Rainbows For Your Pups

IRAINBOWS FOR YOUR PUPS!

By Roz Lishak

It’s been said that having a pet in your life brings both sunshine and a little rain, so a rainbow themed canine corner is absolutely in order!

With many human and hound crossover foods constantly making their way to the dog bowl, I thought it would be a good idea to list a colourful collection of food notes with positive benefits plus a few ‘beware’ moments to ensure safe servings for your dog.

Red - Tomato Although ripe tomatoes are considered non-toxic to dogs and can be an occasional snack, only one large or equally two small ripe red tomatoes per week is considered enough for their digestion pattern.

Note for gardeners: as the tomato plant itself is a member of the nightshade family, that is to be avoided. Yellow - Lemon Ingredient warning as citric acid can be harmful to dogs. With lemon being such a staple and simple ingredient within most cuisines and in so many dishes, it’s so easy to forget that it’s even there, so treat it with a ‘hidden’ ingredient mentality and remember that a squeeze or two may naturally make their way into any savoury recipe! Although a single lick of a lemon lolly probably won’t turn your dog’s stomach, certainly too much of it can make your pup feel very sick.

Pink - Pomegranate Simple answer is yes to juice, but a big, big no to feeding raw pomegranate fruit with their tannin filled seeds and unsavoury skin.

Green - Spirulina Spirulina is a dietary supplement made

from blue-green algae, rich in proteins and vitamins, and it is fast becoming known in the pet world as a super food ingredient.

It can strengthen your dog’s immune system, cleanse the body of toxins and improve digestion and overall gastrointestinal health…and (this characteristic is pure gold!) it is also said to help with bad or doggy breath!

Orange - Carrot High in fibre and beta-carotene, carrots are an ideal and safe snack for your dogs, and they are a great addition to regular dog food, whether raw or cooked. Crunching and chewing are great for your dog’s teeth, and actually this simple orange veggie is winner for both pet and owner.

Purple - Aubergine Yes, dogs can happily eat aubergine safely raw or cooked, but dogs will find cooked aubergine much more appetising and far easier to digest as an ingredient. The only way to avoid feeding your dog aubergine is fried because it retains so much fat…which quite frankly does cut out most recipe ideas!

Blue - Blueberries Oh yes, dogs can eat blueberries. Blueberries are a wonderful superfood, packed with fibre, rich in antioxidants, which prevent cell damage in humans and canines both! Frozen or natural they make an ideal treat.

I’ve always thought that pets come into our lives to bring a silent sense of unconditional love, so in this rainbow themed edition, I couldn’t leave the page without the mention of the ‘Rainbow Bridge’.

In the pet world, the phrase ‘Crossing over the Rainbow Bridge’ describes that moment when our beloved pets leave us and reach a mythical space that connects Heaven to Earth — with the belief that one day pet owners will be reunited with their dearest pets again. This is said to be a wonderful source of comfort at the time of their loss.

May you make and share many more menu memories with your pooch with health and happiness for years and years to come.

Team Links

Simon Carlo - @meatandtoneveg Despina Mina - @forkedldn Emma Walton-Moore - @supperinthesuburbs Charlotte Benbow - @charlotte.benbow Emma Sousa - @theurbanflowerfarmer Ying Bower - @yingenough Dani Gavriel - @dani_gavriel Roz Lishak - @yourpupparazzi Gilly Balcombe - @gillianbalcombe Eve Tudor - @iameditoroffood Jack and Hayley Rowbottom - @jacksmeatshack Anthony Raffo - @anthonyraffo Urvashi Roe - @urvashiroe David Rickett - @davidrickett Andy Christou - @broodroastery @andy.creative Ellie Cook - @ellie_croissant Sofia Gallo - @in_cucinacon_sofia