On October 2nd I posted, Healthy Autumn Brownie Recipe,  given to us from The Honest Kitchen.

Because I put it on the bottom of the article, some Dogsters missed that along with the recipe we are also having a fun giveaway.

The Honest Kitchen has generously donated some of their homemade dog treats to give away. Besides being all natural they have great names; Nuzzles, Pecks, Ice Pups, and Smooches.

We’re going to be giving one of each kind away, a total of four prizes. To enter use one of the treat names in a funny sentence, it doesn’t have to make sense. As an example, “I give my dog Smooches.” Leave your comment, in the comment section, and I will choose the winners on Thursday, October 9th based on the funniest or silliest answers.

To enter, go to the original posting and leave your comment in the comment section.  Good luck!

The Honest Kitchen, based out of San Diego, is a natural pet food company. They’re a company that loves what they do and take pride in preparing fresh, healthy products for your best friend.

“We believe our pets deserve the same quality food that we’d choose for ourselves. That’s why all our recipes are made with 100% human-grade ingredients that you’d recognize from your own kitchen.

Our recipes are prepared with care and uncompromising attention to detail, so you can serve them with confidence.”

Lucy Postins
Company Founder and Friend to Mosi & Willow

The other great thing about this company is that a percentage of their profits go towards animal-welfare causes. As if that wasn’t enough, they have a pet friendly office and are joined by up to seven co-dogs a day.

For all the Dogsters who are foodies, The Honest Kitchen has been nice enough to share one of their healthy and fun to make recipes.  You and your pal can spend a fall afternoon whipping up a batch of yummy brownies.  Although I would advise that the two legged member be in control of the oven.

Healthy Autumn Brownies
These rich but delectable brownie-style treats can be made with any one of our dehydrated raw foods for dogs, and make use of some of the fall’s healthiest vegetables and fruits. Squash may be substituted for sweet potatoes if desired.

Ingredients
2 Eggs
½ Cup of Cooked, Mashed Sweet Potato
½ Cup of cooked Parsnips, finely diced
3/4 Cup of Diced Ham
¼ Cup Grated Gruyere Cheese
¼ Cup of Dried Cranberries
4 Tbsp Applesauce
2 cups of Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Food
1 ½ Cups Warm Meat Broth (low sodium, if commercial)
1 Small Pinch fresh or Dried Rosemary (optional)

What To Do:
Hydrate the food using the warm meat broth.

Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk lightly. Mix in the applesauce, ham and cheese.

Mix the sweet potato or squash into the hydrated food, along with the parsnips & cranberries.

Add the egg mix to the Sweet Potato mix and combine thoroughly.

Spread in a thin layer onto a well greased baking sheet.
Grate a little extra cheese on top if desired and cook at 300 F for about 60 minutes or until the top is slightly dried and slightly crispy.

Cool thoroughly and cut into squares to serve.
For firmer treats, divide the mix into teaspoon sized drops and space evenly on a baking sheet, flattening gently with the spoon. Cook as above.

*Oatmeal and a little ground meat can be used as a substitute for the THK products.

The Honest Kitchen has generously donated some of their homemade dog treats to give away.  Besides being all natural they have great names; Nuzzles, Pecks, Ice Pups, and Smooches.

We’re going to be giving one of each kind away, a total of four prizes. To enter use one of the treat names in a funny sentence, it doesn’t have to make sense. As an example, “I give my dog Smooches.”     Leave your comment, in the comment section, and I will choose the winners on Thursday, October 9th based on the funniest or silliest answers.

I know many Dogsters have had questions regarding this recall, here is the latest update:

Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of Everson, PA Plant Dry Pet Food Product due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - FANKLIN, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 - TODAY, MARS PETCARE US ANNOUNCED A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED AT ITS EVERSON, PENNSYLVANIA FACILITY. THE PET FOOD IS BEING VOLUNTARILY RECALLED BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION WITH SALMONELLA SEROTYPESCHWARZENGRUND. THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL ONLY AFFECTS THE UNITED STATES. 

