Holidays and a Cuppa
August is here and I can’t be the only one melting in this heat!? With our July blog I covered the dangers of the heat so if you haven’t checked it out, go and have a nosey for some easy tips on how to keep your pooches safe and cool!
The 6 weeks holidays may involve you travelling further afield with your pooches, I definitely feel over the past few years that more venues are more accommodating with bringing your furry friend along. Perhaps you have a tent, caravan or camper (you jammy get) or you have found a dog friendly hotel or cottage. Whatever it is I can guarantee I take more provisions for the dogs than I do for myself. A question that comes up often is how do you raw feed if you’re going away? I have done it and it was actually pretty easy! Here are some of my top tips for trips away with your pooch.
Travel friendly packaging
Overnight camping I used ice packs in a cool bag and stuck with sealed packaging to minimise leak risk. Also if you are staying away in a hotel or holiday home you still want to minimise mess.
- Naked Dog, Natural Instinct, Benyfit Natural, Nutriment and ProDog all have the fixed plastic tub and click lid. Minimises leaks and is easy to pack, plus stacking the boxes together will help keep the raw frozen for longer.
- Dougies, pre portioned plastic sleeves and I have never had these leak, also super easy to dish up.
- Paleo Ridge Mini comes in a 250g portion in a resealable plastic bag, so handy for smaller dogs.
- Natures Variety freeze dried food is another good option for raw fed pooches, this can be used to bulk out meals and make your raw go further or feed on its own.
Collapsible Bowls
I don’t know about you but I have a fair few different bowls for food and water from the Tarhong (yes I have this in every colour) through to the iconic Nutriwolds Bamboo Cloud Bowl. Now these bowls are fine for travel but I like to leave these ones at home to avoid them getting damaged when I ram everything into the car and also to save on some space. collapsible bowls are so versatile.
- Rosewood Travel Zip Up Depending on the size of your dog this is a dual all in one travel set of bowls. Dishwasher safe and compact, this is a strong contender for me.
- Ruffwear Quencher is a collapsible fabric bowl so this one can be packed even smaller. Suitable for both food and water and this one comes in different sizes to match your dog and adventure.
- Dexas travel cup is dinky but has a bottle holder too for adventures off the beaten track with a clip to pop on your backpack.
Muddy Paws
With adventures comes mud, no matter how dry it is! To save extra charges or scruffy tents, keeping muddy paws clean is a needs must for me when I travel with my pooches.
- Dexax Mudbuster I love a nifty gadget and this is so cool! Using a little water you can shift mud from paws gently with its silicone bristles and towel dry.
- Pet Grooming Wipes Even if your dog isn’t a fiend for filth these wipes are perfect for dusty paws or grubby faces. Unscented for their sensitive noses and also compostable, handy to have with you for sure.
- Herbal Dog Co Dry Shampoo Not necessarily just for paws but if your dog has that adventure doggy smell on them this is a nice way to freshen up in close quarters without having to do a full bath.
Other than working away, I have mainly done a staycation in Glorious Yorkshire, yes I am bias! It was Yorkshire day on the 1st of August and as you all know Stefs Pet Pantry is set in the heart of the Yorkshire Moors. What makes you think of Yorkshire?
Yorkshire Puddings, the perfect addition to any sunday roast?
How about Yorkshire colloquialisms, ey up love and ‘OW MUCH?
Well I can think of something that stands above the rest and is a staple in many Yorkshire homes and that is YORKSHIRE TEA. A bold statement but the best tea hands down, myself and Stef are certainly partial to a brew! Now how you have and make your tea can be something that brings divide, but on the topic of tea how can we bring this joy in a mug to our dogs?
Sadly our dogs don’t fare well with caffeine so won’t be able to enjoy a cup of Yorkshire tea however they can have herbal teas! My absolute favourite go to has to be chamomile tea, preferably organic. Chamomile has incredible anti-inflammatory and calming properties, the perfect bedtime treat. Not only is the tea great to drink but also if you keep the teabag in the fridge it can be used as a cold compress to gently wipe away sleepy eyes or help take the itch out of an insect bite.
Bedtime Chamomile Instructions
- Boil you water (preferably filtered) and stew your chamomile (preferably organic) tea bag for three minutes
- Remove the tea bag and pop in the fridge for a cool eye mask, ooo spa vibes!
- Allow tea to cool to less than tepid or go flat cold, you can speed this up by adding in cold water. Some dogs like warm liquids, others not so much see what your pooches preference is!
- Serve either in a mug or bowl, again doggy preference and you can even add a tiny touch of local honey for a little sweetness.
Herbs can affect medication and medical conditions so please seek veterinary guidance before use if you have any doubt.
I hope you’re all having a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you all on our next therapist saturday 27/08/2022.
Continue to nourish your dogs with species appropriate nutrition, massage and compassion.
Catch up soon,
Yaz x
