Homemade Dog Food for Arthritis

So I'm finally posting this dog food recipe after being asked many times.

I can't tell you enough how happy I am that I finally started my dog on this recipe as I noticed changes in them immediately! 

I have a 7 tear old Rottweiler (Nikita shown below with our other guy Levi) that has had shoulder injuries and joint issues since she was 3. 

Nikita doesn't have hip displasia and the condition comes and goes so we have just tried to take the best care of her that we could. We have always fed our dogs the best food, top quality supplements and fish oils and tried to keep their weight down. We have always been super active so in the last year when her mobility really went down we were at a loss. Some days she was is so much pain and we hadn't even walked her!

 The Vet said Nikita has arthritis in her shoulder and she needs to lose weight. I was at a loss because she could barely walk at this point so I realized I needed to change the way we were feeding them.  

I then started doing some serious research online and hit my Natural Remedy Veterinarian Books. 

This recipe has been adapted from "The Veterinarians Guide To Natural Remedies For Dogs" by Martin Zucker, which is super easy to read and follow and has some great info.

I call this Dog Stew because that's what it looks like and tastes like! 

(I've even eaten it myself for lunch it's pretty good)

Original Recipe

8 cups of water
I lb of lamb or beef
1 cup of celery
2 cups of carrots
2 cups of spinach, kale or greens
3 cloves of garlic
1 1/2 cups of barley
1/2 cup of rice
1/2 cup of lentils
1 cup of parsley
1 cup of fresh/dried nettles
1/2 cup dried rosehips (seeds removed)


Updated Dog Stew Recipe

8 cups of water
1 cups of celery

2 cups of carrots
2 medium zucchini
2 sweet potatoes

2 cups of spinach/kale or greens

3 cloves of garlic

1 1/2 cups of pearl barley or quinoa

1/2 cup lentils
1/2 cup of fresh parsley

1 cup of fresh/dried nettles

1/2 cup dried rosehips or apples or cranberries

Combine carrots in a large pot with the water and bring to a boil, then add the barley or quinoa and simmer as you chop and add the rest of the ingredients. You can add more water if needed at the end but it should be quite thick when done.

next I usually add the sweet potatoes, squash or zucchini, whatever I have in the house

I let these simmer for 5 minutes then add the rest of the ingredients;
kale, apples, nettles, peas

I then turn off the burner and cover the pot with a lid and let the rest of the ingredients steam.
I don't want to boil all of the nutrients out of the food. I let cool on the stove then put into glass sealable bowls for freezing/refrigeration.

All of these ingredients are naturally alkaline and anti-inflammatory. I add the rosehips/cranberries/apples for Vitamin C and the Nettles for the minerals and nutrients and they are excellent for joint pain.

where to buy nettles and rosehips here: bulk herbs

This makes a lot of stew so I let this cool then freeze half at a time, I often even make 2 large pots and freeze them.

I mix and match with the ingredients with what I have in the house or garden but try to stay consistent with what I find is the "base" of the recipe, which is the barley, quinoa, minimum of 2 cups of fresh greens, vegetables and the parsley. 

Other than that I sometimes put in squash in place of carrots and I've used a variety of vegetables, such as, cauliflower, broccoli, bok choy, most cruciferous veggies are good for dogs.

Never feed dogs grapes, raisins, avocado, chocolate or macadamia nuts!

This is such a beautiful stew! I love giving this to my dogs knowing they are eating well.
Plus it makes it super easy to add medications to their food.

This whole pot costs around $14 if it's all organic and feeds both my dogs for a week, mixed with dry kibble. I give them 1/2 cup of dry kibble and 1 cup of stew 2X daily and they both look so good and have lost weight.
Nikita (Rottweiler) has a very sensitive digestion and usually a lot of gas but on this food her poop has never been so normal looking, solid and consistent and almost no gas. 

And they love the food! they can't wait for feeding time and it's easy for me to add their supplements to.

For Nikita I also add a glucosamine with MSM and a Calcium carbonate supplement. I recommend doing your own research and discussing any changes with your Vet. 

I would also suggest just starting your dog on the new food regime first then adding supplements one by one with a few weeks in-between so you can see what is working or not.  

Nikita now has more energy so I can walk her again because with her arthritis she needs to keep moving. 

Short daily walks keep her fit and keeps her mobile. We also gently stretch her out at home on the floor and give regular massages. When she's having a hard day like when it's extra damp and cold out we just play inside. I try to keep a close eye on her when we walk because she wants to go forever, she has no sense of when she needs to stop and if I overdo it she pays the price limping in pain for 2-5 days after. For these times I give her Arnica homeopathic pellets which seem to heal her up faster and help with the pain and inflammation.

I wish I had started all of my dogs on homemade food a long time ago but I always thought it was going to be labour intensive and expensive. It only takes me about 2 hours a week and saves me around $30 a month in food bills for them! (never mind the Vet bills) Plus they are healthier and happier than ever!

From now on this is how I will feed all of my dogs, unless I find an even better recipe! I'll keep you posted;)

UPDATE ON THIS RECIPE!!!

