DOG KARMA

A BARKING CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND A HAPPY HEALTHY 2025 AHEAD!

1. Offer a little about dog nutrition which we know can help your dog live longer and save on vet bills.

2. Break down training DOs and DON’Ts which will give your dog every chance to succeed navigating our human world.

3. Answer questions after consulting with my network of expert professionals, and sharing your stories because sharing is caring 🫶.

It’s been a while since I wrote my last newsletter (MASS APOLOGIES) and I promise to get better at it in 2025. Life just took over and this fell by the way side. So for this special Christmas edition I’m going to let Blue deliver his thoughts for the season of love and giving, and lots of food! He’s been itching (metaphorically) to do so all year and I’ve finally caved, so without further a do, I give you Blue. Jody x

WHOOF to all you doggy parents,

I can’t believe mama has finally allowed me to grace her laptop with my paws only on the condition that I give them a good wipe, which I did on the sofa as we’ve been for a long walk in the rain. It was okay but I’m not a massive fan of the rain. It’s the Greek in me, I much prefer drier days because the rain flattens my coat which is not a good look on me! Anyways, here are my thoughts for the humans on this mailing list, this Christmas.

My wish for Christmas is world peace. Lofty ambition I know but I’m happy to report that three years into my relationship with mama, she smells of love and optimism. I know I definitely smell better, and I have my diet to thank for that. I eat raw food, which has been a total game changer for me. Illustrated by the fact that I’ve become a model. I’ve never felt or looked better! It’s quite a turn around from when I arrived in the UK from Greece in 2020. At that time my joints were really sore and I had a collection of skin problems. These days I can jump over logs and hop sideways through water. I also have my own bowl, which in dog’s terms means I’ve made it.

I can’t complain, life is pretty good. It involves a lot of time gazing into mama’s eyes. Me, because I’m trying to understand what she needs, but her, because she’s in love with me, or in love with loving me. I haven’t quite figured it out yet. Not that it matters. I mean, as long as we love each other we can face what ever the world throws at us. 

So as it’s Christmas soon, which means there’s a lot more food around, I would like to offer up some advice for you to keep your doggies happy and safe this holiday season.

Here are my tips to get through the holidays with no hiccups.

NO COOKED BONES - while it might be tempting to feed us doggies the leftovers on Christmas day including a Turkey leg here or there, cooked bones are a NO. They can splinter and cause problems in the stomach and gut. We rely on you to make responsible decisions for us because our eyes are much bigger than our bellies. Cooked bones can cause internal injuries and lead to surgery, who wants that at Christmas. If your dog does ingest one by mistake it is mindful to monitor them. Signs your doggy may be in trouble are: vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain or difficulty breathing. I know because I experienced this once. I literally couldn’t get up off the floor for five hours and mama was worried I was going to die. She kept asking me to move to make sure I was still alive and that wasn’t even a cooked bone, I had a raw one but she’d given it to me directly from the butcher. It’s much safer to freeze them for 48 hours to ensure all bacteria is removed, defrost, then serve.

NO CHRISTMAS PUDDING OR MINCE PIES - raisins are toxic and can cause kidney failure and while your dog might be okay, is it worth the risk? Grapes are also a BIG NO.

YES TO TURKEY MEAT & VEGGIES - while I eat a raw diet there is nothing wrong with eating cooked meat now and again, veggies are simple carbs and go down well. Fresh food is always better than ultra-processed foods. Be mindful of gravy if it has a lot of added salt. Salt in excess quantities can poison dogs, I know this too as it happened to me after I ate salted sardines once. My brain is small and it became dehydrated, I was panting for ten hours while my mama monitored me with bowls of fresh water. I had a lucky escape.

YES TO CRANBERRIES - but not from a jar filled with sugar. Just give us the cranberries whole or dry. They are really good for our urinary health, full of vitamin C+ E, great for our skin health and immunity boosting.  If you’re making cranberry sauce just leave some for us before you add the sugar. A little honey is okay to sweeten it.

NO TO THEMED MEALS - just don’t believe the hype. Mince pies for dogs are rubbish. It’s a marketing ploy. If you want to give us a treat buy us a fresh juicy steak!

And there you have it, my top tips for Christmas to keep your doggies safe so they can spread the love this holiday.

Mama is tickling the back on my left ear just where I like it so it’s time for me to sign off and roll over to get a tummy rub too. And, if Christmas is a difficult time of year for you, give your dog a hug, it’ll make you feel okay. We are really good at that, making everything okay.

NUTRITION FIRST  
RECIPES
 …from the kitchen cupboard

As with humans, diversity is key to our dog’s nutritional health so here’s a recipe you can have ready in no time at all. Feeding your dog from human supplies rather than solely depending on pet food can help the overall well-being of your doggy. Feeding doesn’t have to be complicated, it should do more than just fill them up, it should help gut health and longevity.

COURGETTES - a great source of soluble fibre, grated. 

KEFIR – is high in calcium and protein. It is also a probiotic, which can be good for gut health aiding a strong immune system (if your dog is dairy allergic, skip this).

HERBS - anti-inflammatory herbs such as mint, rosemary, thyme (NOT CHIVES as they are toxic for dogs). Chopped up.

BONE BROTH - if you’re making home made great, if you’re using shop bought always check on the salt content.

Grab an ice tray, pour in the Kefir so the serving is half way full, then add the grated courgettes and herbs, and fill with bone broth. Freeze and serve as treats for your doggies! They will love it.

A LITTLE EXTRA LOVE
HOMEMADE TREATS 
Turkey and butternut squash balls

With the leftover Turkey you could make some doggie treats, but make sure there’s not excess salt on the meat. Shred up the meat, steam some butternut squash and put it in a bowl and mash together, add a little coconut flour to bind it and roll into balls. Stick in the fridge then serve. You can freeze this and serve later.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST  

DO YOU KNOW A DOG PARENT WHO WOULD LOVE THIS TOO?

YOU HAVE A CHOICE 🤔

GET INVOLVED
EMAIL US YOUR QUESTIONS & TIPS: [email protected]  

We might just feature them and your doggo!