Holiday safety tips for your Morkie

Dec 23, 2019 | Feeding Your Morkie, Morkie Care: What You Need to Know

The festive season means time to enjoy family. But keep these holiday safety tips in mind when it comes to your Morkie. Rich foods, certain decorations and more can mean a trip to the Vet.

The Top Ten Holiday Hazards for your Morkie

Raisins and grapes
Nuts
Toxic holiday plants
Tinsel
Electric cords, lights
Wrapping paper, ribbons, ties
Onions, chives, garlic
Chocolate
Turkey, bones and fat
Tree preservative

Raisins and grapes are very toxic for dogs. Although scientists don’t know exactly why, this phenomenon is well documented. Dogs of any age or breed can be affected. Grape/raisin toxicity can lead to suddenly kidney failure in some dogs, but not all.

Just another reason to ban fruit cake from your home.

Toxic holiday plants – two of the worst are holly and mistletoe which can cause gastrointestinal problems, difficulty breath and even heart failure!

Nuts. Most nuts are not good for dogs and some are downright dangerous. Macadamia nuts and black walnuts can be lethal in large enough doses. Others like peanuts (not salted, roasted or spiced) and plain cashews are “OK” for dogs in small amounts, but really, they’re best avoided since they’re also a choking hazard for a small dog like a Morkie.

Tinsel and other ornaments – eeewwww, shiny object! Tinsel can be sharp, and if it wraps itself around the intestines or balls up in the stomach, it can mean major surgery to save your pet’s life.

Turkey bones, fat and skin should be kept well out of reach of pets. Cooked bones especially, revery dangerous. After they’re eaten, bones can break off in shards and puncture an animal’s intestines.

Turkey itself can be quite fatty for a dog, unless you stick to a plain piece of white meat with no skin and no gravy. Otherwise your Morkie could get an upset stomach or even a bout of painful pancreatitis.

Onions are, surprisingly, quite toxic for dogs and cats They contain an ingredient called thiosulphate which can damage red blood cells and lead to anemia. In the same family, garlic, chives and leeks should be avoided as well. Some experts say that garlic, prepared properly for dogs, isn’t dangerous and in fact, is good for your pet. But the benefits don’t seem worth it.

Chocolate contains the toxin theobromine. We can easily metabolize theobromine, but dogs process it much more slowly, so it builds up to toxic levels in their system. A small amount can cause major gastrointestinal distress; and a large amount, can even lead to death.

Wrapping paper, ribbons, ties are all attractive to dogs, and all can get lodged in your dog’s stomach or intestines, causing illness and pain.

Electric cords, lights. Curious puppies and kittens can get caught up in the excitement of lights, and bite through, burning themselves and shorting the wires. Keep them out of reach, and/or tape them down.

Tree water. Commercial preservatives typically contain some kind of fertilizer, some type of sugar, and fungicides. Some contain other ingredients such as aluminium sulphate.

The amount that a child or pet could consume isn’t poisonous, but will cause a stomach upset and vomiting.

Christmas tree preservatives aren’t necessary, according to experts – just fresh water is all you need to minimize needles dropping and keep the tree from being super dried out. If you really want to add something, try 1/4 cup corn syrup mixed into 1 quart of water. Keep the tree basin filled.

And a big danger during the holidays

Running away. With people coming and going, the doorbell ringing, and lengthy goodbyes at the door, your Morkie has plenty of chances to sneak out and dash off into the night. Keep him in another room or safe in a carrier cage or kennel while your guests are coming and going.

What to do if your Morkie does eat turkey bones

Don’t panic.

Don’t try to make your dog throw up; better, say experts, to let the bones work their way through….UNLESS your dog is pacing, upset, choking, gagging or licking his lips a lot (a sign of anxiety). In that case, contact your Vet or an Emergency Vet right away.

If he seems alright, feed only soft foods for the next few days, such as rice or white bread. Keep him calm and quiet, and monitor his poop for the bones or bone fragments.

Keep your dog calm and quiet for the next few days. Monitor his poop carefully for bones or bone fragments.

If your Morkie has any of these symptoms, contact your Vet immediately:

difficulty going poop
black or bloody stools
vomiting
no appetite
diarrhea
seems to have abdominal pain.

More tips and ideas for the holidays, including gifts for dog lovers.

7 Tips for Picking Healthy Dog Food

Dec 15, 2019 | Feeding Your Morkie

Do you know how to find the best dog food for your Morkie? What to look for and what to avoid? Here are 7 handy tips to guide you in picking healthy dog food for your Morkie –whether it’s dry food (kibble) or canned.

Why can’t we just trust manufacturers?

Commercial dog food is a multi-billion dollar industry; it is much bigger than baby food. In 2015, we spent $60.28 billion on our pets in the U.S. Pet food alone represents $23 BILLION in sales per year, compared to baby food, at $1.25 billion.

The pet food industry is one of the most profitable in the world. And it’s growing by leaps and bounds every year.

With a profitable market this size, it’s all about marketing pet food, not necessarily making excellent dog food.

Like cigarette makers in the 1950s and 60s, pet food manufacturers:

lie to us about what’s in their products
use terrible ingredients
spend tons of money on advertising
ignore existing regulations without any penalty
“regulate” themselves
know full well that what they make is killing our pets

So, unfortunately, you must do your own research to find a reliable and good-quality dog food manufacturer.

Weigh the pros and cons of kibble versus canned dog food

Canned dog foods typically have much less grain and carbs than kibble, which needs these ingredients to bind the product together.

Canned food can have fewer preservatives since the canning process takes care of that; however, canned food typically uses a lot of thickening agents such as carrageenan, which has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), acid reflux, and intestinal ulceration.

Most dog food cans today are lined with Bisphenol-A (BPA), declared a toxin in many parts of the world.

Kibble costs less per serving and is more convenient to use; however it less protein-dense, so your Morkie must eat more to get the same benefits.

Diet Rotation

You wouldn’t want to eat the same food, day after day, year after year. Neither does your dog. Plus, no single brand is perfect. The answer is diet rotation.

It’s simple. Every few months, slowly change your Morkie’s food (dry, moist or canned) to another brand or another type within the same brand.
Do the changeover slowly, so you don’t trigger GI upsets and diarrhea. Add about 1/4 new to the old food for a week, increase it weekly until it’s all-new food.

Tip #1 Read the label

Whether you’re buying dried food (kibble) semi-moist or canned dog food, start with the label.

It looks imposing – dozens and dozens of ingredients listed in tiny type. But start with the first 5 or 6 ingredients. They form the bulk of the product by far.

You can also take a look at the ingredients above the fat ingredient. Again, it’s the bulk of the food and the most important.

If you can decode the label, you’re well on your way to providing better food for your Morkie.
All of the ingredients must be listed in order. Focus on the first five; this is where the bulk of the nutrition comes from.

average number of ingredients in dog food

Tip # 2: Look at the first 5 ingredients... or the ingredients above the fat

For example, look at the ingredients in Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Healthy Weight kibble, a top-quality product:

By either measure, we can see that this is quality food.

First 5 Ingredients

Deboned Turkey
Turkey Meal
Chicken Meal
Peas
Dried Ground Potatoes

Ingredients above the fat line:

Deboned Turkey
Turkey Meal
Chicken Meal
Peas
Dried Ground Potatoes
Pea Fiber
Ground Flaxseed
Tomato Pomace
Chicken Fat

PICK FOOD WITH:

a NAMED meat, like chicken, beef, salmon, etc.
a NAMED source of fat, such as chicken fat, beef fat, etc.
Foods that are made with fewer ingredients – instead of a lot of additives and preservatives, the food will often have more carbohydrates, although not necessarily grains. As you might expect, these foods can be costlier than ‘regular’ foods on the market.
Potato or sweet potato as a filler in the top 5 ingredients are acceptable; one or the other.
Foods that contains grain are ok just as long as there is only one of these grains in the Top Five.

