Christmas is the time for all the family to enjoy – our pet pooches included. We know that dogs are best off sticking to their normal food over the holidays but ignoring those puppy eyes beaming up to the dinner table is notoriously difficult. If you know you won’t be able to resist sneaking your furry friend some festive treats, it’s important to know what Christmas foods you can, and what Christmas foods you definitely can’t, give your dog.
Christmas foods that your dog shouldn’t eat
Starting with the basics, your dog should never be encouraged to join in with Christmas drinking. Even a small amount of alcohol can be dangerous. There are also several traditional festive food goodies that you should not share with your pet:
- The bones and skin from the turkey or chicken
Bones from any bird can be dangerous. They can get lodged in the throat, becoming a serious choking hazard, and can break into small sharp pieces that can pierce the lining of the stomach or intestines. Turkey skin is extremely fatty, which is not only unhealthy for dogs, but can cause serious problems with their pancreas.
- Gravy
You may think that gravy is delicious and completely harmless, but it’s high in salt and fat, both of which can be dangerous to dogs.
- Onions and other bulb vegetables
All types of alliums are poisonous to dogs, so it’s important to keep your pet away from them. Onions are the main cause for concern, but other bulb vegetables, like garlic, can also cause serious problems.
- Grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas
All of these items are highly toxic to dogs. In fact, if your pet eats even a small amount, you should seek help from a vet as soon as possible. For this reason, Christmas treats such as Christmas pudding, Christmas cake and mince pies should never be fed to dogs, and ideally be kept out of reach at all times.
- Chocolate in any form
Chocolate is a favourite in most homes over the holidays, but it’s very bad for dogs. It contains theobromine, which can be deadly to your furry friend even in small amounts, so don’t let them have any, no matter how much they give you the sad eyes treatment.
You should of course not serve any of these foods to your dog at any time of the year, but it might be a good idea to keep an extra eye on your dog during the holidays, as leftovers might be left on the table while you enjoy a game of charades, or well-meaning guests might try to sneak your pooch a bit of Christmas cake. It’s a good idea to tell everyone not to feed the dogs anything, and then, if you really want to, you can treat them to some canine-friendly festive food yourself. Here are a few things that are fine for dogs to eat.
Christmas foods that your dog can eat
Christmas won’t be ruined for your dog if they don’t get a special Christmas dinner, but if you want them to join in with the celebrations, you can try some of these things. It’s important to remember that all of these foods should be given to dogs in moderation – keep portions small.
- A few slices of turkey
You can give your pet some white turkey meat, as long as the skin and all bones have been removed.
- Boiled and mashed potatoes
Dogs will enjoy a small amount of boiled or mashed potato. Remember that you should only ever feed your pet plain potato with no salt or butter added.
- Other vegetables
As with any other food items, do not give your dog a pile of vegetables, but it’s fine to let them have a try of a few selected items from the Christmas meal. Sprouts, swedes, parsnips and green beans are normally very popular with dogs, as is a raw or cooked piece of carrot. Do not add any seasoning, butter or sauces before you give the vegetables to your pet, however.
- Eggs
Many of us enjoy some scrambled eggs on Christmas morning, and this is another thing you can give to your dog as a treat. In fact, eggs contain lots of beneficial vitamins and minerals, and can make the dog’s coat shinier. Again, you should not add any butter or salt to the eggs, and it’s best to keep portions small.
- Fruit with pips or stones removed
Most fruits in the fruit bowl can be shared with your dog, as long as pips or stones are removed, and items like bananas and satsumas are peeled. You should however remember that fruit is acidic and contains a lot of sugar, so can cause stomach problems in dogs if they have too much.
Omlet and your dog’s Christmas
Whichever foods you’ll be tucking into over the holidays, Omlet has just what your pup needs to have to make sure it’s their best yet. Our easy-to-clean dog beds are perfect for messy pups this season, and our ingeniously designed dog crates are ideal for when Fido needs a break. So, now you know what foods are on and off the menu, it’s time to enjoy the festivities, knowing your canine companion will be staying safe.
This entry was posted in Christmas on December 21st, 2018 by linnearask
Christmas is a wonderful time of year, and we’re all looking forward to celebrating together with our loved ones, including our pets! It’s therefore important to consider what effect all the festive fun is having on our furry friends, and to make sure they’re also having a great time. Here are some of our top tips for keeping your pets safe and happy this Christmas!
Limit treats
We know it’s much more difficult to resist feeding scraps to your pets over Christmas, but in most cases, it’s really not good for them, and can even be harmful. Instead, we suggest that you spend this special occasion making the most of plenty of quality time with your pets. They’ll without a doubt prefer your company to treats or presents! For a guide of what you can feed your dogs this Christmas, take a read of our blog Happy Howlidays: Food Do’s and Don’ts for Dogs This Christmas.
Keep routines
Try to stick to the normal schedule as much as possible over the holidays, especially when it comes to mealtimes. Our pets don’t understand that we have got lots to do during this time after all, and a disruption of their routines will add to a possibly already stressful time. Let your chickens out at the same time as usual, walk your dog as you would normally and give your cat their daily play time.
Give your pets a safe space
Christmas can get hectic, so make sure your pet has somewhere to go to get away from all hustle and bustle, preferably in a different, quieter, room. If you’ve got guests coming over, let them know what to do, and what not to do, around your pets. It’s important that everyone knows what doors, windows and gates need to be kept closed, what the pets are allowed to do and eat, and when they are to be left alone.
Going away
If you’re spending Christmas somewhere else, you need to take your pets into consideration. Don’t leave them alone for longer than they are used to, and make sure they’ve got what they need while you’re away. If you’re taking them with you, bring something that will remind them of home, like a cat blanket, dog toy, or their hamster cage. If you can’t take them with you, you will need to find an alternative solution.
Make sure you plan the journey and be aware of the fact that traffic can be busy around Christmas. Your pet must have access to food and water at all times, and depending on your what pet you’ve got, there might be a need for toilet breaks.
Christmas trees and plants
Make sure your Christmas tree if safely secured, as cats tend to try and climb them. It might also be a good idea to hang especially intriguing and tantalising decorations higher up in the tree where pets can’t reach them as easily. This minimises the risk of cats getting tangled and the tree falling over.
Hoover under and around the tree regularly to get rid of fallen pine needles. The needles can get stuck in mouths or between toes, which can be very painful.
Lots of our most common Christmas plants, including poinsettias, mistletoe and amaryllis, are poisonous to a lot of pets, so make sure you stay clear of them, or keep them out of reach.
Decorations and presents
Choose non-toxic Christmas decorations and keep cables from lights and other decorations out of reach. Should your pet try to nibble through them, this can cause damage to both cable and pet.
Don’t leave presents containing eatable things (chocolate in particular!) under the tree. It will soon be sniffed out, and it won’t take a couple of greedy paws long to get into a wrapped present.
Once the gifts have been opened, clear away the wrapping paper straight away. Not only will you avoid having paper all over the room once your pets get to it, but coloured paper and string should also not be ingested by pets.
This entry was posted in Pets on December 19th, 2018 by linnearask
What’s on your Christmas list when it comes to cake? Easy, healthy, indulgent, gluten free, no added fat? Using eggs and veg from the garden, this recipe ticks every box…
Ingredients:
100 g good-quality dark chocolate
250 g grated raw beetroot
4 large free-range eggs
100 g ground almonds
150 g golden caster sugar
2 tablespoon good-quality cocoa powder
2 tsp mixed spice
1 teaspoon baking powder (gluten free if required)
Decorations of your choice: icing sugar, chocolate shavings, almond slivers, etc.
Method:
1) Preheat the oven to 180c and line a 20cm round cake tin with baking parchment.
2) Melt the chocolate in bowl over hot water.
2) In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, almond, sugar, cocoa powder, mixed spice and baking powder.
3) Fold in the melted chocolate, followed by the grated beetroot.
4) Pour mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 40 minutes, it’s cooked throughout when a clean metal skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
5) Allow to cool and decorate as you choose!
Enjoy!
Recipe courtesy of Hen Cornerwww.hencorner.com
This entry was posted in Recipes on December 17th, 2018 by linnearask
Animals can either be social or solitary, which you’ll find information on below. But which category does your pet fall under, and do they have their own friend already?
Social animals
An animal that exhibits a high degree of sociality is called a social animal. This means they need contact with their own kind. Being kept on their own causes these animals to experience boredom, frustration and fear. Unless you have plenty of time to socialise with them, it is recommended these pets have a buddy.
Solitary animals
Solitary animals on the other hand spend a majority of their lives without others of their species, with possible exceptions for mating and raising their young. They are often territorial and do not like the company of another animal, especially an animal of their own kind. Some solitary animals will even start fighting when kept together, which can harm or even kill one or both animals.
Does my rabbit need a friend?
Wild rabbits spend their lives as part of a large group, known as a warren. Rabbits are very sociable animals and need to be kept with at least one other rabbit. It is easiest if rabbits are kept together from birth, but rabbits less than 3 months old will usually live together happily. The best combination is a neutered male and a neutered female. Two litter brothers or two litter sisters will also get on well, but to prevent fighting it is important that they are both neutered.
Does my hamster need a friend?
