Homemade Dog Treats- Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Flavored!

Can we make dog treats today?

Yummy- Peanut Butter!

Oooh!  Pumpkin too!

Mixing the ingredients together.

Baking in the oven.  Is it ready yet?

Looks delicious!  I will share them with all my doggy daycare buddies this week!

Taste test? I'd be happy to!

That was hard work.  Time for a nap...

 Ingredients
2 1/2 C whole wheat flour
2 eggs
1/2 C canned pumpkin
2 Tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt and cinnamon in a bowl.  Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff.  Roll the dough into 1/2 inch thick roll.  Use cookie cutter to make cut out shapes.
3.  Bake in oven until hard, about 30-40 minutes.

References:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/peanut-butter-and-pumpkin-dog-treats/

SDMVC Takes The Color Run!

On Saturday, October 6th, South Des Moines Veterinary Center took on The Color Run 5K!  We all had a blast participating and it was definitely a fun 5K to be a part of.  The Color Run Des Moines partnered with Variety: The Children's Charity to raise money for their group.  Check out our before and after pictures!  

Halloween Safety Tips for Pets

Celebrate at home.  Going house-to-house in the dark increases the chances that Fido will get spooked or get a hold of some potentially dangerous decorations or candy. 

Better to plan games and a movie night with a few friends and family who can appreciate Fido’s Halloween costume and respect his needs.

Pick A Safe Costume.  It should not constrict the animal’s movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow.  Also make sure the costume does not have any small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on.  Last, be sure to try on costumes before the big night.  If your pet seems distressed in their costume, consider a festive bandana instead. 

Schedule a Special Outing to show her off.  If your pet enjoys dressing up in a costume, enter her in a local contest or parade.  South Des Moines Veterinary Center is hosting a Halloween Costume Contest on Facebook during the month of October.  We would love for you to stop out and show off your pet’s costume!

Post emergency numbers on your fridge.  Post your veterinary clinic’s number, emergency/after-hours veterinarian, as well as the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) for emergencies. 

ID’s Please!  Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification.  Microchips and collars with tags will increase the chances of your pet being reunited with you if he or she goes missing.  

Breast Cancer Awareness for Pets

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  But did you know that breast cancer, or mammary tumors, occur in our pets just as they do in people?

Facts

-25 % (1 in 4) of unspayed female dogs will get mammary cancer 

-Most "at-risk" breeds: Poodle, Brittany Spaniel, English Setter, Pointer, Fox Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Boston Terrier

-Only about 1 in every 4000 un-spayed cats will get mammary cancer.  However, 90% of mammary tumors in cats are malignant while about 50% are malignant in dogs.  

Home Screening

Since our dogs and cats cannot perform a "self-exam" like people can, it's up to us to do it for them.  Dogs and cats have 8 to 10 mammary glands or teats, so it can take some time to check for lumps and bumps.  Have your pet lay on their side and gently massage each teat and the surrounding tissue.  Note any abnormalities.  

Not all lumps are tumors, so don't be alarmed if you feel something unusual.  Nursing mothers or females in heat will have enlarged mammary tissue due to hormone associated changes.  Overweight or older females may have fatty deposits in the mammary area.  

If you find a suspicious lump, bring your pet to the veterinarian for further assessment.  Early detection is key just like in humans.  

Prevention

Fortunately, spaying a dog or cat before their first heat will reduce the chance of breast cancer to almost zero. 
If spayed after one heat cycle, your pet has an  8 percent chance of developing breast cancer.  If spayed after two heat cycles, the risk increases to 25  percent. 

References:
http://blog.purinacare.com/post/2011/10/21/Breast-Cancer-Awareness-for-Pets.aspx
http://www.firstline.com