An Update on this recipe...

I am now feeding my dogs 3/4 wet homemade dog food to 1/4 dry kibble and make the food without meat so I can rotate different options of protein into each meal. I am using more fish, such as canned salmon and sardines, this helps to keep their weight down and supply omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA that are good for the skin and coat. In addition, they help regulate the immune system and reduce inflammation.

I will also add one eggs a couple of times a week, my dogs are 80 and 100lbs so I will add a whole egg per dish of food. Yogurt is also a nice treat for them and good for digestion.

Keeping their weight down is always a challenge so I have decreased the barley and lentils to add more quinoa, squash, raw apples and carrots, fresh peas, blueberries and greens.

Try different things out on your dogs to see what they like. 

Never feed dogs grapes, rasins, chocolate, coffee, caffeine, avocado's or macadamia nuts

and try to limit fat scraps.



Here is a pic of the homeopathic pellets that I have my Rottweiler on that make the biggest difference in her mobility.

I started her on 2 pellets 2x day for a month and now keep her on 2 pellets once a day. I have tried to reduce to 3x a week and she started limping.

These pellets can be found at most health food stores or try looking online. I use rhus toxicodendron  30c and bryonia alba 30c

Remember she is a 100lb Rottweiler so consult your vet or health professional before giving your pet any medications for specific amounts.

That's all for now, good luck and keep me posted on any updates or great tips you may have as well.

Get Creative With Terrariums

Seems like terrariums are all the rage lately so a friend and I wanted to make some for Christmas gifts.

I was surprised when I looked into the "how to" at how creative some people got with theirs and decided to have some fun with mine.

The basics are pretty easy. Start with any glass bowl, I found some interesting ones at the thrift store. You can also buy a specific terrarium bowl but they are pretty pricey.

Then add a layer of rocks, charcoal, sand and/or soil depending on the plants you are using.

You can get all of these at any gardening store.

I also used pretty rocks that I have collected and some marbles 

So here they are!

This fun beach scene is for my friends that just got married in Mexico on the beach

I really liked this vase I found and picked the plants to fit. They are nestled in reindeer lichen and I got the cool shells at an eclectic store here in San Francisco.

For obvious reasons this one stole the show! I created a Star Wars battle scene for my husband

I got the figurines online from amazon and the cool "living stones" plants from a store 

on Etsy (acorndesignsource) and the black sand is from our local beach

And I squished the leftover air plant into this tiny bottle using a pencil to arrange everything

I made all of these for the same cost of buying a terrarium kit or buying an already 

made one from the store plus my friend made a couple too,

 and you can get creative and really personalize them.

They are also pretty easy to take care of just spray with water once a week 

and keep in filtered light.

So get inspired and have fun with your terrarium!

Easy Handmade Gift Ideas - Infused Herbal Oils

This Infused Herbal Oil is so easy to make and requires no cooking!

Will last up to 1 year so keep on hand for last minute gift giving.

This oil will get stronger as it steeps

You will need: Large bottle of Olive Oil, Head of Garlic, Mixed Peppercorns, Pink Peppercorns, Chili Flakes, Sprigs of Thyme and Rosemary and Decorative Bottles

First add peppercorns, garlic, chili flakes, rosemary and thyme into bottles, next fill with olive oil

Put on cap, label or wrap with ribbons, etc....

These oils will get stronger as they steep so I advise using within 6 months.

Keep away from direct heat and sunlight for a fresh tasting oil

Use in stir-fry's, salad dressings, pour over roasted chicken or pot roast, or use as a bread dip with balsamic vinegar.

I added the pink peppercorns for a festive look, all ingredients are optional and to taste.

Other flavors to consider....lemon peel and ginger, garlic parsley and sundried tomato... 

Easy Handmade Gift Ideas - Chocolate Vanilla Honey

Here is another easy homemade gift idea that doesn't cost a lot and looks and tastes great. Have them on hand for last minute gift giving. Plus you can enjoy if you have leftovers.

 Chocolate Vanilla Honey

I used 3 cups local raw honey, 1 cup dark chocolate chips, and 3 vanilla beans

 first add honey on low heat, next add chocolate chips and vanilla beans cut in half.

stir continually until melted, then pour into jars while hot.

Do not scorch or boil the honey.

Cut vanilla beans from the pot to size and add to the jars, let cool and secure lids.

Make your own handwritten labels, ribbons, etc...

Great poured over pancakes, muffins, cookies, coffee cake or in coffee.

Experiment with different flavors....Chamomile Vanilla honey great in herbal tea's or Lavender Honey

I got these cute jars online from Specialty Bottle Supply

http://www.specialtybottle.com/

Working In A Good Way, Traditional Teachings

I recently had to take a break from my work due to health reasons and a deep spiritual heartache. This proved to be very difficult as when I'm in pain all I want to do is pour myself into my work.

But all the teachings I have been given have shown me that when working with your hands and especially when working with medicine you must be in a good way, if not physically, especially mentally and spiritually and I definitely was not. Everything that is in your heart, mind and body goes into what you do. This is a way of life that I respect and try to follow.

