Finding Natural Dog Food Recipes

Your dog’s behavior, health, happiness, well being and longevity in large part depend on what you feed your dog. Although there are a variety of dog foods available in the market, natural dog foods are considered to be the best for a dog’s health. Dogs require specific nutrition that is necessary to maintain their health. The food that your dog eats should contain all the necessary nutrients as they play an important role in the proper functioning of your dog’s body. Natural and home-made dog foods are highly nutritious, plus your dog will love them!

Image via WikipediaNatural dog food is fairly easy to find these days, but as with human foods labeled "natural", it is best to check before buying, and make sure they are truly all natural. However, even the ones that are often contain a lot of salt or other things that your dog may not necessarily need so much of.

If you can, the best thing you can feed your dog (or yourself!) is home-made food. Natural dog food recipes are not difficult. In fact it is very easy to make your own natural dog food. Without any problem, you should be able to make most of these dog foods at home. All you require is access to some fresh natural ingredients. Natural dog food recipes can also help keep your dog healthy by providing all the nutrients they need in the freshest form. If you want to strengthen the immune system of your dog then making your dog's food at home yourself is your best bet.

Your dog may even find relief from allergies or fleas. Home-made natural dog food recipes are much better than processed pet food. Some experts believe that processed food is responsible for causing many illnesses among pets. A constant diet of processed dog food may give rise to coat and skin problems and other serious health problems. In some cases, it could even lead to premature death of your dog.

Natural dog food is a great source of energy as well, and will help keep your dog happy as well as healthy. Various natural dog food recipes are available online, and there are also a number of natural dog food recipe cookbooks. With the help of these books, you can make your own natural dog food at home.

Image via WikipediaDogs not only survive but thrive on this type of food. Here is just one example of a popular natural dog food recipe, which is safe and healthy for your dog.

Akita Style Rice and Lamb: The ingredients of this dog food recipe are lamb, brown rice, broccoli, potatoes, carrots and kombi. Brown the lamb in a skillet, and then add rice. Stir well until starting to brown, then add cubed potatoes. Cook a few minutes. Add to crock pot, along with a small quantity of water, and all other ingredients. Mix well, cover, and cook until tender. Yum!  So good you will probably want some too! 

Natural Dog Food Recipe Books:
   

Product Review: West Paw Design Eco Drop Pet Beds

Eco-friendly dog beds might sound like a bit of a luxury, but if you believe in sustainability and eco-friendliness and want to treat your dog to a soft, comfortable, chemical-free bed, the West Paw Design Eco Drop Pet Bed is fantastic. They come in several different sizes, so you can get the one that will work for the size of your dog. The material of the bed is made from a fleecy 85% recycled fabric, the filling is 100% recycled, from soda bottles.

I am sure your dog will love to curl up and snuggle into the soft cushions, so if you're in the mood to give your pet a treat that lasts for the next holiday, this one is a winner. The color choice of the dog bed is Ember Glow, Porcelain or Pearl with a grey-colored bottom. And as dog beds get easily dirty and hairy, the cover of the bed is machine washable and dryer safe.

Overall, these eco beds are earth friendly and natural and create a lovely hang-out for your dog. They are strong and very durable and constructed to a very high standard. If you are looking to invest in a dog bed that is designed with Mother Nature in mind, you won't be disappointed with the West Paw Design Eco Drop Pet Beds.

Where to buy: www.amazon.com (Large, Medium, and Small sizes shown below).

West Paw Design Eco Drop Pet Beds:
    

Tips to Detox Your Pet’s Space

We talk a lot on here about toxic load, and detoxification for you and your household, but what about your pets? Pets can find things toxic that you would have no reaction to (and vice versa), so it is a good idea if you have pets, to keep an eye out for things that may be harmful to them, even if you wouldn't give it a second thought for yourself. Accidental deaths and injuries can often result from pets getting into toxic substances. Like little children, pets need to be watched and, when left alone, their space needs to be free of toxins and dangerous substances. Here are some common things to look out for.

Image via WikipediaFood:

Dogs are prone to eating all manner of food. Anything their owner is eating is fair game as far as they are concerned. But there are some common foods that can be harmful or even lethal to pets. Here are some foods to keep out of your dog's reach:

* Chocolate
* Grapes and raisins
* Soft drinks
* Coffee
* Walnuts
* Avocados

Houseplants:

Cats are especially prone to munching on houseplants. They will also help themselves to your garden plants outdoors. Look online for a comprehensive list of plants that are poisonous to pets. Here is a partial list:

* Aloe
* English Ivy
* Morning Glory
* Yew
* Crocus
* Calla Lily

Provide cats with potted, sprouted greens like wheat and rye grass so that they will be less tempted to eat houseplants. Keep your dog on a leash or in a fenced-in yard, and inspect the yard before letting your dog have the run of the fenced area.

