Losing a pet is the hardest part of pet ownership. No matter how well we prepare, you can never fully be ready for your furry friend to cross the rainbow bridge. They simply just don’t live long enough. If you’ve lost a pet recently, or …
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Just like many other families, my mom has always been responsible for picking out all the Christmas gifts for me and my siblings. My dad is typically just as surprised as we are to see what we get on Christmas morning! So when my mom told me that my dad picked out one of my gifts this past holiday season, I was shocked and couldn’t wait to find out what it was. Turns out my dad knows me quite well, because he picked out something that I’ve been wanting to purchase for awhile now- the Dog Treat Maker by Dash. I was so excited to try the dog treat maker out and I am even more excited to review it for all of you. Today, I’m sharing my Dash Dog Treat Maker review.
Dash became incredibly popular during the early days of the pandemic lockdown with their mini waffle makers. During March of 2020 I was seeing these waffle makers all over social media. They’re popularity came from the reasonable price and ease of use! Everyone was able to become a breakfast chef with these waffle makers! As the waffle makers became more popular, Dash created other waffle iron style products, the dog treat maker included.
In simple terms, the Dash dog treat maker is a waffle iron for dog treats. It’s a single piece appliance that plugs into an outlet and heats up in minutes. All you have to do is whip up the batter, pour it into the bone shaped slots, and let the dog treat maker do the rest.
The Dash dog treat maker comes with two items: the appliance itself and a manual with basic instructions and 7 dog treat recipes. I love that it came with a recipe book because standard dog treat recipes you find online likely wouldn’t work. The typical dog treat recipe is more of a roll out dough, while these recipes are closer to the consistency of a waffle batter.
A lot of the recipes are super unique, it even includes a DIY Greenies recipe! I tried out the most basic recipe of them all, the peanut butter pumpkin biscuits, since I already had those ingredients in my kitchen.
To use the Dash Dog Treat Maker, you simply plug it in and watch for the blue light on the top of the appliance. When the light turns off, you know it’s heated up completely.
Follow one of the recipes in the recipe book, they’re all only a few simple ingredients. Once you’ve created your batter, spray down the inside of the treat maker with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Then, pour your batter into the bone shaped slots.
Each recipe tells you how much batter to use and how long to cook the treats. For the peanut butter pumpkin biscuits, you’ll use 1/4 cup of the batter, cook the biscuits for 5 minutes, then flip them using plastic tongs and cook for 5 more minutes. It’s that quick and simple!
Overall, I love the ease of the Dash dog treat maker and I’m excited to play around with the other recipes. For my first attempt, the bones came out a little misshapen because I overfilled the holes, but I feel confident that with a few more tries I’ll be a pro!
My only complaint is that it’s tricky to clean. You can’t submerge it in the sink due to the electrical component and wiping it down causes a lot of crumbs to fall and get caught in the holes. Plus, the cooking spray burns onto the metal plates and is difficult to remove. Luckily, the user manual has a section on how to clean it properly to guide you through the process.
You can get the Dash Dog Treat Maker at Target, Walmart, or on Amazon!
Do you have the Dash Dog Treat Maker? What was your favorite recipe you’ve tried so far?
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
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In the veterinary world, the day after Thanksgiving is often known as “pancreatitis Friday”, rather than “Black Friday”. This is due to the large number of pancreatitis related appointments that come in following the food heavy holiday. Because dogs are often being fed table scraps or even helping themselves to Thanksgiving dinner, pancreatitis case numbers sky rocket during the holiday season each year. While not always fatal, pancreatitis can cause intense pain and discomfort to your furry friend. Today, I’m breaking down what pancreatitis really is and how to avoid a trip to the emergency vet this Thanksgiving.
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that is caused by a variety of things, but most commonly follows a high fat meal. Dogs who get are frequently fed (or steal) table scraps are some of the most frequent pancreatitis patients. Other causes of pancreatitis include:
Because Thanksgiving brings fatty foods such as gravy and butter plus a house full of family members who are likely to give into your dogs begging – the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest day for pancreatitis related emergency vet visits each year.