ALWAYS AVOID FOOD WITH:

generic descriptions like meat, poultry, and fish
“meat byproducts”
Avoid all dog foods with animal digest, including a named meat digest.
Avoid food with “meat and bone meal” even if the meat is named.
CORN in the top 5 ingredients
Avoid dog foods with more than one carbohydrate in the first 5 ingredients.
Avoid dog foods with a generic fat source, rendered fat or beef tallow.
Avoid food with BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin, and PG (Propylene Glycol).
Avoid food with added sugars and watch for its other names.

Do dogs need carbohydrates?

Meat is a quality, complete protein. It contains all ten essential amino acids — nutrients dogs cannot live without. Plus, dogs can easily digest it, especially compared to plant proteins like corn or grain. But high quality, meat-based proteins are also the single most expensive ingredients in dog foods. So manufacturers use grains and other carbohydrates as fillers that also deliver some protein.

The problem is, dogs don’t need corn, or wheat, barley rice, soybean meal, dried beet pulp, and potatoes. Carbohydrates aren’t necessarily bad for your dog, but they’re just not needed for good nutrition. For a small dog like a Morkie, food with too much corn or grain can fill him up before he gets enough quality meat protein.

Kibble has to have some form of carbohydrate in the recipe to bind it together, but grains shouldn’t be at the top of the ingredients lists.

The best compromise especially for kibble

Avoid dog foods with more than one carbohydrate in the first 5 ingredients.

Here are the first 5 ingredients in a popular — but very poor quality — kibble, Alpo Prime Cuts Savory Beef Flavor. As you can see there’s virtually no ‘meat’ in this food.

Ugh – check these First Five ingredients

Ground yellow corn
Corn germ meal
Beef and bone meal
Soybean meal
Beef tallow

Tip #3: Avoid these Top Three Offenders

Watch for these ingredients on the label – none belongs in your pet’s food and some can even shorten his life.

1. The word “meat” or “meat by-products” near the top of the ingredient list

If it’s called just ‘meat’ (not beef, lamb, etc.) then the animal parts used can be obtained from any source, so there is no control over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included in meat and meat by-products: including the infamous “4-D animals” (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), goats, pigs, horses, rats, misc. roadkill and animals euthanized at shelters.

These “4-D” animals were only recently banned for human consumption and are still legitimate ingredients for pet food.

2. BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin

Watch out for:

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA),
Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT ) and
Ethoxyquin (an EPA-regulated pesticide)

These are all highly carcinogenic or cancer-causing additives that are used to preserve the dog food for long shelf life. Besides cancers, these chemicals have been linked to thyroid, kidney, reproductive and immune-related illnesses.

3. Corn

There is no nutritious value in any dog food that lists corn as the first ingredient. It is a useless filler that is a known cause of allergies and is difficult for dogs to digest.

And in the wild – ever see a wolf break into a cornfield to steal a cob or two?

Should you pick organic dog food?

When you see ‘organic’ or ‘natural’ on your Morkie’s dog food label…

It does NOT mean:

Humanely raised
Chemical or drug-free
Raised without pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics antibiotics

Claims made such as original, natural, prime cuts, tasty, organic and more, mean nothing; there’s no legal standard for the wording that describes pet foods.

Some of the most appealing and popular dog foods are the worst nutritionally. And they are the most secretive, from an ingredients standpoint.

Instead, vague terms cover up a host of grisly ingredients.

What does “organic” mean on a dog food label?

There's meat and then there's "meat." And they are worlds apart

Look very carefully at how the main protein source is described

You would expect food that’s called “chicken” and lists “real chicken” as the main ingredient, would include chicken. Not so fast.

The food can be made up of chicken by-products, which is essentially slaughterhouse waste. Beaks, heads, and feet. But the picture on the left is the one that will appear on the package.

Tip #4: Avoid food with meat by-products - whether the meat is named or not

Meat by-products can include organ meat, most of which is just fine for dogs. Lungs, spleen, brains, kidneys, and liver may not be to our tastes, but they provide excellent nutrition for dogs.

HOWEVER, meat by-products can also include NON-MEAT ingredients such as horns, feathers, feet, hides, beaks, hooves and teeth. Ugh. They won’t even put this stuff in hot dogs and bologna.

Whether the meat is named or not, this ingredient should be avoided.

Pictured above: a sample of chicken by-products; this carcass is covered in skin cancer tumors. It is allowed in dog food as a “chicken by-product.”

Tip #5: Avoid food with meat MEAL

Meal refers to an ingredient that’s been through the rendering plant or other high level processing. There is some controversy about whether or not we should be feeding our dogs meal, since it’s a lower quality protein, usually found in cheap dog foods. (The quality of protein is measured by scientists as “biological value” – the ability of the food to deliver protein’s ten amino acids.)

There are two kinds of meal:

Named meat meal: beef meal, chicken meal, lamb meal, etc.
Generic meal: meat meal, poultry meal, fish meal

Meal is a highly concentrated protein powder; if it’s from a named source, its acceptable, or just “OK,” say many experts. Others are against named meat meal, because of the chance it can contain noxious ingredients.

Bear on mind, even though the meat is named, it could come from a carcass that failed USDA inspection. If it is called simply “meat meal,” it can contain shocking ingredients, including intestines with feces, road kill, and more.

Tip #6: Avoid food with meat AND BONE MEAL

Avoid food with meat AND BONE MEAL even if the meat source is named

AAFCO — the Association of American Feed Control Officials — defines this ingredient as “rendered product from mammal tissues, including bone, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hooves, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents.”

Whether it’s from a named meat, or is generic ‘meat,’ the main drawbacks of MEAT AND BONE MEAL are:

it’s harder to digest.
it’s a lower quality protein.
there is some scientific evidence linking bone meal to cancer.

Plus, in Meat and Bone Meal, there’s no way to determine the amount of bone versus ‘meat.’

Tip #7: Avoid food with ANIMAL DIGEST

Animal digest is a highly processed product that is used to flavor dog food that doesn’t have much taste otherwise. Even when it is identified, for example, Chicken Digest, the dog food may taste like chicken thanks to the digest, but it does not have to contain chicken.

Then why’s it there? Manufacturers like Purina brag that their product is “highly palatable” or in other words, it tricks dogs into thinking their food has a great flavor. Animal digest, a highly processed mess of mysterious animal parts, is what delivers flavor.

Download this free one-pager “Pick This Not That”

Want to take better care of your Morkie?

Check out this COMPLETE HANDBOOK for raising a happy, healthy Morkie. From puppy to senior. Includes potty training, feeding, common health concerns, obedience, vaccinations and much more. Charts, photos, illustrations and easy-to-read text.

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Thanksgiving treats for dogs

Oct 11, 2019 | Feeding Your Morkie

You probably know that you can give your Morkie a little turkey meat as a treat now and then, but what about other typical Thanksgiving treats that we enjoy? Can you share them with your dog?

Can dogs eat turkey?

Not really, but….

White meat (without skin) is OK for dogs on a limited basis.

Turkey can be fatty and so can cause digestive upsets for your Morkie, including vomiting and diarrhea. But a little bit of white meat as a treat now and then is alright.

