everything pets + a tiny human
Hello June. For us in the southern hemisphere it is winter! Time to snuggle up with our furry loves and time to enjoy pyjama days in front of the fire!
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Being healthy is key, whether you are a two legged being or a four legged being, health is of utmost importance! I am a very new bunny mom, but I absolutely love it! Valentine and Duchess are constantly teaching me, fruits they don’t like, herbs they love, what games they enjoy playing and when they prefer to sleep. Their personalities are evident and very different. I constantly find myself laughing at their funny ways. I love being a bunny mom, and just like any mom I like to know that my babies are happy and healthy. I didn’t realise just how much bunnies eat until Valentine and Duchess came into my life. Each morning and each evening I spend a fair amount of time preparing their salads. Each meal is different from the previous one because I have noticed they do not enjoy eating the same thing more than twice! Fussy much 😉 So I have to have a meal plan for them and make sure I have enough fresh produce for them at all times. I am lucky enough to have a lovely vegetable and herb garden, but I seem to just grow produce for the two fluff balls-haha! I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Here is a list of Valentine and Duchess’ favourite fruits, vegetables and herbs and how they like to eat them…
The love list:
This is a list of fruit, veggies and herbs that Valentine and Duchess absolutely love.
One would think that giving a bunny a whole carrot would be what they dream of… Well not my bunnies! They will only eat the carrot if I give them slithers of carrots. I cut most of the other fruits and veggies into small bite sized cubes so it is easy for them to munch on. If something is too big for their liking, they will happily not eat it-even if it is a favourite!! Duchess has a sweet tooth and absolutely loves her fruit. Valentine will happily pass up his fresh foods for his pellets and treats-typical boy haha!
The no thanks list:
I’m not sure I would call my bunnies fussy, they just know what they like and what they don’t like! And luckily for me they let me know. I try to give Valentine and Duchess their favourites everyday, but I can’t help but throw a few of these non-favourites in now and again to see if they have changed their minds 😉 I try to cut them in a different way,slithers, as a zoodle, or small cubes, and sometimes it works!
It is important to feed your bunnies well balanced meals everyday. Remember your bunnies digestive system is very sensitive and too much of one thing can lead to an upset tummy and an uncomfortable bunny! Make sure you feed fruit in small amounts because of their sugar content. They can have slightly more vegetables and more leafy greens. Their main source of food should be hay! Valentine and Duchess love hay and they love playing in it too. I also feed them a small handful of rabbit pellets with each meal and of course homemade treats-but treat recipes are for another blog so keep a lookout 😉
I am pretty sure in a year from now I would have added to each of these lists and I cannot wait to learn more about Valentine and Duchess’ pallets…
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by Happy May everyone! For some it’s time to celebrate spring, for others it’s time to embrace autumn.
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by I am always on the lookout for new recipes and food ideas for Oscar, both healthy and ‘cheat day’ treats. I am very fortunate to be able to provide Oscar with the very best food (in my opinion) that is currently available. I believe that his special dog food keeps him in tip top condition and allows him to be a spring chicken at the age of 12. But who is counting? Age is just a number!
Along with his food, I like to give Oscar some veggie dishes and treats to help him get extra vitamins and minerals to keep him healthy. This hasn’t always been an easy task… Just like a toddler, I have had to come up with creative ways to disguise veggies so my boy will eat them. Of course he has his favourites, but there are some veggies that I believe he should eat that he doesn’t necessarily love but with his hounds nose, he can sniff out anything! So I have to make his veggies tasty or he will turn his nose at them.
Here are some of Oscar’s favourite veggie sides and treats…
Gem squash, pumpkin and butternut:
Oscar loves these three veggies and he will eat them without hesitation. When I cook either of these vegetables for us, I will always add some extra so Oscar can enjoy too. I will usually steam the gem squash halves and scrape the flesh out for Oscar. The pumpkin and butternut I like to roast, lightly tossed in olive oil or coconut oil. Oscar loves roasted butternut on its own but I do like to add this yummy veggie to homemade treats too.