Unfortunately, pancreatitis symptoms can easily be mistaken for symptoms of other illnesses. As dog parents, we know that the occasional diarrhea or vomiting is typically not cause for concern. However, if you suspect your furry friend may have gotten into some of the Thanksgiving leftovers, it’s important to keep watch for these symptoms and others such as:
If you notice any of these symptoms, or a combination of them, call your dogs vet ASAP.
When left untreated, pancreatitis can spread to and infect the other organs. It becomes fatal when your dog has multiple failing organs or becomes severely dehydrated.
Should your dog get pancreatitis this holiday season, a trip to the vet will be in your future. Once at the vet, bloodwork will be done to check your dogs pancreatic enzyme levels. Then your pup will likely receive IV fluids and be given anti nausea medicine to stop the vomiting and rehydrate them. In severe cases, overnight hospitalization may be necessary.
Your vet will likely prescribe a bland diet and smaller meals for the following couple of days to allow their pancreas to rest and get back to its normal healthy state.
Luckily, holiday food related pancreatitis is easily avoidable! Don’t allow anyone entering your home to give your dog table scraps. Be clear about your expectations when it comes to others feeding your dogs. If necessary, put your dog in a safe space such as their crate or an empty bedroom to avoid them getting food they shouldn’t have.
Of course, if you want to include your pup in the holiday fun you can do so safely and carefully. If you want to give your dog a Thanksgiving dinner of their own, be sure to only include Thanksgiving foods that are safe for dogs to eat. Don’t give them gravy, butter, or anything else that is high in fat or seasonings. Only give them a small amount, your pup doesn’t need a full plate and will be more than happy with a small bite of turkey.
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
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Halloween is right around the corner. If you’re considering matching costumes with your pet, entering a dog costume contest, or just trying to get the perfect picture for Instagram, keep in mind the hazards that Halloween costumes can cause for our furry friends. There’s no denying that dogs in costumes are adorable but it’s important to make sure they’re safe and comfortable as well. Before purchasing that elaborate pet costume, consider these 10 do’s and don’ts for dressing your dog up for Halloween.
1. Do Ensure They Can Move Easily: make sure that your pet can move comfortably in their costume. Your dog should be able to walk, bark, see, and hear without issue.
2. Do Avoid Toxic Materials: your dogs costume should be free of any material that could make them sick should it be ingested.
3. Do Buy Costumes Without Dangling or Small Pieces: dogs are curious creatures, be sure their costume doesn’t have any loose or small pieces that they could chew and possibly choke on.
4. Do Practice Wearing the Costume Before the Event: if you’re entering your dog in a costume contest or planning to bring them along for trick or treating, have them practice wearing the costume around the house several times before the event. This way they’ll be used to the costume, it’ll smell like them, and you won’t have to worry how they’ll react when the big day comes around.
5. Do Watch Your Dogs Body Language: animals can’t speak, so they communicate with us through their body language. Watch them closely for signs of discomfort and remove the costume if they appear uncomfortable or scared.
1. Don’t Put Them In Costumes That Limit Mobility: don’t put your dog in a costume with a mask that will limit their vision or shoes that’ll make it difficult for them to walk.
2. Don’t Leave Them Alone in Costume: wearing a costume is not normal for your dog and can cause potential hazards. Don’t leave them in a room alone while they’re in the costume. Keep a close eye on them to make sure they’re comfortable, can move and see, and aren’t eating the costume.
3. Don’t Restrict Their Breathing: in other words, don’t put them in a mask. Masks will cover their mouth and nose and make it difficult for them to breathe. This is especially important for brachycephalic dogs who already have a difficult time breathing. Masks restrict their vision as well, so it’s best to skip them altogether.
4. Don’t Remove Their Collar and Tags: don’t take your dogs collar and ID tags off just because it doesn’t match their costume. At the end of the day, finding your dog should they run off is more important than a mismatched collar and costume combo.
5. Don’t Force It: if your dog is fighting the costume, is clearly uncomfortable, won’t move while it’s on, or keeps taking it off, do not force them to wear it. Your dogs comfort and happiness is more important than any halloween party, photo, or costume contest. If your dog clearly does not want to be in a costume, don’t force them to do so. Choose a This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
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