And of course, NEVER your dog have cooked bones of any type. Once cooked, bones shatter and splinter and can cause serious stomach and intestine damage. If your dog is used to a RAW diet, he can have bones with meat on them which is a great way to clean your Morkie’s teeth.

Otherwise, keep all bones, dark meat, skin, gravy, tendons, and tough pieces of turkey away from your Morkie.

Use ground turkey meat to make these treats instead

Ground turkey is plentiful at this time of year and it’s often on sale. Use it to make these healthy, bite-size dog treats for your Morkie.

1 pound ground turkey meat
1 teaspoon of coconut oil
2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
1 cup of whole wheat flour
1 cup low-sodium chicken or turkey broth
about 1/2 cup cornmeal

Brown the ground turkey in coconut oil, breaking it up as you cook it. Once it’s done, remove from heat and drain.

In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups of quick-cooking oatmeal, flour, and baking powder and mix well. Add the cooked ground turkey. Use an electric mixer to blend in the low-sodium turkey or chicken broth, adding just enough to moisten the mixture so you can make it into small balls.

Scoop small balls (about 1 teaspoon size) and roll in cornmeal.

Put on a lightly greased baking pan and press them down with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees until they’re browned and firm to the touch (about 20 minutes).

More Thanksgiving treats your Morkie can enjoy

Besides a piece or two of white turkey meat, your Morkie might like to try veggies like cooked carrot, a couple of peas or steamed green beans.

Don’t expect him to be overly enthusiastic though; like most small dogs, Morkies can be picky when it comes to food, especially if you’ve already been sharing your own food with your dog. He could be reluctant to try one of these healthier choices.

Mild, low-fat cheese makes a good snack for special occasions for your Morkie.

Plain mashed potatoes (no garlic) can be a novel treat for your Morkie.

Most dogs enjoy baby carrots, raw or lightly steamed.

PUMPKIN TO THE RESCUE

Did you know that regular, canned pumpkin (ideally organic) – not pumpkin pie filling – is one of the best foods you can give your Morkie for digestive upsets?

Plain canned pumpkin can be added to his food to help resolve diarrhea and ironically, constipation too. Just a teaspoon a day, mixed in with his food, will help your sick Morkie feel better.

And pumpkin is nutrient-rich, filled with beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, along with potassium and fiber.

Check the label to make sure the can contains only pumpkin.

You can freeze the leftover pumpkin in ice cube trays to use later.

Pure pumpkin – not pumpkin pie filling – is good for dogs with both diarrhea AND constipation.

Generally speaking, it’s just not worth it to give your Morkie scraps and treats from your own plate. Chances are, he will end up with an upset stomach, diarrhea or vomiting. And fatty foods contribute to the painful condition called pancreatitis, something you definitely want to avoid.

Order today and take better care of your Morkie

From getting a Morkie, to common health concerns, what to feed your Yorkie-Maltese mix, which deadly vaccinations to avoid — and much more!

Over 300 pages of easy-to-read text, charts, illustrations and photos.

Read it on your smartphone, computer, laptop, iPad or reader.

ORDER THIS INVALUABLE GUIDE TODAY

Or read more about the MORKIE MEGA GUIDE e-book here.

Can Dogs Thrive on a Vegan Food & Treats Diet?

Jul 25, 2019 | Feeding Your Morkie

Special Post by Chris Holzhauer
Chris is a freelance writer and pet specialist. His website is www.simplypets.com Chris can be reached at chris@dadcentric.com

If you are reading this post, most probably you are a vegan or your dog has meat allergy to certain types of meat. You are looking for an answer to the question “can dog survive on a vegan food & treats diet?” Well, it depends on many factors. It is possible for a dog to consume vegetables. But you cannot expect your dog to get rid of meat completely.

Many studies suggest that dogs can digest vegetable protein. People, in general, consider the dog to be carnivorous. But they have the characteristics of omnivores.

There are some animals from the Carnivora order who frequently consume plants. To defend the omnivorous nature of the dog, people present the example of the panda., which has the physical characteristics designed to eat meat, but they prefer plants and eat mostly bamboo.

There are debates over the total vegetarian dog. It might seem cute to hear the word “Vegetarian dog,“ but ithere is some considerable health risk involved. Because, most of the dog from very early age, are accustomed to eating animal protein, vegetables without any meat might be stressful for their digestive system.

Some dogs are allergic to certain types of meat. So to compensate for the lack of nutrition, you can add vegetables to your dog food. Vegetables that are rich in protein will be good for the dog’s nutrition.

Can Dogs Survive on a Vegan Food & Treats Diet?

A vegetarian diet system for the dog is a new idea. Many people are thinking of being vegan. Although it had started as a healthy diet change, now for some, it’s a way of life. So they also want to add their beloved pet in that lifestyle.

It isn’t completely impossible for a dog to have a moderate vegetarian diet. But the diet should contain the proper amount of meat. It is natural for the dog to go for the meat if meat and vegetables are presented to the dog at the same time. You can’t just turn your dog into a vegetarian overnight.

So, if you truly want to serve vegan food to the dog, you can do that by following these instructions.

A Vegan Menu for Dogs

Dogs have the ability to consume a variety of vegetables. As mentioned before, vegetables that are rich with protein should be your first choice. Vegetable such as pulses, bean, carrot, broccoli, and other vegetables which are rich with proteins can be considered for dog food.

Protein is easy for the dog to digest and turn them into amino acid. It is tough for the dog’s stomach to digest vegetables that have no protein. Then the stomach has to collect Amino Acid from other kinds of components of the vegetable. It is both stressful and not enough for dogs.

So you should always look for vegetables rich in protein. To provide the daily requirement of protein, you can try adding an egg, which is an excellent source of protein. Adding an egg is not a true vegan diet; it’s called an ovo-vegetarian diet.

You need to take some precautions if you want your dog to be vegan. Although they can consume various vegetables, some could have a harsh effect on your pet. Bunch of vegetables has components that are harmful or non-consumable for dogs. So do a thorough study before choosing a vegan diet for your dog . If you keep giving vegetables that your dog won’t like, it might eat less. That is not what you want for your dog. Another critical issue is that you have to ensure that your dog gets the right amount of neutrinos from its food. So choose the correct mix of meat and vegetable to ensure the good health of your dog.

You can find vegan dog food in the market. There is some good brand of vegan dog food which you can get for your dog.

Provide supplements

Naturally, vegetables don’t have the same kind of components as meat. There are some proteins, that is almost impossible to find among vegetables which exist in meat. Lack of these proteins will cause some pretty nasty disease.

These missing protein can be compensated with supplements. Even if you make sure that your dog gets proper protein, vitamin, and mineral, there is a fair chance that your dog might miss other essential compound needed for its body. So you may give supplements to your dog with the consent of a vet. It will make up for the ingredients required for the dog’s immune system.

Whatever you do, don’t do anything without consulting with the doctor.

If your Morkie doesn’t want to eat the food, don’t force it. First, try adding a little bit of vegetable with the meat. Then gradually try to increase vegetable. Always keep a certain amount of meat in the dog food. Do not go for a vegan diet, if your dog totally refuses to eat vegetables.

Bone Broth for dogs: is it right for your Morkie?

Jul 11, 2019 | Feeding Your Morkie

Bone broth is the latest thing for dogs; it’s a pot of nutritious minerals and nutrients that dogs love, and is super easy to make and very good for your dog. Should your Morkie be getting bone broth for dogs, the latest superfood?