Ingredients
1/2 cup butternut/pumpkin or gem squash puree
1 egg
1 cup wholewheat flour
Handful of chopped fresh parsley
Directions
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix together the butternut/pumpkin or gem squash puree, egg and parsley. Then add the flour and mix until a dough forms. If it is too sticky, add flour. If it is too dry, add a little water. Roll your dough out onto a floured surface and using cookie cutter, cut out cute biscuit treats. Place them on a greased baking tray and bake for 30-45 minutes or until cooked and slightly golden. Let them air dry and cool for a couple of hours. Store them in an air tight container. Your pooch will loves these!
Beetroot:
Oscar will eat roasted beetroot too, but because of their awesome colour, I love making treats with them! I can also add leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale-which Oscar will not eat unless disguised in a treat…
Ingredients
1/2 cup roasted beetroot, mashed up
1 egg
1 cup flour
1/2 cup spinach or kale, wilted and blitzed up
Directions
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix together the mashed up beetroot and blitzed up spinach or kale then add the egg then add the flour until a dough forms. Roll your dough out on a floured surface. Using cookie cutters, cut out the treats and place them on a greased baking tray. Bake them for 30-45 minutes or until cooked through. Remove them and let them cool on a cooling rack. Store them in an airtight container.
Sweet potato:
Besides dehydrating sweet potato as an alternative to a raw hide treat, Oscar loves sweet potato mash as well as sweet potato treats! Making sweet potato mash allows me to hide other veggies like carrots, broccoli, spinach and other healthy leafy greens that Oscar is not keen on eating just as they are.
Ingredients
1/2 cup sweet potato mash
1 cup wholewheat flour
1 egg
1/4 cup cooked broccoli, mashed
1/4 cup cooked spinach, blitzed
Handful of fresh parsley, chopped
Handful of fresh basil, chopped
Directions
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix together the sweet potato, broccoli, spinach, fresh herbs and egg. Add the flour and mix until a dough forms. Instead of using cookie cutters, I like to make little potato gnocchi. Break a small piece of the dough and roll it into a ball then using a fork gently push on the dough ball to make it slightly flatter. Place the gnocchi onto a greased baking tray and bake for 30-45 minutes or until cooked through and slightly golden. Once cooked allow them to cool on a cooling rack before your pup enjoys. Store in an air tight container.
Be creative:
The options are endless when it comes to including your pooch at dinner time! Be creative and explore what he likes and what he doesn’t like. So the next time you make zoodles, broccoli mash or eggplant pizza make a little extra for your furry love…
Not an option:
Please be mindful and stay away from food items that are not healthy for your pooch.
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by April is one of my favourite months of the year! We hope your April is an awesome one…
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by In October last year, we decided to expand our family and we adopted two gorgeous bunnies! Valentine and Duchess are two super cute fluff balls that are always up to mischief. Duchess is the girl, the ringleader and the boss-but then most of us woman are… (hahaha).
Valentine by nature is quite a chilled little guy, he isn’t too shy and loves cuddles and kisses. Duchess on the other hand is quite shy and only comes to you on her terms, but when she does, she basks in the kisses and cuddles she receives. When she has had enough she lets you know and swiftly hops away. They are absolutely adorable and of course Oscar adores his babies too. Every morning there is a kissing and sniffing ceremony that is too cute for words! Valentine is more forthcoming in these ceremonies, but Duchess is slowly coming around. She is royalty after all and does things when and if she feels like it. Meal times are my absolute best. Watching them devour their daily salads and learning which greens they love and which fruits they are not too keen on is the perfect way to spend my morning. I grab a cup of coffee and Oscar and I just sit and watch them enjoy.
They are curious little creatures too. I am forever thinking of new ways to keep them entertained, giving them new toys to play with and things to gnaw on. They get bored quite easily so it is important to give them new things to throw around and investigate. Something as small and insignificant (to us) as a toilet roll holder can keep them entertained for hours. Bunnies, as I have come to realise are extremely clean pets. They are forever grooming themselves and each other. Duchess will sit and lick Valentine and make sure he looks in tip top condition, of course while he falls asleep!
Now I am most certainly not saying rush out and adopt a bunny for Easter! For 10 years I have wanted a bunny to love and cuddle, and now I have two. I am over the moon with happiness, but I did my research and made sure that I could provide the very best for Valentine and Duchess to keep them happy. It takes, time, dedication and money to raise any pet and bunnies are no exception.
I am so excited to spend their first Easter spoiling them and loving them, of course with Oscar and my human man too 😉 Here are some of Oscar’s Easter spoils this year as well as spoils for Valentine and Duchess. So if you have pet bunnies spoil them over Easter too…
Oscar’s Easter Box
Why not create a fun and exciting Easter box for your pup… Here are some goodies you can include that are available in the Stylish Paws online store. Click here to browse.
A new collar and leash set
A comfy and warm jacket
Non-slip doggy socks
An adventure harness
A doggy bowtie
Mini Donuts
Every pup needs Easter treats to enjoy! Now these are not the healthiest treats I have ever made, but they are oh so yummy. You and your furry love can enjoy these as a little Easter spoil…
Ingredients
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar (please do not use Xylitol!)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbp melted butter
2 eggs
Icing
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tbp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
food colouring
sprinkles
Directions
Using an electric beater, beat together all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl for 5 minutes. Plug in your mini donut maker, or preheat your oven to 180 degrees and prepare your donut trays. Fill your donut trays with the mixture and place them in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until cooked and slightly golden. Remove your cooked donuts and gently place them on a cooling rack to cool. Repeat the process until your mixture is finished. I have a mini donut maker so I will be using that. Pour enough mixture into each donut ring, close the lid and leave it for 10 minutes or until cooked and lightly golden in colour. Once cooked, scoop the donuts out gently and let them cool on a cooling rack. Carry on making your donuts until your mixture is finished. Once all your donuts are cooled, they can be iced. Mix together the icing ingredients and add your food colouring to the desired colour you are looking for. Carefully dip one side of your donut into the icing and place back onto the cooling rack, sprinkle with some pretty sprinkles and let them dry. Once the icing is set you can enjoy these yummy treats with your furry love! Savour these moments in life, they are precious.
My real Easter Bunnies: Valentine and Duchess
Because we now have bunnies in our family, of course they need to get spoiled too! Here are some goodies that Valentine and Duchess will be enjoying this Easter…
Bunny Basket
Valentine and Duchess will also get an Easter box this year filled with fun things to keep them entertained as well as some yummy homemade treats.
Toilet roll holders filled with hay and their favourite fresh herbs.
Toilet roll balls filled with their favourite herbs. Bunnies love to toss things around and these can come apart and they can roll and throw the rings around. It is a real winner.
How to make them
Take a toilet roll holder and cut it up into rings. Carefully intertwine the rings so they eventually make a ball. Squeeze herbs into the crevices and let your bunny roll them around and have fun.
Homemade treats
Make something your bunny can enjoy over the Easter holidays.
Ingredients
1/2 cup rabbit pellets
1/2 cup oats
1 ripe banana
1/4 cup butternut
Directions
Cut up the butternut and dry roast it in the oven until soft. You can also boil it until soft. Grind the dry ingredients using a food processor so they become fine and of a flour consistency. Once the butternut is cooked, mash it using a potato masher.Mash the banana and add both the banana and butternut to the dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly so a dough forms. Roll your dough out and using small cookie cutters cut out your bunny treats. Place them onto a greased baking tray and bake for 30 minutes or until cooked. Once cooked, turn the oven off and leave the treats to cool and dry out in the oven. Once cooled you can let your fluff ball enjoy his homemade speciality! Store them in an air tight container.
Easter hunt
Oscar’s favourite game is ‘find it’, so what better time to play than on Easter morning! You can hide the contents of your pups Easter box around the garden or just opt for hiding his treats like I do. Watch his excitement as he races around searching for his hidden treasures…. It is the most wonderful thing to watch. If you, like me, have bunnies to love, you can include them in the Easter hunt too. You can hide their homemade treats around their hutch and places they are allowed to run and play. This will provide excellent entertainment for them and for you 🙂 Don’t forget to get your camera out and snap away so you can always remember these wonderfully happy moments!
Have fun with your furry loves, of all kinds! Enjoy giving them gifts and baking them special treats, I know I will 🙂
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by It’s no secret that I absolutely love baking for Oscar! I never buy shop bought treats for him because I know I can make him treats that are tastier and much healthier too. I love trying out new recipes and Oscar is happy to let me know whether he likes them or not…
This week I decided to make him pretzels. Everyone loves pretzels right? So I made Oscar a healthy batch that he can enjoy, and he loved them!