Household Cleaners:

Take care not to use toxic cleaners on your floors, whether carpet, vinyl, hardwood, or other flooring. Most harsh, chemical floor cleaners should either not be used (this is the best option, both for your pets AND your family!) or if they must, they should be used only when the pet is not in the room, and the pet should not allowed back into the room until the floor is dry. Store cleaners, including shampoos, laundry soap, and dishwashing detergent well out of reach of your pets.

Outdoors:

Animals can eat some really disgusting things when allowed to roam unchecked through your neighborhood. Even your yard and immediate property can pose hazards.

Cats and dogs will catch and eat rodents, insects, and grass, all of which could contain poisons. Rodents could have ingested rat poison or have worms. Insects could have been exposed to pesticides or your pet may be allergic to the insect's bite or sting. And neighborhood grass could be sprayed with weed killer or other chemicals. (Hopefully if you're reading this blog, you are practicing organic lawn care/sustainable gardening, so your yard at least should be safe!)

Image via WikipediaSmall Animals:

Small pets like hamsters and mice need a safe space, too. Do not give your caged rodents cotton for bedding; they can ingest it, causing a blockage. Also, colored inks in newspaper and cardboard can be toxic (carcinogenic) to rodents, especially pet mice. So make sure your caged rodent has safe chewing toys and non-toxic bedding.

Keep all pills, medicines, and supplements out of your pet's reach. If you leave a bottle of pain reliever on the counter with the lid loose, your cat could knock it off and it - and the dog - could eat the pills and even be killed.

Do not use plug-in scents or scented candles in your pet's space. They may smell too good and invite ingestion. If you must, use non-toxic products, and keep them up well out of reach of pets.

Can the Planet Bounce Back?

Today I would like to share with you a very interesting blog post, by Dr. Simeon Roger. I have been following his work for sometime, and have even purchased some of his products. I like his philosophy, and he writes some very interesting stuff.

Image via WikipediaThis article is on disasters - specifically "natural" disasters. Citing from Dr. Simeon's post, in 2010 some 373 natural disasters killed 270,000 people in 131 countries. Wow, right?  (By the way, I wonder what we are up to now in 2011??)

Dr. Roger poses the question - what if some of those disasters weren't really "natural" disasters at all, as we tend to assume?

Before you go thinking I'm turning all conspiracy theorist, turn up your speakers and head over to check out this post. And then feel free to comment below with your own take on the future of our planet!

What About the PLANET'S Resilience??? - The Personal Resilience ...
Resilience... the word's Latin root means "to bounce back". And what do you bounce back from? You bounce back from an event that knocks you off your feet, interrupts
"business as usual" and leaves your head spinning. We often refer to these events as "disasters"....

Publish Date: 06/27/2011 13:06
http://warriorcoach.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-about-planets-resilience.html


If you would like to learn more about Roger's work - in particular his best-selling book, click here to visit his website.

Resource: Environmental Health News

Here is a great resource for you, brought to my attention by one of my other favorite health news sources - the EWG. This is one you might want to bookmark!

Image via WikipediaThe veteran journalists, scientists and experts at the non-profit Environmental Health News monitor daily news coverage and major scientific articles, and summarize for you the recent critical developments in science, health and the environment.

Best of all, it's FREE!

Every day you will receive a quick summary of a number of articles, including EHN's original reporting, on the issues you care about -- from toxic chemicals, to food safety, climate change and other environmental risks. You can just follow the links to whichever articles you would like more detail on.

And did I mention that it's free?

To get today's stories and to sign up to get daily headlines sent to your inbox, just visit http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/

You may also want to check out EHN's sister site. The Daily Climate (http://www.dailyclimate.org/) which features links to worldwide news on climate change -- its causes and consequences as well as the potential solutions to a global challenge.

Or, just keep checking our blog, as we do sometimes feature articles and topics inspired from these!

Support Your Right to Choose...Pesticide-Free Produce

We don't usually post fund-raising stuff here, but this is an important one. EWG's pesticide guide almost didn't get published this year - namely because "the powers that be" (a.k.a. our government) tried to squelch it. EWG put the pressure on, and got them to release the data, but as a non-profit, they are only able to bring such valuable information to us through our support. Please read the important letter below, and if you feel so moved, they would welcome your donations.  (I know it says by July 14, but they will still happily receive your donations after that date as well.)

(Published by the Environmental Working Group)

Dear Friend,

Did you know that our Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce -- the resource that
helps you to shop smarter -- almost didn't happen this year? Industry lobbied the
government to stop releasing the data EWG uses in the Guide and to keep you from
finding out about pesticides in your food. 