Benefits of Bone Broth

Nutrient dense
Easy to digest
Helps dogs with digestive problems
Supports your dog’s immune system and detoxes his liver
Helps protect your Morkie’s joints
Promotes probiotic balance and growth
Is full of minerals, including calcium, silicon, sulphur, magnesium and phosphorus

Bone Broth for Dogs

It’s great as a regular supplement and especially good for dogs who have diarrhea or are vomiting.

How to Use It

Use bone broth to moisten dry food, hydrate your Morkie when he’s sick and as a base for a complete meal.

Pour it on food; your dog won’t likely drink it on his own.

If Your Morkie is Feeling Sick

You could try an ounce or two in an eyedropper. Pull back his lip and empty the dropper between lip and gums.

Make Your Own Bone Broth for Dogs or Buy It Ready-Made

Bone broth is loaded with:

amino acids
gelatin, which helps support your dog’s need for protein
important minerals like calcium, magnesium phosphorus, silicon, sulfur, and other trace minerals
glycine, which helps digestion by regulating the bile
joint protecting compounds like chondroitin, glucosamine, and hyaluronic acid

You can make bone broth yourself, or buy it in powdered form.

Download printable recipes here.

It’s easy and inexpensive to make bone broth yourself. A crock pot or super pot helps but you can also make bone broth in a big soup pot on the stove.

Organic, free-range chicken and grass-fed beef are good choices if you want to avoid added hormones and antibiotics.

For the best results, use a variety of bones, including knucklebones and joints.

RECIPE I: BASIC BONE BROTH

Margaret Nee from The Art Of Dog

Gather up raw or cooked ones, and be sure to include joint bones with cartilage. (Rinse off any sauce on cooked bones.) Examples include turkey wings and leg bones; chicken feet and necks; knucklebones; beef marrow bones, or bones from your own meals.

Completely cover the bones with water, and add 2 to 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.

Add about 1/2 cup fresh parsley at the very end, just before you take the broth off the heat.

Start the mixture on high to get it going, then turn it to very low and cook for the day.

*Chicken bones can cook for 24 hours. Beef bones can cook for 48 hours.

When it is finished cooking, strain the bones (do not feed to your dog). Chill the remaining liquid and skim excess fat off the top when cooled. The broth should be a jelly-like consistency when cooled.

You can freeze this broth in small containers, even ice cube trays, or store in your refrigerator for about 4 days.

Download printable copy.

For even more nutrition, add any of the following while the broth cooks:

sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, fennel seed
burdock root
dandelion root
kelp
kale
green beans
broccoli
celery
carrots
fennel
quinoa
a piece of fresh ginger

Be sure to strain these extras out before using the broth.

The best broth looks like a jelly when it’s done and cooled.

Gelatin that’s been drawn out of the bones makes this broth jelly-like.

If yours isn’t that gelatinous, don’t worry. Use the broth anyway and next time, add more apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to ensure it gels.

Recipe 2 – Fiskesuppe

Animal Wellness Magazine

2 pounds fish bones, including heads, tails, and the trimmings after cleaning
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 bay leaf
4 cups filtered water
Herbs can also be added, including flat or curly parsley

Put all ingredients in a large stockpot and bring to a boil. Turn down to a simmer and cook for one hour. Remove the pot from heat and strain out the bones, using a very fine sieve or cheesecloth pulled tightly over a clean pot. Press with the back of a ladle or wooden spoon to remove all the liquid.

Download printable copy.

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Recipe 3 – Chicken Bone Broth with Turmeric

Dr. Axe

4 lbs. chicken necks, feet, and wings. You can also use the chicken frame if you can get it. Organic, free-range chicken is an excellent choice to avoid added hormones and antibiotics

2 carrots, chopped
3 celery stocks
1 teaspoon Himalayan salt
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 bay leaves
3 sprigs fresh thyme
5 to 6 sprigs parsley
1 teaspoon oregano
1 tablespoon powdered turmeric
1 pinch ground cumin
1 section of fresh ginger cut into small pieces

Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat. Simmer for 24–48 hours, skimming fat occasionally. This low and long cooking time increases the chicken bone broth benefits as there is lots of time for the ingredients to release their goodness into the broth.

Once the broth is cooled, strain out the solids and chill. Then remove the layer of hard fat on top.

Use within 4 to 5 days or freeze.

Download printable copy.

Bone broth ready for the refrigerator. Use it within 4 days or else freeze it.

Buy quality dried bone broth for your Morkie

Homemade bone broth is by far, better than store bought, but if you don’t have the time, pick one that offers at least 10 grams of protein per 8 ounce serving.

Avoid products with additives, coloring or flavor enhancers. Quality products should not contain sugar, hydrolyzed proteins, yeast extract, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, and maltodextrin.

Grass-fed beef and pasture raised or free-range poultry bones are superior.

Bone Broth for Dogs Available on Line

Is bone broth the same as soup stock?

“No. The key to the power of bone broth is long, long cooking time. That’s what pulls the nutrition right out of the bones. The regular broth has only a fraction of the nutrients, and little or no gelatin. The stock has more gelatin, but not as much as bone broth—and it doesn’t cook long enough to extract as many bone-deep nutrients.

“So bone broth isn’t the same as stock or broth. It has more gut-healing gelatin, more anti-inflammatory nutrients, and more building blocks of skin-smoothing collagen. It even has more flavor, because it simmers for a longer time.”

— from https://www.epicurious.com

Can dogs eat nuts?

Feb 26, 2019 | Feeding Your Morkie

Most dogs love peanut butter, but what about nuts? Can dogs eat nuts safely? The answer is, yes they can eat SOME nuts but others are dangerous.

For a small dog like a Morkie, any type of nut can be a problem:

most tree nuts are infected with low levels of mold, including pistachios, walnuts, hickory nuts, and pecans. Moldy nuts contain aflatoxins, which can lead to lifelong health troubles for your dog, including liver failure.
almost any nut can be a choking hazard in little breeds
large nuts, like whole pecans and walnuts, can actually block your small dog’s stomach or intestines, causing tremendous digestive system problems.
dogs with sensitive stomachs or a condition like pancreatitis shouldn’t have nuts because they can lead to discomfort and diarrhea.

Deadly: macadamia nuts

These delicious buttery nuts from Hawaii and Australia are THE worst thing for a dog. Why? They contain an unknown toxin that attacks the nervous system, causing severe neurological problem.

Your dog might appear drunk, staggering all over; or he may lose his ability to walk (temporarily or permanently!) Severe vomiting and weakness can also be symptoms.

If you suspect your Morkie has eaten macadamia nuts, see the vet at once.

More Nuts to Avoid

Almonds aren’t as dangerous or deadly but they can cause a lot of digestive upset for your Morkie, along with the choking possibility.

Pistachios are “OK” except if they are mouldy and this type of nut is susceptible to mould. Not enough for us to notice, let alone affect us but for a small dog, they can mean trouble.

Cashews don’t contain anything particularly poisonous to dogs but they ARE high in fact which can lead to obesity and even kick start pancreatitis in your small dog.

Brazil nuts are THE fattiest of all nuts, so again, should be avoided because of the risk of pancreatitis.

Walnuts are not only responsible for severe digestive illness in dogs, they can obstruct the bowel, leading to more serious problems. Plus, they’re one of “the moldies.” (Black Walnuts are just as bad for dogs.)

No to Black Walnuts

Be aware of some wacky advice on holistic and all-natural dog care sites: they are encouraging us to switch from harsh deworming chemicals and medicines, to more natural ways to fight worms, like chamomile. BUT one thing that’s mentioned as a dewormer is Black Walnut! There’s often an accompanying warning, like this one:

“Black Walnut. Black walnut is a very effective natural dewormer, but it can be harsh on your dog’s system, so keep it for cases that don’t improve with the more gentle solutions listed above.

While it can effectively get rid of parasites (even heartworm), the strong ingredients in black walnut can cause vomiting, diarrhea and gastritis. It’s best to use it in consultation with a holistic vet.”

DogsNaturallyMagazine.com

No to Almonds

The AKC says avoid almonds for your dog because they can cause digestion problems even though they aren’t as toxic as some nuts. If your Morkie gets into almonds, expect him to have an upset stomach, pain in the stomach, gas and possibly diarrhea.

AVOID

No to Pecans

Pecans are bad for dogs because they can cause aflatoxin poisoning. Symptoms include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, colored urine and jaundice, liver failure, blood-tinged vomit, and bloody or blackened stools.

AVOID

Peanuts aren't nuts - SO THEY'RE OK

What about peanuts and peanut butter?

Peanuts and peanut butter are NOT toxic to dogs – because they’re not nuts.

But don’t feed your Morkie too many, because of their higher fat content. Avoid salted or seasoned peanuts. Peanut butter is another treat dogs seem to love, and it can be an occasional treat or used in making dog biscuits.

While “nut” is in their name, peanuts are legumes just like kidney beans, peas or lentils. Peanuts grow underground, while most other nuts grow on trees.

Here’s how peanuts grow – underground from the green leafy peanut plant.

The One Peanut Butter that IS Bad for Dogs - Very Bad!

More and more manufacturers are offering ‘low cal’ peanut butter. It’s made with XYLITOL, a sugar substitute which is HIGHLY DANGEROUS to dogs.

Please watch for this ingredient on a number of foods and candies that your Morkie might get into.

Smarter Snacks for your Morkie

Instead of nuts, try your Morkie with a small piece of your favorite fruit – apple, banana, peach. (NOT grapes).

Or try some veggies including a bit of carrot, celery or a green bean.

No matter how healthy a snack might be, remember the 10% rule – only 10% of your Morkie’s total calories per day should be made up of snacks. The rest should be a balanced dry or wet food or a combination.

What is the best dog food for your Morkie?

READ

Check this site

Find a lot more information on human foods your dog should avoid on the site, Fido’s Favorites. Plus you’ll find other helpful articles there.

Small breed dog food – does your Morkie need it?

Feb 19, 2019 | Feeding Your Morkie

Small breed dog food is the latest spin manufacturers are putting on commercial pet foods… but do small dogs need a special diet? And why are these so formulas much more money than food for ‘full size’ dogs? More about the industry’s latest scheme.

There are dozens of special foods on the market now specially made for toy dog breeds; they are the latest from manufacturers like Wellness, Nutro, Blue Wilderness and a host of others.

But are they actually unique? And does your Morkie need to be on one of these small breed dog foods?

Today’s dogs are meant to eat MEAT. But plant material can’t hurt them, just fill them up. That’s something small dogs do not need; instead, every bite they eat should be maximum nutrition.

All dogs need the same, good nutrition

Dogs are carnivores, not matter their size. Some experts say they are also omnivores – or eaters of just about anything. Their teeth are definitely for eating meat. But their intestines are longer than cats, who are true carnivores. So dogs CAN digest some amount of plant material.

A dog’s ancestor, the grey wolf, is primarily a carnivore. But dogs adapted over time to be scavengers, picking up the leftovers from humans, and generally eating whatever they could find. Meat was preferred, but not too many dogs will turn down a biscuit.

Commercial diets with plant filler

Any food with corn as its first ingredient, is not top quality nutrition. Corn is used for one reason only – it is an inexpensive filler.

Corn is a contentious subject in the world of dog food, Some experts claim dogs can get nutritional value from corn; others say, they can’t really digest corn, so it’s of little value.

Corn is a cheap filler, and small dogs like Morkies don’t need fillers. Every bite they eat should be nutritious since they’re so small.

What ARE the nutritional needs of a toy dog?

Toys need a quality diet of protein, fats and carbohydrates*. Carbs are starred, because they’re not technically NEEDED, but are usually the carriers of important vitamins, minerals and plant-based nutrients.

But guess what? Any size dog needs a quality diet of protein, fats and carbohydrates.

Just some of the well-known commercial dog foods that have corn as their #1 ingredient:

Everpet Dog Food (Dry)
Gravy Train
Kal Kan Dog Food (Dry)
Kibbles ‘n Bits
Purina Dog Chow
Ol’ Roy Dog Food (Dry)
Pedigree Dog Food (Dry)

Hill’s Science Diet (Canned)

How important is small size kibble?

If you feed your Morkie a dry diet (kibble) how important is the SIZE of the kibble pieces?

Many Vets recommend that you add water – an equal amount as the kibble – to the meal before you give it to your dog. That’s because kibble diets can be very drying and can even result in dehydration.

So if you follow that advice, the size of the kibble doesn’t really matter, since it will soften right down.

Otherwise, the kibble size shouldn’t be an issue. Look at how a toy dog will grab onto a meaty raw bone and you’ll see there’s nothing too big for these guys!

Your Best Bet for Toy Dog Diets

If you feed your Morkie commercial dog food, look for:

good quality food, with a high levels of protein
without fillers like corn, soybeans or glutens (if they’re listed in the first 5 ingredients, try another brand)
add at least some fresh food to your dog’s diet, by hand; a little bit of beef or chicken (raw or cooked); veggies your dog might like and even fruit.
keep training treats very small
no other snacks
food consistently available throughout the day, to stave off hypoglycaemia
don’t overfeed
balance feeding with 20 minutes a day of exercise (leashed walk) to help your toy dog build muscle tone

Here’s a quick guide to help you pick better quality food —

Let's sum up: does your Morkie really need small breed dog food?

Being labelled for toy dogs, doesn’t mean the food is superior than regular dog food.

Always check the label carefully – especially the first 5 ingredients. They are what matters most. You want to see real meat products named, not “meat by-products” or “meat meal.” Instead look for beef, chicken, lamb, etc. And avoid anything called a by-product.

If the food checks out, and there is a small dog version available (at the same price), then go for it. Otherwise, stick to a regular, quality food.

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Download a list of quality dog foods to take shopping

If you feed your Morkie commercial food, you’ll want this list. Download it here free.

Prescription dog food – legit or scam?

Do small dogs need special food?

Best dog food brands for your Morkie

What’s the best DRY food for your Morkie?

Don’t be impressed with AAFCO approval

How to read a dog food label

The worst kind of dog food

How to pick the best dog food

Prescription dog food – legit or scam?

Jan 31, 2019 | Feeding Your Morkie

When you look closely at the ingredients, it’s pretty clear that in nearly every case, prescription dog food is just regular food with a new label and a much bigger price tag. Sure, there are some extra ingredients, but they are WAY down on the label.

Manufacturers are aggressively competing against one another in the lucrative pet food market, by introducing ‘new’ versions of food. Many of these trends parallel our own foodie trends:

continued emphasis on protein – including alternative protein sources like quinoa and lentils
vegan or vegetarian food
low protein food
grain-free is now almost half the market in dog food
prescription diets
food formulated for small dogs
breed-specific food such as Royal Canin kibble for Yorkshire Terriers

Trendy new dog foods are all about PROFITS

These “new” dog foods aren’t really new, and they aren’t designed with your dog’s health first. They’re designed to increase PROFITS for pet food manufacturers.

Before you shell out big bucks for these specialty foods, take a closer look and be sure you’re not being manipulated by this multibillion dollar industry.