Oat and Apple pretzels
Ingredients
2 cups oat flour
1/4 cup oats
Squirt of honey
1 egg
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
Directions
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Add all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl and mix until a dough forms. If it too sticky to work with then add a little more flour. Take two small pieces of the dough and roll them into a tube the size of a pencil. Make a U shape with each tube, twist the ends together and fold back to form the pretzel shape. Gently place the pretzels onto a greased baking tray and lightly brush them with egg wash. Bake for 25 minutes or until cooked and golden brown. Let the pretzels cool before allowing you pup to enjoy. Store them in an airtight container.
Flavour variants
You can make your pretzels any flavour to suit your furry loves pallet! Here are some great combinations your pup is sure to love:
Carrot and apple
Peanut butter and apple
Apple and banana
Pear and apple
Sweet Potato pretzels
Ingredients
200g sweet potato
1 cup wholewheat flour
1 tablespoon oats
1 egg
Directions
Peel the sweet potato and chop it into cubes. Place it in a saucepan of boiling water and let it cook for 20 minutes or until soft and cooked. Drain the sweet potato and allow it to cool, then puree it either in a food processor or mash it using a potato masher. Add the flour, oats and egg and mix it together until it forms a dough. If it’s too sticky, add a little extra flour. Take two small pieces of the dough and roll them into a tube the size of a pencil. Make a U shape with each tube, twist the ends together and fold back to form the pretzel shape. Gently place the pretzels onto a greased baking tray and lightly brush them with egg wash. Bake for 25 minutes or until cooked and golden brown. Allow them to cool and store in an airtight container. Your pooch will love these.
Enjoy baking for your furry love! He will know that you have taken time out to make him something special…
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by I often find myself watching Oscar as he appears to be having the most awesome dream. Jowls twitching, nose sniffing and feet seemingly running. I find it hysterical to watch and often reach for my camera or phone to film my boy having the time of his life in dreamland. But the real question is, Does Oscar dream?
I’m happy to admit that Oscar doesn’t get the gold medal for being the most active boy on the block but he is the most happy-go-lucky soul I have ever met. Happy to snooze under my feet in the office, happy to fall asleep next to me while I watch my favourite t.v shows, happy to sun tan with me and of course he is happy to snuggle up in bed. I would say Oscar’s favourite pass time is sleeping. So let’s explore whether Oscar does dream or not…
The simple answer is yes. While we do not know for sure what our beloved pups dream about, studies have shown that they enter a state of deep sleep just like us humans do. It is during this deep sleeping period that Oscar has his various dreams. It is also said that smaller dogs will dream a lot more each night than larger dogs will. Puppies also dream more than adult dogs because they are processing the new information they learn each day.
Obviously I would love to ask Oscar what he dreamt about last night and have him answer me, but unfortunately that is not the case. We can only speculate that his dreams are similar to mine. Replaying the days events of chasing birds, eating his treats and barking at the clouds.
While your pups sudden growls and howls may be alarming, please do not wake him from his dream. Your pup needs deep uninterrupted sleep for healthy brain activity. Think about how you feel when you have suddenly been woken up from your dreams…
Waking your pooch from a deep, dreaming sleep may startle him and this could result in him lashing out. A startled pup needs a moment to assess his surroundings. So please let your pup sleep.
The positions our furry loves sleep in can tell us how comfortable and happy they are at that particular moment. Oscar has many sleeping positions, but here are a few of his favourites and what they mean.
Side sleeping: We call this one ‘sleeping like a human’ since Oscar always has his head on a pillow and is covered by his comfy duvet. This is said to be a very restful and comfortable sleeping position. It means Oscar is comfortable with his surroundings without the fear of threats.
Curled up like a ball: This is the most defensive position. Oscar will tuck his feet and tail tightly under himself and nudge his head close to his body too. It isn’t a very restful position and it can also mean he is cold and trying to keep himself warm.
Legs up: When Oscar sleeps in this position, it shows absolute relaxation and comfort. He doesn’t have a care in the world!
Curled side sleep: This is a favourite for many of our furry loves. Oscar will sleep on his tummy, slightly curled up and cosy. This is a comfortable position to for him to sleep in and it allows him to jump up quickly if need be.