SALMONELLA CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INFECTIONS IN DOGS AND CATS, AND, IF THERE IS CROSS CONTAMINATION CAUSED BY HANDLING OF THE PET FOOD, IN PEOPLE AS WELL, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, THE AGED, AND PEOPLE WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS.  HEALTHY PEOPLE POTENTIALLY INFECTED WITH SALMONELLA SHOULD MONITOR THEMSELVES FOR SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIARRHEA OR BLOODY DIARRHEA, ABDOMINAL CRAMPING AND FEVER. ON RARE OCCASIONS, SALMONELLA CAN RESULT IN MORE SERIOUS AILMENTS, INCLUDING ARTERIAL INFECTIONS, ENDOCARDITIS, ARTHRITIS, MUSCLE PAIN, EYE IRRITATION, AND URINARY TRACT SYMPTOMS. CONSUMERS EXHIBITING THESE SIGNS AFTER HAVING CONTACT WITH THIS PRODUCT SHOULD CONTACT THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

PETS WITH SALMONELLA INFECTIONS MAY BE LETHARGIC AND HAVE DIARRHEA OR BLOODY DIARRHEA, FEVER, AND VOMITING. SOME PETS WILL HAVE ONLY DECREASED APPETITE, FEVER AND ABDOMINAL PAIN.  ANIMALS CAN BE CARRIERS WITH NO VISIBLE SYMPTOMS AND CAN POTENTIALLY INFECT OTHER ANIMALS OR HUMANS. IF YOUR PET HAS CONSUMED THE RECALLED PRODUCT AND HAS THESE SYMPTOMS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR VETERINARIAN.

Please go read all the information to make sure you have all the facts. You can also go directly to the Mars site and click on the different food logo’s to see if what you bought is affected.

A recall was just announced by Mars Petcare US on some of its products…..

A salmonella scare has forced Mars Petcare US to recall 100 of its 20-pound bags of PEDIGREE Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites sold at some Albertsons in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada.

The company also makes Nutro pet food, which scores of consumers nationwide blame for the recent illnesses - and even deaths - of their dog and cats.

Nutro products, however, are not included in this recall.

Mars said a “component” that tested positive for salmonella was inadvertently shipped to its Tracy, California, plant and used in the production of 100 bags of PEDIGREE pet food.

The affected bags have the “best by” dates of July 7, 2009.

“Our primary concern is the safety and welfare of our pet owners and their pets,” the company said in a statement. “Although the finished product tested negative and we have received no reports of illness of pets or their owners, out of an abundance of caution we are issuing a voluntary recall of the limited number of bags of Pedigree Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites containing the component in question.”

The following are tips to help prevent the spread of salmonella poisoning.

Salmonella can cause infections in dogs and cats. It can also be transferred from pets to people who ingest or handle contaminated products. Children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk.

To prevent the spread of salmonella contamination, the FDA said consumers should wash their hands for 20 seconds with hot water and soap before and after handling pet foods and treats.

Consumers should also:• Wash pet food bowls, dishes, and scooping utensils with soap and hot water after each use;

• Not use their pets’ feeding bowl as a scooping utensil. Pet owners should use a clean scoop or spoon;

• Dispose of old or spoiled pet food products in securely tied plastic bags and put them in a covered trash cans.

The FDA’s Web site has additional tips on how to safely handle pet food.

To keep your best friend safe check your dog food to make sure you don’t have one of the affected products.

Do you ever wonder what food to feed your best friend?  There are so many brands of food available, and such a wide range of ingredients it can be a bit overwhelming.  Having three dogs, all different ages, and of varying size it’s hard to find one food suitable for all.  I was surfing the web and I came across a site called The Dog Food Project , it’s a great source of information.

Do you know exactly what you are  pouring into your dog’s bowl?  Do you wonder how your brand rates when it comes to price vs ingredient safety and quality.  Do you know what ingredients to avoid?  Find out the answers to these questions and more at The Dog Food Project.