Let’s look at an example of prescription dog food vs regular food

Dana Scott from Dogsnaturallymagazine.com has just written an extensive review of prescription dog food, versus regular store food.

It’s hard to see how prescription dog food, or veterinary diets, are worth the premium pricing. Here’s an example from dogsnaturallymagazine.com.

Here, we compare the ingredients ABOVE the named fat, which represent the bulk of what’s in the food. (Read more about how dog food ingredients are listed in this blog)

PRESCRIPTION DIET

Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Mobility Dry Dog Food for Joint Health

Chicken Meal
Whole Grain Wheat
Brewers Rice
Whole Grain Sorghum
Cracked Pearled Barley
Brown Rice
Soybean Meal
Dried Beet Pulp
Chicken Liver Flavour
Pork Fat

So, as you can see, the main ingredients are the same in both foods. What’s different? THE PRICE!

REGULAR DIET

Ingredients from Iams Veterinary Formula Joint Plus Dry Dog Food

Chicken by-product meal
Corn meal
Ground sorghum
Ground whole barley
Chicken (meal or whole)
Chicken flavour
Dried Beet Pulp
Chicken Fat

In most markets, the prescription food is almost TWICE AS MUCH MONEY as the regular food.

As with all my columns, this information is for your consideration. Please do not make changes to your dog’s diet, medication or exercise plan without consulting a professional.

Our pets are getting progressively fatter and sicker eating processed pet food.

The best prescription: a whole, healthy diet for your Morkie

Your Morkie is a carnivore and needs quality meat. Yet commercial food can be nothing but empty calories, and stuff like CORN which isn’t what dogs need. Or worse, processed dog food can contain carcinogens, triggering cancer.

Dr. Karen Becker, of healthypets.Mercola.com offers a NEW list of Best to Worst Ranking of 13 Pet Foods.

From the best – Nutritionally balanced raw homemade diet to the worst, an unbalanced homemade diet, raw or cooked.

Here’s Dr. Becker’s list:

Nutritionally balanced raw homemade diet
Nutritionally balanced cooked homemade diet
Commercially available balanced raw food diet
Dehydrated or freeze-dried raw diet
Commercially available cooked or refrigerated food
Human-grade canned food
Super premium canned food
Human-grade dry food
Super premium dry food
Grocery store brand canned food
Grocery store brand dry food
Semi-moist pouched food
Unbalanced homemade diet, raw or cooked

Do small dogs need special food?

Jan 29, 2019 | Feeding Your Morkie

What’s the best dog food for small dogs? And do small dogs need special food, or is any good dog food OK? Here are 5 top questions about dog food for small dogs like Morkies.

1. Is kibble or canned better for small dogs?

Just like us, dogs can get bored eating the same thing, day after day. So switch it up with different brands, and don’t hesitate to use both kibble and wet food together.

If you’re buying commercial dog food, look for quality ingredients, whether you’re buying kibble or canned (wet) food.

What makes up “quality ingredients?” Pick food with a ‘real’ source of protein in the first 5 ingredients. For example, beef, chicken or salmon. AVOID food that is labelled “meat” “poultry” or “fish.” AVOID meat by-products (named or not).

AVOID: bone meal, meat meal, corn high up on the label, and food that includes a ‘flavour.’ Why? Because that flavour is usually added to disguise the poor quality of the main ingredients. If a dog food is made with chicken, why would you need to add chicken flavour?

How are ingredients ranked on a dog food label?

Ingredients in dog food are ranked by weight

All ingredients must be listed in order of predominance by weight, including the ingredient’s water. So without a complex formula which removes the weight of the water in the dog food, it’s not fair to compare a dry food with a canned food. However, kibbles can be compared to one another, and canned foods can be compared fairly.

First 5 ingredients – make up the bulk of the food, and are most important
Above the named fat – another way to look at it, is the ingredients above the named fat, are what matter.
First 3 ingredients – generally make up the protein of the food

2. Why a high quality food is important for small dogs

Small dogs need all the nutrition a big dog does, but with a difference.

Small dogs actually need to eat more calories for their body weight, than larger dogs. That’s because smaller dogs usually have faster metabolisms and will burn off energy at a faster rate than larger dogs. For example, a Maltese needs more than twice as many calories per pound as a Great Dane.

Since small dogs are, well, small…. they can’t afford to fill up on low-quality ingredients like corn and other grains. Another reason you need the best dog food for small dogs.

3. Are breed-specific foods worth it?

Spoiler alert: Nope. What matters is that the food is species-specific… that is, it’s made for DOGS.

You might wonder sometimes, when you see ingredients like CORN first on the dog food label. When’s the last time you heard of a wolf breaking into a farmer’s field, shucking a few cobs and feasting on corn? Like never.

This doesn’t stop manufacturers from extending their pet food lines with plenty of silly options, like breed-specific food. Let’s look at two dry foods specifically for Yorkies, compared to a premium brand for small dogs.

Two breed-specific, specialty foods – for Yorkies

Eukanuba Yorkshire Terrier Dry Food

First ingredients:

Chicken
Chicken By-Product Meal
Corn Meal
Ground Whole Grain Sorghum
Brewers’s Rice
Chicken Fat

Chicken as the first ingredient is excellent. Meal is a concentrated version of the meat named, and so delivers excellent protein value; however, poultry by-products are the really ghastly parts like beaks and feet. Corn meal is the third ingredient, and it’s a controversial one. One thing we do know is, that as a whole grain, corn is not easily digested by dogs.

Sorghum is usually fed to cattle and Brewer’s Rice, or broken rice, are the broken bits of regular rice, which are rejected for people. They’re OK, nutrition wise, for pets.

10 pounds – at Chewy.com – $31.49

All in all, a pretty average food.

Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Yorkshire Terrier

First ingredeints:

Brewer’s rice
Brown rice
Chicken by-product meal
Chicken fat
Wheat gluten

Brewer’s Rice is an odd ingredient to find first in a dog food. (see Eukanuba description, left)

This is a medium quality food, heavy on the carbs which small dogs like Morkies don’t need.

10 pounds – at Chewy – $38.69

My personal opinion is that this ranks well below the just-average Eukanuba, at left.

A much better choice –

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food

12 pounds – $37.99

Deboned turkey
Turkey meal
Chicken meal
Potatoes
Peas
Dried Ground Potatoes
Chicken Fat

Premium natural ingredients, with no wheat, corn, soy preservatives or artificial colours and flavours.

Provides energy without all the carbs, thanks to high-quality protein. Complete with probiotics, glucosamine, Omega fatty acids for coat health, antioxidants and more.

AND, IT’S CHEAPER PER POUND THAN THE BREED-SPECIFIC FOODS.

4. Should I pick a food that’s specially made for small breeds?

Some kibble comes in smaller sizes for smaller dogs, like the Wellness Core, above. That’s not a bad idea, as long as the food itself is high quality. Other than the size of kibble, there’s no reason small dogs need a different recipe than their big friends.

A frame from the latest Cesar Dog Food commercial.

Pulling the heartstrings of small dog owners

Some foods are specially marketed to small dog owners. Cesar Savory Delights is a good example. Ads feature a single man or woman, alone with their soulmate, a tiny dog. These ads are targeted at the GenX/Boomer pet parent, who is lonely, but thankfully, has his fur baby for company. So naturally he wants the best for that dog – and the implication is, that’s Cesar!

This food is one of the poorest quality on the market. Why?

After water, the top 5 ingredients are:

beef by-products – which is industry-speak for slaughterhouse waste. This isn’t meat, it’s the leftovers, rejected for hot dogs. Can include lungs, brain, intestines, even tumours!
animal liver – the animal isn’t named, so it could be anything, including any combination of pigs sheet, goats and horses.
chicken – good!
meat by-products – slaughterhouse waste again, but from what animal??? Could even roadkill!
bacon – the cured fatty meat from the belly of the pig. Hmmm.

5. Can small dogs handle a RAW diet?

Yes they can. But RAW diets are about more than slicing off some sirloin before you toss that steak on the barbie…

It’s important to handle raw meat carefully; especially for YOUR health. Your dog may love it, but raw meat is still full of potentially harmful toxins, bacteria and even parasites. Dogs are more resistant, but they’re not immune to some of these dangers.

A RAW diet isn’t without digestion problems either, especially when you get started. Launching a new feeding regime can be tricky.

And the number one issue: ensuring your Morkie gets the right nutrition. For a RAW diet, this takes a lot of planning and knowledge to balance the ingredients, and ensure all the micronutrients and vitamins and minerals are delivered in a RAW diet.

Next: 'Prescription' or Veterinary Diets - Scam or Solution?

Homemade dog treats

Dec 20, 2018 | Feeding Your Morkie

Want to make your own homemade dog treats? As we saw in the last post, commercial dog treats and jerky snacks can be sketchy. And rawhide bones are really dangerous! So make your own and you can count on quality dog treats for your Morkie.

Over the holidays, you might get a chance to make your own homemade dog treats.

Here are my favourite recipes, in handy downloadable format.

Plus a template you can download, if you want to make your own cookie cutters too.

Make your own cookie cutters

It’s easy, and there are 3 ways to do it:

1. Cut up an empty pop can, into 1″ wide strips. Bend the top edge over about 1/4″ or cover with masking tape to protect your fingers. Shape, tape it and voila – cookie cutter!

2. Use a disposable foil baking tray to cut 1″ long strips of foil, and bend them to your design.

3. Simple tin foil, folded 6 times into a 1″ wide strip.

Three ways to make your own cookie cutters

Be careful of the tin edges; they can be sharp.

Download the templates and recipes

Download cookie cutter template

Download easy homemade treats recipes

Grain-Free Peanut Butter Dog Treats

These are very healthy and high in protein. Plus, they’re grain free – perfect for the Morkie with allergies.

1 Medium Banana
2 large eggs
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup chickpea flour (try Bulk Barn or similar store)
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat the oven to 350.

Mash banana, then beat in eggs and then peanut butter. In a separate bowl, combine chickpea flour, coconut flour and baking soda.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the banana/peanut butter mix.

When well blended, roll the dough out to 1/4″ thick and use your favourite cut outs to make cookies.

Bake for 14 minutes until treats are golden brown.

Remove and let cool completely. Store in a sealed container.

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cookies

This recipe, from Blue Pearl Vet, looks good enough for us to eat. In fact….

½ cup unsweetened pumpkin puree – canned. Not the pie filling; just pure pumpkin.
½ cup plain peanut butter
1 ¼ cup whole wheat flour

Preheat the oven to 325º F

Mix all three ingredients together and knead. Add extra flour if the mixture is too sticky.
Roll out to about ⅓” thick then cut into squares with pizza cutter.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until crunchy and golden.

Crispy Apple Treats

from Blue Pearl Vet

It doesn’t get any easier!

Slice fresh apples very thin, carefully removing all seeds and stem.
Place on a baking sheet in a single layer, and bake at 150º F for about 5 ½ hours.
Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Please download your free recipes, and cookie cutter template.

Download templates

Download recipes

Sweet Potato Chews

from Blue Pearl Vet

Slice a sweet potato into pieces of ⅓ inch thickness. Cut the sweet potato crosswise for smaller, round coins.

Lay the slices onto an ungreased baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake at 250º F for 2 or 3 hours until they are dry with crispy edges.

Flip them halfway through baking to ensure they cook evenly.

Cool and serve to your dog. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Got a favourite recipe you’d like to share? Please post below.

Can dogs eat turkey?

Dec 10, 2018 | Feeding Your Morkie

It’s that festive time of year, and you might be wondering can dogs eat turkey? They can… but it’s not that great for them. That’s because turkey skin and dark meat is fatty. And of course, turkey bones are really bad for dogs.

If you want to make your Morkie a holiday treat…

…try one slice of turkey white meat

no gravy
remove the skin
no bones
no added fat or juice
no dressing or cranberry
just plain, white meat

The dangers of too much turkey

Turkey isn’t dangerous for dogs, but depending on how it’s cooked, it’s not easily digested by dogs. Plus, it can be fatty and can cause stomach upsets for a small dog like a Morkie.

High-fat table scraps and meats can cause pancreatitis in dogs — the Pet Health Network advises that “Even if your dog doesn’t normally eat a high-fat diet, the introduction of a large amount of fatty food all at once can cause acute pancreatitis.” That’s pancreatitis that comes on suddenly and is unexpected, and it can be very painful for your Morkie.

Symptoms of pancreatitis: loss of appetite, vomiting, and abdominal pain. A swollen abdomen is another symptom, along with lethargy and diarrhea.

Can dogs eat turkey? Some Q&As

Does turkey cause diarrhea in dogs?

High fat scraps and meats can cause pancreatitis — the Pet Health Network advises that “Even if your dog doesn’t normally eat a high-fat diet, the introduction of a sudden fatty meal and be painful AND dangerous.

Can my dog have the stuffing?

Not a good idea; dogs cannot eat ONIONS, and should avoid large amounts of garlic and other spices.

Stick to a small piece of white meat, with no gravy or trimmings and your Morkie will thank you in the long run (maybe not, but he’ll be healthy)

Does turkey make dogs sleepy?

The stuff in turkey that causes us to get sleepy is Tryptofan. It’s possible that Tryptofan in turkey can have a mildly sedating effect on dogs too. If your Morkie conks out early, it’s either that, or all the excitement!

Can I give a turkey neck to my dog?

You can – but only if it is RAW. If the turkey neck is cooked, the bones will shatter, and could pierce your Morkie’s digestive tract. Never give your dog cooked bones. Raw is perfectly good – if your dog is used to whole raw meaty bones. If not, the holidays may not be the best time to try feeding RAW.

Can dogs have turkey bones?

No, no, no. Unless they are uncooked. Cooked bones will turn into shards when a dog bites into them, causing long-lasting damage to the digestive system, and even DEATH!

Can I give my Morkie the turkey liver?

Most turkeys come packed with a little gift bag – giblets, which include the liver, kidneys, heart, gizzard and neck. Cover with water in a small pan, and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium and cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until giblets are cooked through. Your Morkie will LOVE it!

Here’s a great recipe from CanineJournal.com for a dog-safe treat made from leftover turkey.

What to do if your Morkie gets into turkey bones

Read this important advice at WWW.CHASINGDOGTALES.COM

Holiday Helpers

For more holiday-specific tips and ideas, please check out these recent posts:

Realizing that his dog ate the Christmas turkey, David Barrett posted: “There’s the culprit, she can’t move.”

Funny / not funny

Bubba, a dog in England, snuck into the kitchen on Christmas Eve and ate an entire turkey! Luckily the dog survived, even though the owner, David Barrett, says she could not MOVE, and just crashed out on the carpet all Christmas day.

We hope that feast was worth it for Bubba, since her family has now said the plump pooch will be put on a New Year’s diet.

