Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Thanksgiving is coming!

This happens to me every year, perhaps because of National Novel Writing Month, but Thanksgiving has snuck right up on me!

Last year I posted about this lovely holiday play set that Target had. I don't think Target has brought it back, unfortunately, but because I've carefully guarded it, we've still got it! But, I also talked about food safety, and things like that bear repeating.



One thing that we've noticed at holiday time with Elka is that sometimes, when somebody *coughnotmecough* feeds her things like turkey skin, she has the runs after. I guess this is a good indicator that she has just enough fat in her diet, and doesn't need more of it in "lump sum" quantities. We've never given her what seems to be a massive amount of turkey skin, but we won't be doing any of that this year. Pancreatitis is one of those things you have to watch out for, and I've seen other blogs and web sites caution against loading your dog up on high fat things at any time. There are other ways to give them treats, they don't need to be greasy and fatty!

I've discovered this year that Elka really loves sweet potatoes. Mostly because every time I have sweet potato, she sings at my plate until I give her some. I tend to just bake them, with some butter or some olive oil, and find they don't really need much more than that. I didn't used to like sweet potatoes; add it to the list, I guess.

So, safe and happy holidays, folks!


26 comments:

  1. Woof! Woof! I LOVE Sweet Potatoes. In the beginning many told my mom it was like a food filler for doggies. I just love it. She created several test recipes (which we haven't shared - next year for sure) using sweet potato as the main ingredients. Happy Tasty Tuesday. Golden Thanks for sharing this information. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

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    1. Yes, share the sweet potato recipes! So far, I only bake them, though I did have a misbegotten try at sweet potato fries years ago (I didn't have sharp enough knives at the time)

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  2. have a great thanks giving and i hope elka finds some bum safe treats too :)

    stormy likes to share our food, stuff that doesnt make his bum squirt is: porridge, yoghurt, rice pudding, chicken breast, raw brocolli stalks with the skin peeled off cos he is picky and when we are feeling extra nice we get him a fish cake from the chip shop, its mostly potato so maybe thats why even tho its fried it doesnt seem to give him a dicky tummy, he woofs it down :)

    Charlene and Stormy
    xxx

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    1. How funny that he's picky about whether his broccoli is peeled ;) I love their particulars. Elka does love yogurt as well...if the flavor is friendly, we'll let her lick out the container once the rest is finished.

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  3. Storm had a bout of pancreatitis after she ate too many hot dogs at a dog show. The vet cautioned us against people foods with high fat for her especially since she is not used to having them. We don't really feed our dogs people food so no extras at Thanksgiving for any of them. I am sure they will not be pleased. :)

    That set from Target is cute.

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    1. From hotdogs, really? I'm surprised I haven't seen the same effect from Elka, as hotdogs are the default morning walk treat.

      Elka gets people food, if she behaves accordingly. If she gets pushy/entitled, she's cut off for a period of time until she learns her manners.

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  4. haven't tried sweet potatoes, but they sound yummy!

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    1. They're super tasty, you should definitely give them a go!

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  5. Fred and Gloria love sweet potatoes too. We have learned the hard way to limit turkey goodness for them also. :)

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  6. Because sweet potatoes are on sale this time of year, I stocked up and made Honey some dried sweet potato slices (bake on 170 degree heat for several hours in the oven).

    It's a nice special treat for the holidays, Honey loves them, and they don't make her sick. :)

    Hope you enjoy a lovely holiday with the ones you love.

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    1. Ooh, dried sweet potato slices sound like a great idea! I should do some of those for Elka, I'm sure she would absolutely love them as well.

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    1. I was so happy to discover how much I liked them!

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  8. Gasp! I too just discovered my love of sweet potatoes over the past year! And they are really a good healthy treat for dogs as well - Blueberry just adores them!

    Have a Happy (Runs-Free) Thanksgiving! :)

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    1. Isn't it funny, how tastes can change? It's also funny to me how many non-meat treats Elka likes...I guess I just didn't know much about what dogs ate before getting her.

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  9. Gizmo loves sweet potatoes too so I always give him a bit when i bake them...And you're so right about that extra fat...definitely brings on the runs...Have a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner *snoogles8

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  10. Yummers! I do love the sweet potatoes! (Ma, not so much)

    Kisses,
    Ruby

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    1. Oh, she might come around one of these days. Or not! I'm hardly one to fault somebody on picking eating, with all of the particulars that I still have.

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  11. Our pups will be enjoying their Thanksgiving dinner in a can thanks to Merrick! lol

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    1. Yay, Merrick! I'm glad that you've been so happy with those products.

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  12. "sings at my plate" - what a lovely way to put that. We love SP at our house - and while we might slip the boys a bite or two of breast meat, we don't share the skin with them either (that's MY guilty pleasure!)

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    1. One of these days, I'll video Elka crooning, and the world will know what I mean!

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  13. We love sweet potatoes! Have you tried steamed and mashed cauliflower with some sour cream? Tastes just like a baked potato!

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    1. I haven't tried cauliflower in that way, though I've heard of it. I'll have to try one of these days!

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