Syrian (and sometimes Chinese) hamsters must be kept alone. If kept together, these hamsters will get very stressed, even if they are housed in a large enclosure. For owners who want to keep two or more hamsters together, Dwarf hamsters are recommended (such as Roborovskis or Winter Whites). These species can be kept in pairs or groups as long as they are given adequate space.
Does my guinea pig need a friend?
In the wild guinea pigs live in groups of 10 or more, they are social creatures, and like company. As pets they are usually kept in pairs; two females (sows) will live happily together, as will two males (boars), particularly if they are brothers. Two boars of different ages will usually live together, as long as there are no females around. If a female and male live together the male should be castrated.
Does my gerbil need a friend?
Due to their social nature gerbils need the company of their own kind, the exception being Fat-Tailed gerbils. It is always advisable to get a pair of gerbils because it can be difficult to introduce two gerbils to each other when they are adults (around 16 weeks old). You can keep either two males or two females. Whilst gerbils are social and can live in groups, unless you have a very big area to keep them in, it’s better to keep no more than 2-4.
Does my dog need a friend?
Dogs love nothing more than attention and affection, whether it be from you (their owner) or their fellow dog friends. They can be perfectly happy with just the attention from their owner and family, which means getting another dog is not essential. It is often thought that adopting another dog will instantly solve all problems associated with your first dog’s separation anxiety, but unfortunately this isn’t always the case. When adopting a second dog you must consider a number of different variables, including gender, temperament, energy requirements and size. You can find out more about setting your furry friend up on a successful doggy playdate in this previous blog for some more tips!
Does my cat need a friend?
It is thought that cats don’t actually crave companionship from one of their own. Often they are perfectly happy being the only cat in the house. Cats are indeed a solitary species but they can and do live in groups. But an extra cat friend (or partner in crime) does provides extra mental and physical stimulation. The major benefit to getting two cats is that they will keep each other company whilst you are away. Getting kittens from the same litter of cats is always the best choice.
Does my chicken need a friend?
Free-ranging chickens are social animals. Hens and chicks are the core, while roosters live independently. Because chickens are social animals they prefer to live in a flock. Furthermore, a chicken without a buddy will get lonely and stressed out. When you have a group of chickens or add new chickens to your existing flock, they will have to establish the pecking order and you might start to wonder if they are social animals after all. Read the guide on our website for more information on how to introduce chickens to an existing flock.
For more information on what else you need to know about getting a new pet, have a read of the Omlet Pet Guides. You can also shop everything you need for your furry or feathered friend on the Omlet shop!
This entry was posted in Pets on December 14th, 2018 by linnearask
Free delivery for one day only!
It’s Day 13 of the advent calendar, and we’re offering you free delivery when you spend £50 or more! Use the code RUDOLPH18 at checkout to claim free delivery!
But hurry, offer ends at midnight tonight!
Terms and Conditions:
Purchases must be over £50 in total. Offer applies to Standard Delivery Service only. Use code RUDOLPH18 at checkout to claim free delivery. Subject to availability. Omlet ltd. reserves the right to withdraw the offer at any point. Omlet cannot take responsibility for third party supplier delays such as courier service. Offer is only valid on full priced items and cannot be used on existing discounts or in conjunction with any other offer. Free delivery is only valid for orders shipped to the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Denmark, Sweden and Spain. Free delivery ends at midnight on the 13th of December 2018.
Offer excludes the following items: Marriage’s Organic Mixed Corn – 20kg, Marriage’s Organic Layers Pellets – 20kg, Organic Omlet Chicken Feed 10kg and Mixed Corn 10kg, Organic Omlet Chicken Feed 10kg Twin Pack, Organic Omlet Mixed Corn – 10kg, Organic Omlet Chicken Feed 10kg, Feed – Farmyard Layers Pellets – Non Organic 20kg, Easichick Bedding 10kg, Aubiose Bedding – 20kg
This entry was posted in Offers and promotions on December 13th, 2018 by linnearask
You will save £10 on orders over £50 when you enter code SANTA10 at checkout this weekend! A perfect opportunity to save on those last minutes Christmas presents!
Terms and Conditions:
Enter code SANTA10 at checkout to get £10 off your order. Purchases must be over £50 in total. Subject to availability. Omlet ltd. reserves the right to withdraw the offer at any point. Omlet cannot take responsibility for third party supplier delays such as courier service. Cannot be redeemed on delivery or courses.This offer is valid from 8/12/18 until midnight on 9/12/18 only. This offer cannot be used on existing discounts or in conjunction with any other offer.
This entry was posted in Offers and promotions on December 8th, 2018 by linnearask
These delicious Apple and Cinnamon Dog Cookies are a great Christmas treat for your pooch this festive season, and they’re healthy!