I know you're thinking you can't just take a break from work whenever you are sick or not in a good way, but this is exactly what we must do to take care of ourselves. This kind of stress in our lives and in our bodies will make us sick in the future, maybe to the point where we cannot work at all. It has happened to me before so now I take the teachings seriously.

So as I sat contemplating my increasingly depressing situation, trying to make sense out of it I thought of my teachings and of all those women that gone before me, that have certainly gone through worse; my Mother, my Aunties, my Grandmother and so on....
I find it completely amazing and comforting to know that they have all long since passed yet they continue to teach me and guide me whenever I need them.

So I would like to share some of these teachings with you that have helped me through some tough times.

First:
- Try to keep your hands busy. Although I could not make medicine at this time I could make other things or just get caught up on sewing, baking and some general things that needed to be done that didn't take too much physical effort.

this is a headband I made out of a belt

- Clean up your work space or where you spend a lot of time, a messy home brings a messy life, is not just a metaphor, it is a traditional teaching.

 I know it may look cluttered but it's clean!

And Alphabetized! Well I was off for a whole week!

- Go out into nature. This is a big one for me, I try to get out every day even when the weather is nasty. It helps to show me my place in the world and understand that we all have a place, even if it's just to walk my dogs lol

Hard to be sad hanging around these two

Do something for someone in need. During this time I wrote a letter to the family we sponsor in Pine Ridge ND, asking if they need anything extra other than the monthly food order. Last year all the kids needed winter coats. This puts things in perspective for me, instantly grateful for my life today and remembering what it's like to struggle daily for food and shelter.

- And last but not least, talk to an elder. Again to put things in perspective. After talking to my Auntie I am always left with something to think about other than myself and usually a good laugh.

and a smile

And before you know it back to usual or even a little better, whatever that is for you!

Wopila! Many Blessings, Mitakuye Oyasin

Sweet and Savory Pumpkin Seeds

Caramelized Salty Pumpkin Seeds!

So good I'm going out to get more pumpkins just so I can make more!!!

Quick Pumpkin Seed Health Facts:

Prostate Protection, promote overall prostate health

High levels of Zinc, great for bone mineral density and osteoporosis

Natural anti-inflammatory effects for Arthritis

Contains L-Tryptophan, naturally effective against depression

Phytosterols in pumpkin seeds may help lower LDL cholesterol, enhance immune response and prevent some forms of cancer

and they're a great source of fiber so enjoy this time of the year when there is an abundance of pumpkin and squash seeds!

Here's the recipe:

2 cups pumpkin seeds

1-2 teaspoons of brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon butter or olive oil

1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt

OK so I started with 2 cups of pumpkin seeds rinsed and dried in the oven at 200F for about 2 hours, turning frequently.

Next toast the pumpkin seeds on medium heat on stove top until golden brown

Then add 1/2 teaspoon butter (best flavor) or olive oil (healthy heart), stir constantly to coat all seeds and not scorch.

Next immediately sprinkle on the brown sugar and salt so it coats the seeds, stirring constantly and allow to caramelize (about 5 minutes)

I left the measurements open to tastes...I like mine really sweet and savory so I used 2 teaspoons of sugar and 1/2 tea of salt so you might want to start with less and season to taste.

These are so good they won't last long!

Just made 2 batches...one for snacking (which is gone already) and the other batch I used in my homemade sweet and savory granola bars! So good!

You could also use these to sprinkle on salads or stir fry's, on the tops of muffins, add to your pumpkin seed brittle.

Strawberry Lavender Honey Jam

My favorite jam to make because it's Kris' favorite and I love using Lavender in cooking, and not just the flavor, I like to throw the flowers right in. If you don't want flowers in yours put them into a tea bag or strainer and just steep it in the jam for about 10 minutes.

So it sounds difficult but it's super easy to make....I try to make new recipes by the book then next time I can break the rules. 

I've been using this Pomona's pectin because you can make twice the amount of jam with 1/2 the sugar and it turns out great! I use the "cooked jam recipes" from the pectin and then slightly vary it depending on what I want or what ingredients I have

So I cut the strawberries quite small and pour the 1/4 cup of lemon juice on to help soften the strawberries before I mash them b/c even ripe strawberries are not easy to mash.

Next start cooking, throw in about 3 tablespoons of fresh or dried Lavender (to taste)

Add sugar or honey...I only had 1 cup of honey left so I made up the rest with sugar or (also to taste)

Then boil for a one minute and put into whatever jars you have just make sure your jars are sterilized.

I just happened to have some cute jars I ordered for my medicinal honey recipes :)

see the nice little flecks of lavender?

And there you go! 

Cute, organic and homemade, great for gifts and you can get cases of fruit right now for cheap!

It took me an hour to make in total and I got 6-8oz jars and 4-3.75oz jars and everything cost me $11.00

I was motivated to make my own again when I recently paid $7 at the farmers market for an 8oz jar of jam....and when I asked if there was a discount for buying multiples the answer was a quick "no"

And sometimes Kris and I make it together, which is super fun and super sticky!