Here’s the dog’s normal size

Best dog food brands for your Morkie

Nov 8, 2018 | Feeding Your Morkie

What are some of the best dog food brands you could pick for your Morkie? It’s important that you get the best dog food for small dogs, because there’s no room for fillers and empty calories. Morkies are tiny, so every bite they eat should be nutritionally sound and balanced.

But deciperhing reports, labels and marketing B.S., is a lot of work. We’ve done the heavy lifting for you, with a list at the bottom of the post, that you can download. It features 10 best dog food brands for your Morkie and 10 really horrible choices – and why.

When you’re shopping for commercial dog food for your Morkie, check the label — at least the first 5 ingredients.

PICK THIS

Food that has lots of real, named protein at the top of the label – things like beef, chicken, salmon, lamb and so on.

Food whose source of fat is named – beef fat, poultry, fat. etc. Unnamed fat can be anything, including used restaurant grease

NOT THAT

Definitely AVOID any food with what’s just called “meat” or just called “poultry.”

AVOID meat by-products (named or not); and AVOID generic fat, such as “animal fat.” Instead, opt for a NAMED fat such as “beef fat.”

Don’t pick a dog food that has added sweetener listed on the label. This includes sugar, sucrose, molasses, corn syrup and fructose. It’s only in the food to disguise the putrid flavour of the food itself.

Avoid foods that include corn, corn gluten, wheat, and other cheap fillers, in the first 5 ingredients.

Beyond the first 5 ingredients, reject food that contains:

preservatives like BHA, BHT, TBHQ, propyl gallate, ethoxyquin
sugar, corn syrup, propylerne glycol, sucrose, sorbitol, cane sugar
artificial colourings, flavourings, MSG, caramel colour

Here’s the label from popular Kibbles ‘n Bits

Is this a leading dog food, or cattle feed? Corn is the main ingredient, which has little useful nutrients to dogs. Soybean meal is a by-product of the soy oil industry. And beef & bone meal is processed and dried slaughterhouse waste!

Ingredients: Corn, soybean meal, beef & bone meal, whole wheat, animal fat (BHA used as preservative), corn syrup, wheat middlings, water sufficient for processing, animal digest (source of chicken flavor), propylene glycol, salt, hydrochloric acid, potassium chloride, peas, caramel color, sorbic acid (used as a preservative), choline chloride, sodium carbonate, minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin), dl-methionine, calcium sulfate, carrots, green beans, wheat flour, titanium dioxide (color), yellow 5, yellow 6, red 40, BHA (used as a preservative), blue 1

The first 5 ingredients:

corn
soybean meal
beef & bone meal
whole wheat
animal fat (BHA used as preservative)

And #6 ingredient is corn syrup!

Is this a leading dog food, or cattle feed? Corn is the main ingredient, which has little useful nutrients to dogs. Soybean meal is a by-product of the soy oil industry. And beef & bone meal is processed and dried slaughterhouse waste!

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Download the one-pager

Get this handy summary for shopping:

Top dog food brands and horrible dog food brands.
Why some foods are not recommended.

Acana
Blue Buffalo – all canned and dry
Eagle Pack (beef) – canned
Freshpet (rolls and pouches)
Fromm Family Gold (canned)
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals (canned)
Go! Daily Defense (dry) and Go! canned
Horizon (dry) call sub-brands
Orijen (dry and canned) all sub-brands
Primal Raw Frozen Mixes (Raw Frozen)
Simply Nourish Source (Dry)
Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixer Superblends (Freeze-Dried)
Wellness Core (all dry and canned)
Whole Earth Farms (canned and dry)

Alpo (dry)
Beneful (dry)
Cesar Savory Delights (wet tubs) – includes Angus Beef Flavor , Filet Mignon Flavor, etc. Cesar (dry)
Gravy Train Dog Food (canned and dry)
Hills Science Diet (canned and dry)
Kal Kan Dog Food (dry)
Kibbles & Bits (dry)
Ol’ Roy (canned and dry)
Pedigree Dog Food* (dry)*This label includes 11 sub-brands such as Pedigree Small Dog Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak and Vegetable Flavor (plus other flavors)
Purina Dog Chow (dry)
Purina Moist and Meaty (semi-moist)
Purina One (canned and dry)
Royal Canin Lifestyle Health Nutrition Urban Life (Dry)
Science Diet – see Hills.

The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on the website wwwaboutmorkies.com represent the views and opinions of the author.

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The Top Ten Holiday Hazards for your Morkie

And a big danger during the holidays

What to do if your Morkie does eat turkey bones

More tips and ideas for the holidays, including gifts for dog lovers.

Why can’t we just trust manufacturers?

Weigh the pros and cons of kibble versus canned dog food

Diet Rotation

Tip #1 Read the label

If you can decode the label, you’re well on your way to providing better food for your Morkie.

All of the ingredients must be listed in order. Focus on the first five; this is where the bulk of the nutrition comes from.

Tip # 2: Look at the first 5 ingredients... or the ingredients above the fat

PICK FOOD WITH:

ALWAYS AVOID FOOD WITH:

Do dogs need carbohydrates?

The best compromise especially for kibble

Ugh – check these First Five ingredients

Tip #3: Avoid these Top Three Offenders

1. The word “meat” or “meat by-products” near the top of the ingredient list

2. BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin

3. Corn

Should you pick organic dog food?

When you see ‘organic’ or ‘natural’ on your Morkie’s dog food label…

What does “organic” mean on a dog food label?

There's meat and then there's "meat." And they are worlds apart

Look very carefully at how the main protein source is described

Tip #4: Avoid food with meat by-products - whether the meat is named or not

Tip #5: Avoid food with meat MEAL

Tip #6: Avoid food with meat AND BONE MEAL

Tip #7: Avoid food with ANIMAL DIGEST

Download this free one-pager “Pick This Not That”

Want to take better care of your Morkie?

ORDER this invaluable e-book today

Or read more about the MORKIE MEGA GUIDE e-book.

Order today and take better care of your Morkie

THE Comprehensive Guide to Morkies

Can dogs eat turkey?

Not really, but….

Use ground turkey meat to make these treats instead

More Thanksgiving treats your Morkie can enjoy

PUMPKIN TO THE RESCUE

Order today and take better care of your Morkie

Can Dogs Survive on a Vegan Food & Treats Diet?

A Vegan Menu for Dogs

Provide supplements

Benefits of Bone Broth

Bone Broth for Dogs

How to Use It

If Your Morkie is Feeling Sick

Make Your Own Bone Broth for Dogs or Buy It Ready-Made

Bone broth is loaded with:

You can make bone broth yourself, or buy it in powdered form.

RECIPE I: BASIC BONE BROTH

For even more nutrition, add any of the following while the broth cooks:

Recipe 2 – Fiskesuppe

Recipe 3 – Chicken Bone Broth with Turmeric

Buy quality dried bone broth for your Morkie

READ MORE

Bone Broth for Dogs Available on Line

Is bone broth the same as soup stock?

For a small dog like a Morkie, any type of nut can be a problem:

Deadly: macadamia nuts

If you suspect your Morkie has eaten macadamia nuts, see the vet at once.

More Nuts to Avoid

No to Black Walnuts

No to Almonds

No to Pecans

Peanuts aren't nuts - SO THEY'RE OK

What about peanuts and peanut butter?

The One Peanut Butter that IS Bad for Dogs - Very Bad!

Smarter Snacks for your Morkie

READ MORE

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Check this site

All dogs need the same, good nutrition

Commercial diets with plant filler

What ARE the nutritional needs of a toy dog?

How important is small size kibble?

Here’s a quick guide to help you pick better quality food —

Let's sum up: does your Morkie really need small breed dog food?