More Peanut

Things I love about Peanut...

1. She's the only dog that I know that sleeps like a baby. A very heavy sleeper, indeed!

2. She likes going up to our beds... but in the process, she struggles, cries and gets really frustrated. She ain't a great jumper. And I find that so cute! ;)

3. She stares at you (just like pictured above.) :) 'nuf said!

4. She sometimes attempts to go incognito in a tiptoe-ish manner. And it works! Thus, either enabling her to pass our radars or simply getting locked in rooms because we don't notice her entering it! 

5. I love it how she doesn't always run for the grassy areas. :) I find it quite mild mannered of her. 

6. Peanut doesn't seem to ever be too shy to get right in your face--literally! She can get really up close and would often sniff our faces; her nose touching our faces literally. Adorable. :)

Puppy Files: Peanut

Milk Bath: It's Not Just for You

It was actually during a recent visit to the vet that I learned of a really good tip for chow chow owners who want to maintain the rich and fluffy coat of their pets. The key lies in MILK BATH! :-) Basically, any kind of milk bath (goat, vegetable, et cetera) should work. I used Autrepart Lait de Bain Au Lait Vegetal after of course, an initial round of soap and water battle with Mallows. (She's not fond of bathes.) Another tip that we've learned from a different vet is the use of Perla, a local detergent, which is also ideal as an initial soap for pet bathes. Perla is milder than the typical commercial detergent, is made with natural ingredients and is even said to contain coconut milk. The latter needs to be confirmed. But if you're concerned with flea or tick problems, Petgard's dog soap is another option. Try it! Whether your dog is a chow chow, a mini pomeranian, a shi tzu or any other type of dog that has a rich coat such as Mallows, I'm confident that their coats will come out to be soft, fluffy, and more importantly, huggable!

*Photo taken from http://shopping.msn.fr    

Product Review: Dancing Paws Joint Maintenance

Mallows has been taking Dancing Paws Joint Maintenance supplements for about 90 days now. Initially, however, Arthrox was prescribed to Mallows by the veterinarian who interpreted her first x-ray that diagnosed her hip condition. During the very first time Mallows took Arthrox, her body reacted by vomiting after only several hours after the ingestion of the supplements. And although this was solved by decreasing the dosage into half as well as giving the supplements after meals, the reaction of Mallows' body signaled the strength and perhaps harshness of the supplements. The thought made me uncomfortable and at the same time, I felt bad that I wasn't able to do something to prevent the anticipated pain that accompanies Mallows' hip dysplasia. Fortunately for me, I was just window shopping at Shangri-La mall when I discovered Bow&wow (separate post here). And it was there that I found, tried and learned to love Dancing Paws Joint Maintenance Supplements (90 chewable wafers priced at Php 959). Its made of the finest ingredients that are natural too. Thus, mild yet effective enough for Mallows. And so good that even our yorkies (Chloe and Peanut) beg for a taste of it! 

*photo taken from http://www.dancingpaws.com/jointmaintenance.html

Yakult is Good!

Peanut has recently experienced some troubles in terms of the consistency of her stool. During the second day of this problem, I decided to take her to the vet to determine its possible cause. And after answering several questions, the vet concluded that it must be due to a type of bacterial infection in her digestive system. The vet who I took Peanut to is actually new to us; Peanut's vet was out that day. Nevertheless, the vet has been very accommodating, helpful and insightful. I appreciate the fact that she didn't immediately rely on medicines or antibiotics. In fact, she recommended that I try Yakult (http://www.yakultusa.com/), which is a probiotic drink. This was to hopefully strengthen Peanut's digestive system. Furthermore, the vet explains to me that giving Peanut antibiotics will only kill BOTH good and bad bacteria. Peanut is already on her second day on Yakult medication and so far so good. :-) 

By the way, Peanut was advised to take 2 mL (approximately 1/2 teaspoon) of Yakult three times a day for 7 days. Her current weight is 6 lbs.

Real Simple Beefy Goodness

Ingredients:

4 parts water

2 parts minced or ground beef

1 part minced cabbage

1 part minced carrots

2 parts cooked rice

Directions:

Boil the beef in water then add the vegetables. Let it simmer for a minute or so. 

Then add the cooked rice. 

Remove the dish from the heat and cool before serving.  

Mallows' Favorite Cheesy Biscuits

Ingredients:

3 cups + approximately 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup oats

1/4 cup powdered milk

1/4 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)

1 cup chicken stock (at room temperature)

1/2 cup vegetable shortening (at room temperature)

1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil

2 eggs

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius (or 350 degrees Fahrenheit). In a large bowl, mix 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup oats, 1/4 cup powdered milk, 1/4 cheddar cheese, 1 cup chicken stock, 1/2 cup vegetable shortening, 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil and 2 eggs. Add a bit of flour when necessary or until a clay-like dough is formed. 

Using the excess flour, dust a smooth and clean surface with flour. Knead out the dough until it flattens out to only around 1/3 of an inch. Then using any cookie cutter, punch out the dough. Bake the shaped dough pieces on a tray layered with a cookie sheet for 30 minutes or until the surface of the biscuits turn into a golden brown. Cool then store.