Happy Friday everyone!  It’s “Friday Treats Friday” and I hope you are enjoying these as much as I am.  I have to admit that I was a bit stumped this week on what to create for you.  I feel like I’ve been using whole wheat floured recipes so much and wanted to change things up.  I had some very ripe bananas in the refrigerator and just bought a jar of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Unrefined).  I also picked up some beautiful looking organic zucchini to make Thomas my fried zucchini recipe (which he loves) and thought…boy, I’ll put these 3 together and make a very healthy frozen snack for the pups!  

Does your dog love bananas?  How about zucchini?  Jake and Maggie are not super huge fans of bananas but love zucchini and coconut oil.

Coconut Oil:
Coconut Oil is like nature’s medicine. It has antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties that can benefit your pup in a number of ways. Research shows that coconut oil also helps improve digestion, help with weight loss, increases nutrient absorption, improves skin health, and helps fight doggy breath! I give Jake and Maggie a tablespoon of extra virgin coconut oil every morning and all I have to say the word and they come running.

Zucchini:
Did you know that most people think of zucchini as a vegetable but zucchini is technically a fruit! Because zucchini forms from the zucchini flower, it’s a berry, in botanical terms.  Zucchini is full of antioxidants, helps with weight loss, it’s rich in vitamins A, C, B6, K and minerals like potassium, zinc, manganese, magnesium, copper, and phosphorus.

Here is something that I did not know about feeding your dog zucchini

One Caution With Zucchini – Usually, zucchini is a non-toxic food that you can safely give your dog in moderation.  But, in some cases, zucchini can be extremely bitter and possibly toxic. That’s due to the cucurbitacins, a class of biochemicals found in plants.

Avoiding Bitter Zucchini!!
Cucurbitacins, known in chemistry as “bitter principles,” give off a bitter flavor and can be toxic.  This biochemical is usually in the roots, stems, and leaves all parts of squash humans don’t usually eat.  But when the bitterness goes into the plant, it causes a very bitter (and toxic) taste!  In humans, bitter zucchini can cause nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting.  Make sure you’re buying healthy zucchini grown in favorable conditions. Organic is always best. And choose smaller ones the monster zucchini you sometimes find are more likely to be bitter.

If you’re not sure, taste a little before feeding it to your dog! If it’s bitter, throw it away (or put it in your compost heap).  I found this information on:  https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/can-dogs-eat-zucchini-health-benefits/

Bananas:
Yes, dogs can eat bananas. In moderation, bananas are a great low-calorie treat for dogs. They’re high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. They are low in cholesterol and sodium, but because of their high sugar content, bananas should be given as a treat, not part of your dog’s main diet.  As I said, the pups are not huge fans of bananas but mixed with two of their favorites, I took a chance and they loved them.  We can put a stamp on this recipe…Lab tested, doggie approved!

 

These posts were written a long time ago but I wanted to re-post them.  I’m sure everyone is either celebrating July 4th with others or will be close by to fireworks going off.  I know that in our neighborhood, people have already started with the bottle rockets.  This creates anxiety for many animals and this is why I do not like fireworks.  Sure the beautiful colors light up the night sky but when your pet is suffering due to the loud noises, it’s important to focus on how to deal with them and ease their discomfort.  I hope these posts help you to help your pet.

https://twoadorablelabs.com/noise-anxiety-in-dogs/

https://twoadorablelabs.com/the-number-one-music-genre-to-help-sooth-pet-anxiety/

https://twoadorablelabs.com/six-ways-to-alleviate-pet-anxiety/

https://twoadorablelabs.com/the-breakdown-and-dysfunction-of-an-animals-mind/

Frozen Banana Zucchini Bites

Ingredients:

1 ripe bananas, smashed
Zucchini
1 teaspoon extra virgin coconut oil

Instructions:

Mash banana
Add coconut oil
Nook for 30 seconds in the microwave
Mix together
Cut up zucchini in slivers and then halves
Fill your mold with banana
Add the halves of zucchini so that when it freezes you can hold it when giving your pup the treat (almost like a popsicle stick)