head as he watched the movements of my hand.

 

I talked so much through the haircut that I'm sure Frank was tired of hearing me talk. Kind of like when you go to a stylist and they have to tell you about their day -- when you also have had a day. Frank stood relatively motionless; with a small turn to the side as I completed each part of his body. Was he telling me to make sure it was even?

 

I took extra time on the ears and neck, actually stalling to give me some time before moving on to the muzzle. With a pile of fur at our feet and nothing else to trim it was time to trim his face. Frank and I both stiffened as I was caught in the first tangle. I reversed the trimmer and took off the guide; the remainder would have to be done with trust and without a guide.

"You're looking good, Frank." I doubt he even understood what I was saying since he was standing completely frozen. Nevertheless, I kept talking to him and slowly stroked away tangles, matts and what I think was evidence of breakfast. Frank was looking pretty dapper I could only find a couple spots I wanted to touch up.  Frank however had enough and started to move away. I caught him with my hand and we locked eyes. Rather than looking into a mirror to see if he was done, Frank looked into my eyes and asked if he could go. 

I dropped my hand from his collar and Frank turned away. After three cycles of vigorous shakes, Frank went looking for a ball. It was time to celebrate. Tearing through the yard, Frank was pleased with his new haircut. He must have been able to feel the wind rushing through a little bit better. Even if the wind was only at his meager three miles an hour.

Frank not only looks more like a puppy, he's acting more like a puppy. My hair was cut by a licensed professional, and his was cut by an amateur -- and he still looks better than me. I'm pretty impressed with Frank's patience and believe that every little experience like this builds on the trust we are establishing. And me? I'm still looking for a new barber to trust.

 

Raleigh 2005-2014

Three weeks ago we went to cabin for a week and spent our time hiking, napping and exploring with Raleigh and Flynn. It was Gregory's fall break from teaching and it just so happened to coincide with Raleigh's 9th birthday on October 14th. We decided it would be a great way to celebrate her birthday and life.  On Sunday, two days into our vacation, Raleigh become extremely ill and I was worried that  she wouldn't make it to her birthday only two days away. I held her all night and prayed for two things; that she would make it to her birthday so just the two of us could go on a hike and that when it was Raleigh's time, her last moments would be at the home she's known all her life. Somebody was listening, because the next day Raleigh bounced out of bed and was eager to get out and play.  

We went on our birthday hike through a wilderness glowing green with moss and ferns. As we hiked higher the air turned silver from clouds streaking in through the trees. We heard birds hiding in the treetops until we reached the crest of our hike and the sounds of birds were far below. We had ascended to a height that birds dare not consider and we pushed on.  Raleigh led our expedition with an eager trot and maintained a close eye on me, looking back every ten to twelve steps to ensure I was keeping up.  When I stopped to tie my shoe or fiddle with the camera, she came back to grab the leash and pull me onward. My pants became a gauge of the time; in the first half hour the underbrush had soaked the cuffs, as it started to rain the dampness climbed to my shins, my knees and soon my thighs until my pants weighed three times their original weight. Water ran off Raleigh's fur and when she "did her boogie" the effort of the rainclouds looked meager in comparison. The rain didn't bother us, we just pushed onward breathing a little harder due to the elevation and our exhilaration.  When we made it back to the car, I cut open a watermelon (my birthday present to Raleigh) with a pocket knife until red juice was dripping down the front of her while water continued to pour down the back of her.  

It was my favorite hike I've ever shared with Raleigh.  Her look of devotion afterwards told me she might feel the same. 

A week ago, Raleigh stopped eating. I tried every trick in the book (you know the one) and any tricks that I plan on putting in the next book. She adamantly refused all food. Despite an empty stomach,  Raleigh was getting sick rather regularly. Yet she still wanted to go for our nightly walks, so we continued those. As we reached each street corner Raleigh stopped grabbing the leash to "hold my hand" as we crossed. I asked her again and again, but she just continued looking forward. Her message was clear, she was okay to walk alone. She waited for my "ok, go!" and trotted slightly ahead of me. 

On Tuesday night Raleigh walked with vigor and rolled in the green grasses soaked in rain with her usual joy. When we returned home, we cuddled on the couch for a few hours.  I read a book with one hand and concentrated on massaging her with the other. Slight groans of contentment stopped when I turned a page and continued when Raleigh nudged my hand and I returned to my work. In the middle of the night Raleigh became extremely ill and it was obvious our shared time was coming to a close. 

I gently carried Raleigh to the guest bed, her favorite napping spot and called a veterinarian to come to the house. We lit some candles and cleaned Raleigh up then spent hours cuddling her and telling her what a good girl she is. Raleigh's gaze stayed fixed on my own until the veterinarian gave her the first injection to ease her pain and slowly make her consciousness fade. Raleigh stretched and groaned with pleasure as the pain lifted from her body then returned her gaze to my own. I urged her to go find Jackson, Chloe, Baxter and the dogs of friends that we had known. However, I kept repeating, "Go Find Jackson."  Before she lost consciousness, I told her for the last time, "ok, go!" Raleigh looked at me, took a deep breath, exhaled and fell asleep. 