Ingredients
Makes 10 cookies
70g coconut flour
1 egg
3 teaspoons of coconut oil
Pinch of cinnamon
1 apple (grated)
And a cookie cutter
180 C for 15 minutes
(160 C fan assisted or gas mark 4)
- Preheat the oven to 160c and prepare a baking tray with baking paper.
- Heat 3 teaspoons of coconut oil in a bowl in the microwave for 1 minute, or until soft.
- Mix together the egg, coconut oil in a bowl.
- Grate 1 apple into the bowl and mix.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon to the mix.
- Weigh out 70g of coconut flour into a separate bowl, and start to add a bit of flour at a time to the wet mixture, stirring as you go.
- Continue adding coconut flour and mixing until you get a dough like consistency. You may not need to use all the flour to achieve this. The texture will be sticky and slightly crumbly.
- Dust some coconut flour onto a clean surface and place the dough on top.
- Flatten the dough with a rolling pin or your hands until it is approximately 1 cm thick
- Use a small cookie cutter (approx 5cm diameter) to press out shapes in the dough and place them onto the baking tray. Handle these carefully as the dough can be fragile due to the lack of fat in the recipe (too much fat is unhealthy for dogs!)
- Once all the dough has been used and the cookies are all placed on the baking tray, place them in the oven for approximately 15 minutes, keeping an eye that they do not burn.
- Take them out the oven and leave to cool, at this point they will firm up a bit more, so handle carefully.
- Once cool, store in a cool dry place, and treat your dog to a delicious cookie!
Health Benefits
- Coconut flour is gluten free, perfect for dogs who suffer an intolerance of wheat. It’s also low in sugar and high in protein, fibre, and healthy fats.
- In small quantities, coconut oil can promote a healthy coat, improve digestion and assist the immune system.
- Eggs are also great for extra protein in your dog’s diet
- Did you know, cinnamon can be incredibly helpful for senior dogs who are suffering with arthritis? Adding a small amount to your dog’s diet can be incredibly beneficial.
- Apples are a source of Vitamin A and C so make a great, healthy treat for your dog, but don’t feed them the core when you have finished grating the apple, as the seeds are harmful.
As always, treats should be given to dogs alongside a healthy balanced diet, and do not feed them too many at a time.
We’d love to see your photos of this cookie recipe, tag us on Instagram using #OmletPets.
Sources:
https://www.chewchewtreats.ca/blogs/chewchew-treats-blog/coconut-flour-benefits-for-dogs
https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/nutrition/dog-approved-people-food
https://www.dogster.com/dog-food/about-cinnamon-for-dogs
https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/can-dogs-eat-apples/29085
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/
This entry was posted in Recipes on December 7th, 2018 by linnearask
Get you delivery in time for Christmas.
Make sure you order before the these dates to get your delivery in time for the big day:
Orders delivered by DPD must be placed by 12 Noon on Wednesday 19th December.
Royal Mail orders must be received by 12 Noon on Monday 17th December for Christmas delivery.
Orders for large items requiring pallet delivery (e.g. Eglu Classic) must be received by 12 Noon on Wednesday 12th December for Christmas delivery.
Deadlines depend on the product you are purchasing and your chosen delivery method delivering to a mainland UK address. Please allow an extra day for delivery to the Highlands. This date is a guide only, we recommend that you place your orders early to avoid disappointment. If this date has passed you can call out customer service team to see if delivery is still possible. Omlet cannot take responsibility for third party supplier delays such as courier service.
No delivery service available on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Years Day.
This entry was posted in Offers and promotions on December 5th, 2018 by linnearask
The cold, frosty temperatures of winter are in full swing, and while you are enjoying a warm cup of tea in the warmth of your kitchen, you might be looking out on your girls wondering how they feel about the colder weather.
If you’re looking for a new way to keep them warm first thing in the morning, or late afternoon just before they go to roost, consider making this yummy, warm corn recipe, specially for your hens, with a festive flavour which will provide extra nutrients to keep up their health this winter. It’s super simple and quick to make.
Ingredients – for 2-3 chickens
40g corn
20g oats
20g raisins
100ml hot water
Pinch of ginger, cinnamon
Method
Soak the corn, oats and raisins in hot water for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in a pinch of Ginger and Cinnamon for added nutrients for your chickens. Leave to cool slightly before feeding to chickens.
Benefits of Ginger and Cinnamon For Chickens
Ginger supports the immune system and provides anti-inflammatory benefits which can be particularly beneficial for a poorly hen. Cinnamon has antibacterial and antioxidant benefits, and can reduce inflammation, these are extremely good for chickens as they are likely to experience respiratory problems.
Only feed your chicken’s porridge as an occasional treat. Make this recipe outside of your kitchen to avoid cross contamination of food.
Source: https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2015/05/spice-up-your-chicken-keeping-for.html
This entry was posted in Chickens on December 1st, 2018 by linnearask