EWG fought back and made sure the government released the data, because our top
priority is empowering you with the best possible information to help you make
healthy choices.

But, we can't keep doing our research without your support, and we need you now more
than ever. We need to raise $25,000 by midnight Thursday, July 14 to keep us on
track for our 2011 budget. I'm counting on you to help us get there.

Give $10 or more today, and we'll send you our Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in
Produce bag tag. It clips onto your reusable shopping bag to help you make smart
choices about produce while you're shopping, http://tinyurl.com/5rusrza.

For EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce, we compiled FDA and USDA data on
pesticides in food and simulated the eating habits of thousands of consumers. EWG
encourages everyone to eat more fruits and vegetables, period; but we've shown that
by eating the right kind of produce, you can reduce your family's exposure to
pesticides by up to 92 percent.

EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce tells you exactly which foods are
most important to buy organic to limit your exposure. 

This seventh edition of EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce almost didn't
happen, but because of the watchdogging work we do with your support, we got the
data you rely on. 

A donation before Thursday, July 14 will give us the ability to keep doing
everything we can to arm consumers like you with the latest information to help you
make sound decisions at the grocery store.  

Don't have your Guide yet? Click here to make an immediate, secure donation of $10
or more to EWG and we'll send you our Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce bag
tag. We need your support to keep empowering consumers with the latest food safety
data, http://tinyurl.com/6c3lyeo.

We recommend buying organic if you can. It's the best way to keep your family safe
from pesticides in fruits and vegetables. But we know that's not always possible, so
we published the research you need to make smart choices. 

We can't keep doing this kind of work without your continued support, so please make
a donation right away.

Sincerely, 

Ken Cook 
President, Environmental Working Group

What to Consider When Buying an Air Purifier

Are you a smoker? What about a pet owner?  Do you keep all your doors and windows closed most of the time? If so, there is a good chance that the air inside your home isn’t as healthy as it could or should be. That is why you may want to think about purchasing an air purifier.  Air purifiers are electronic machines that work to clean up the air. They do this by trapping, and often eliminating, harmful bacteria and air particles, and other toxins in your home. In fact, you don’t even have to be a pet owner or a smoker to benefit from the use of an air purifier; anyone can.

Image via WikipediaIf you are like most other Americans, when it comes to purchasing an air purifier, you may make the decision to purchase one and then go right out and buy one.  Although it is nice to get a product right away when you want it, there are disadvantages to doing so.  Essentially, you may be purchasing a product that is poor in quality. Without the proper amount of research, you will never know.

As mentioned above, it is important that you examine the quality of an air purifier before purchasing it. You can easily do this online. A large number of online websites allow internet users to comment, rate, or write reviews on a product that they have purchased. These products also include air purifiers.  If you know of anyone who uses an air purifier in their home, you may also want to think about asking them for suggestions.  Feedback from those who own the same product is the best way to learn about the quality of it. 

In addition to the quality of the product, it is also important that you examine the size of the air purifier you are interested in buying. When it comes to the size of an air purifier, you do not necessarily need to focus on the size of the actual machine, but you should focus on the size of the space that it is designed for. With cheaper, low-cost air purifiers, you will find that they only tend to treat the air in small rooms. These rooms commonly have a square footage of about 250-350 feet.  If you are looking to treat the air inside a larger room, you may need to spend more money on a larger air purifier. 

Image via WikipediaIt is also important to consider the cost of an air purifier.  Many individuals, regrettably, make a mistake when doing this. That mistake is believing that the purchase price is the only cost that they need to worry about. While there are some air purifiers that are filter-less, not all are. Many of these air purifiers, the ones that require filters, need to have their filters changed every so often. This can be as little as once every couple of years or as much as a couple of months.  It is important that you keep the cost of replacement parts, including filters, in mind.  When doing this, you may find that an otherwise low-cost air purifier turns into one that is too expensive for you to afford.

Since, in many cases, air purifiers are considered expensive, you are advised to look for air purifiers that come with warranties.  In most cases, you will find that many air purifiers have a manufacturer’s warranty. That warranty typically tends to last about a year.  If you are spending more than $400 on an air purifier, you may want to think about getting an extended warranty.  If you purchase your next air purifier from a retail store, you may need to pay for the warranty.  Despite possibly having to pay for an extended warranty, you will find that it is worth the cost. Should anything happen to your expensive air purifier, a warranty would, in most cases, prevent you from being out of luck.

The above mentioned points are just a few of the many that you need to take into consideration, when buying an air purifier. As previously mentioned, an air purifier can be a large purchase. That is why you are advised to fully research and examine all aspects of that purchase before making a final decision. It is the only way to make sure that you are not wasting your money.

A Few Examples of Air Purifiers: