It's going to be 100 for the next couple of days and in the 90s the rest of the week in Portland. All of our dogs, except Duncan the Chihuahua, are panting like mad and refuse to move from the puddles of puppies they have created. Duncan has requested a margarita and a reflective mirror for sunbathing. By the end of the summer, Duncan should have a nice bronze George Hamilton glow.
Did you know that dogs don't sweat? It's the panting that helps them cool their head and to some extent their body. To help with that it seems a cool treat is in order: Ice Cream! Here's a simple ice cream recipe that your dog will love and will help them in the days ahead.
Pumpkin and a Bit More Ice Cream:
1 cup non-fat yogurt (which also supplies probiotics for digestion)
1 cup canned pumpkin (lots of fiber and vitamins - but this should be strictly canned pumpkin - NOT canned pumpkin pie filling)
2 boiled chicken livers, chopped (optional, but the liver is what your dog will appreciate most.)
Combine yogurt and pumpkin in a medium bowl and stir until well blended.
If using Chicken livers , chop into small pieces. (Save that broth you created by boiling for drizzling over dog food, it's okay to serve cold for an extra cooling treat.)
Distribute chicken livers among one ice cube tray. Pour over yogurt/pumpkin mixture and spread lightly. The lighter you spread it around, the more likely it is to be softer and easier for your dog to eat. You don't want it to become like a solid block of ice by packing the mixture down.
Freeze 8-12 hours. And serve to your dog outside or in a dog bowl. (It may be a little messy inside.) These are also create cool treats for stuffing a Kong and it will thaw a bit while your dog is trying to get it out.
Serving Sizes:
10 lb. dog: 1 ice cube per day
20 lb. dog: 2 ice cubes per day
40 lb. dog: 3 ice cubes per day
80 lb. dog: 6 ice cubes per day
Warm weather afternoons are also a great time for giving your dog a bath and watering your lawn at the same time! And it takes less time outdoors; I gave five dogs a bath in the space of 30 minutes on Sunday and they were so excited to be cooled down after a long hike. To make this even easier, hook one end of a leash around your ankle and the other to your dog's collar. Make sure you have a good treat nearby for a post bath "thank you treat."
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