We were blessed to have Raleigh for the extra months and we had our best summer and fall ever filled with adventure.  We are very grateful to Two Rivers Veterinary Clinic and the Veterinary Cancer & Surgery Specialists for making it possible for us to have the extra time with our loving, intelligent, funny, loyal and beautiful companion. A piece of me has died with her but a piece of her will always live within me. 

Thank you to everyone for your support and prayers. Mine were answered, I believe in part because I wasn't the only one making the request. I would like to propose a toast to Raleigh. Please fill your dog's Kong with treats and vegetables like I'd do for her and tell your dog's it's in honor of my girl.  

I'll end with a song that I used to sing to her:

You are my sweet little girl.

You are not just a dog.

You're one quarter dog.

And one quarter girl.

You're one quarter boy.

And one quarter squirrel.

I love you my, girl.

Daily Servings of Supplement Stew

I'm pleased that so many readers use the Supplement Stew in Feed Your Best Friend Better and have received quite a few questions on how it can be used.   Ideally, I'd just mix it into a finished batch of food by adding 1/3 cup of Supplement Stew into the book's completed meal recipes along with  2/3 cup water to help balance out the calories.  However, some people have asked about how they can add Supplement Stew to other meals they make.  Below is a guideline.  

• You don't necessarily have to add water to balance out the calories, because you're really just adding calories. This also means needing to cut back a bit on meal size. However, adding water does help it mix in better.

• If you're heating food, add the Supplement Stew after the meal is heated.

• Supplement Stew should NOT be added to commercial diets as they are already highly supplemented.

Feed Your Best Friend Better,
Rick

Bugged by Poor Product Quality

Like many people, sometimes life is too busy to make homemade treats for the dogs. I'm sure you wouldn't expect that I buy store bought treats, but sometimes I want to reward the dogs with something that I know they will enjoy even if I'm strapped for time.  When I do buy homemade treats, I make sure that they are made in the U.S.A. and are primarily meat based.

A few weeks ago I ordered the Smokehouse 100 Percent Natural Munchies made of lamb lung from amazon.com. When the ordered arrived, I opened the package and we celebrated the arrival with a few chunks in the dog's kongs. The package was a full pound which volume-wise was about a gallon. There's no way that we could go through the entire package in a short time so I took out a few handfuls and put into a ziploc bag because we were going on vacation.  The bulk of the treats went into an airtight container and remained sealed until last night.

I have been giving the dogs the treats every few nights and was just about at the end of the contents of the siphoned off quantity (which had been transferred to another airtight container when we arrived back from vacation).  Last night I gave Raleigh a piece and then went to find a smaller piece for Duncan (our Chihuahua) when I noticed a couple bugs, the likes of which I have never seen before in my house or my yard. Then I went to the backup container and checked and it was crawling with bugs and little brown worms. I took a picture through the bottom of the container, but quite honestly you can only see one bug.  I wasn't going to open this in my house.   I threw all the product into a plastic bag and sealed it tightly.

When I went to amazon.com to report the problem and request a refund, what I discovered disturbed me even more.  We ordered the product on October 2nd and amazon.com had already received another review of the product complaining of bugs on September 26th, also from a customer in Portland.  The reviewer posted better pictures than I did and it's the same bugs. Another customer left a review last night of the same problem.  Apparently the incubation period of the bugs is over.

I would have hoped that amazon.com would have pulled the product when the issue was first raised, but I also understand that they sell millions of products and I doubt that every review is read by an amazon.com staffer to notice such issues. In addition, this product is fulfilled by a company called Ozbo, so it's not completely under their control. Today I called amazon.com and asked them to check their inventory and pull the product as well as inform me of the results of their investigation. I fully expect that amazon.com will react appropriately now that they have been advised and will provide an update when I learn more.  (Update, just 45 minutes after talking with an amazon.com representative: I just received an e-mail that they are asking their pet food team to investigate and the product will not be available for purchase. Thank you, amazon.)

I've also written to http://www.smokehousepet.com and asked them for a recall of their product.

Our dogs have been fed these products for three weeks, and now I worry that they need to go through a round of deworming or if they will suffer any additional problems due to these bugs. Raleigh is already fighting cancer, she doesn't need another health crisis piled on top of it.

When Raleigh was diagnosed with cancer, I made a vow that our dogs would never touch commercial dry food again. I used to believe a half commercial/half homemade diet could be okay, but no longer. With this incident my faith in the oversight of commercial dog food and treats is shaken even further. It only takes me 30 minutes to put together most homemade treats, plus a little extra time for baking and heck, something as simple as a carrot doesn't need any preparation.  It may not be as convenient to make homemade treat as it is pulling something from a bag, but at least I know that when I do make treats I can trust the quality.

Feed Your Best Friend Better,

Rick