It is important that your pooch has at least one super comfortable bed to sleep on. Yes, Oscar is very spoilt and has three of his own dedicated bed, plus he uses the couch and the outside furniture as his resting spots too. If you wouldn’t sleep on your pups bed then you shouldn’t expect him to either. Please make sure you provide him with something comfortable and clean.
You can browse the Stylish Paws online store for handmade beds click here.
Thank you for reading.
by The month of March is here and we hope it’s a memorable one for you.
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by We all know how healthy coconut oil is for us humans, but did you know that as healthy as it is for us, it is for our furry loves? It has a wide variety of benefits and uses for our furry companions, including digestion support, fur conditioner, soothes skin irritations, quick energy booster, supports heathy weight, aids in bone and joint health, improves general skin health, and disinfects cuts, wounds and bites just to name a few. I’ll be honest, I am not a huge fan of using it in my cooking but Oscar on the other hand absolutely loves it! So here are a few ways your pooch can benefit from a little coconut oil each day…
Skin and fur conditioner
We have all had skin irritations and rashes at some point in our lives, so we know exactly how itchy and sore they can be. When you notice your pup scratching and gnawing at his fur, try rubbing a handful of coconut oil onto his fur and give him a little massage to soothe his inflamed skin area. Coconut has great soothing properties to help ease skin irritations caused by dry skin, flea bites or just a general rash. Coconut oil works wonders on our own hair so why not treat your pups fur to a hydrating mask too. Simply bath him as usual and condition his fur with coconut oil instead of his usual pet conditioner. Gently massage the coconut oil into his skin-This is always Oscar’s favourite part of his bath regime. It is not necessary to rinse thoroughly but you can rinse slightly to get the greasy residue off. Your pooch will smell gorgeous too 🙂
Snout and paw protector
When your pups paws feel a little extra rough and tough, you can rub a small amount of coconut oil on them to soften them up. It will also heal any cuts he may have on his paws. You can also smear a small amount onto his snout when it looks a little dry and cracked (read all about Oscar’s schnoz and why your pups nose may be a little dry here: Oscar’s Schnoz).
A healthy coat
For a healthy and shiny coat, you can feed your furry love a small spoonful or two of coconut oil each day. You can mix it in with their kibble to make it extra delicious or you can make one of the yummy treat recipes below. Start with a teaspoon amount and slowly increase it to a tablespoon-depending on the size of your pup! If it upsets your pups tummy please don’t give him anymore. As a guideline, for a small pooch start with 1/4 teaspoon and slowly increase it over time to a full teaspoon. For a medium to large pup, start with a teaspoon and work your way up to a tablespoon.
Treats
Coconut oil drops
Ingredients
Organic coconut oil
Directions
For this recipe, the coconut oil needs to be slightly hard, not a runny consistency. Scoop some organic coconut oil into a zip lock bag and seal it tightly. Line a baking tray or any tray with grease proof paper. Cut just the tip off the zip lock bag and squeeze dollops of the coconut oil onto the baking tray. Place them into the freezer for a few hours. Remove them and store the coconut drops in an airtight container or jar in the fridge or freezer.
Frozen peanut butter, banana and coconut pops
Ingredients
1 cup organic peanut butter
1 cup organic coconut oil
1 medium banana, mashed
Directions
Mix all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. The softer the coconut oil and peanut butter, the easier it will be to combine. You can use a spoon or an electric beater. Once completely mixed, spoon the mixture into silicone ice trays. You can also make little drops like the above recipe if you would prefer. Simply place the mixture in the fridge for 10 minutes to harden slightly then follow the steps above. Place them in the freezer for a few hours. Store them in an air tight container or jar and keep them in the fridge or freezer.
No bake peanut butter and coconut balls
Ingredients
1/3 cup coconut oil
2 tbs organic peanut butter
3 tbs apple sauce
2 cups oats
2 tsp honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Directions
Mix together the coconut oil, peanut butter, apple sauce, honey, vanilla and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl, then add the oats. If the mixture is too stiff to work with then add a little extra apple sauce. If it is too sticky then add a little extra oats. Scoop the mixture into meatball-sized balls and place them onto a greased baking tray or plate. Freeze them for a few hours before letting your pup enjoy. Store them in an air tight container or jar and keep them in the fridge or freezer. Warning-These are seriously delicious and I love sharing these treats with Oscar 😉
Enjoy the wonders of coconut oil!
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