Winter Bone Broth

As we approach the coldest months of the year we turn to foods which offer comfort and warmth.

We can also provide our dogs with a seasonal variation on the usual bone broth recipe by adding ingredients which are traditionally used to support joint health and immunity.

As game is currently in season, try and find bones from venison, duck, pheasant or partridge. Duck and chicken feet are a good source of glucosamine, chondroitin and gelatine and after many hours of cooking will dissolve into the broth.

Avoid bones with a large amount of fat, skin and central marrow, which will just produce a very fatty and oily broth. Either remove the fat and marrow or chose a different type of bone. If your dog is prone to pancreatitis it is very important to select lean bones, remove any visible fat before cooking and skim off any that comes to the surface during cooking.

You will need approximately 4 - 5 pounds of bones of varying types and size to make a good broth. Some bones, such as ribs will completely break down into the broth, whereas harder bones will be lifted out in large pieces.

You will need:

A slow cooker or large stock pot with a lid

Bones such as duck, venison, pheasant, partridge, chicken, turkey, ox tail, beef, lamb ribs etc.

Enough water to just cover the bones when they are placed in the cooking pot.

1 stick of celery roughly chopped

Cider apple vinegar - 2 tablespoons

Ginger – 1 thumbnail size piece of fresh or half a teaspoon of powered

Turmeric 1 teaspoon (fresh or dried)

Cinnamon - quarter of a teaspoon

Shiitake mushrooms- quarter of a cup (dried or fresh)

1 level tablespoon Autumn Harvest herbal blend

2 grinds of black pepper

How to make:

Place your chosen bones into the pot and pour on the water so they are just covered. Add the cider apple vinegar and black pepper. The slow cooker is used on its lowest setting or a stock pot placed over a very low heat for anywhere between 24 – 30 hours, although some people prefer to leave the broth cooking gently for nearer to 36 hours .You may need to top up with water if the levels are getting very low.

In the remaining 2 hours of cooking add the spices, mushrooms and vegetables.

When complete, turn off the heat and carefully remove the bones with a slotted spoon plus skim off any excess fat that may be on the surface.

As the resulting broth starts to cool, transfer into ice cube trays or suitable sized pots to place in the fridge or freezer for later use. If you want your broth as a set jelly then you could stir in a level tablespoon of gelatine powder.

Store in the fridge and use within 1 week or keep in the freezer and use within 4 months.

Add the defrosted broth to meals, any recipes you make or gently warm through to provide a warm, comforting treat on a very chilly day.

**It is essential to remove the bones and dispose of them safely and under no circumstances should they be fed **

Garlic- Friend or Foe?

 If there is one ingredient that causes controversy in the diet of dogs that would have to be garlic. Some people swear by its health-giving properties and others would never consider feeding it to dogs.

Garlic tends to be grouped in with all members of the onion family, which can be very toxic to dogs.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a pungent member of the onion family. It grows as a bulb which contains between 10-20 individual teardrop shaped segments called cloves.

It has long been used to enhance the flavour of our meals and for its medicinal use as it possesses antibacterial, antifungal and anti-parasitic properties.

It does however need to be fed with care when incorporating it into the diet of our dogs. The main reason for this is that garlic contains thiosulphate, which if consumed in large amounts or over long periods of time can decrease the number of red blood cells, resulting in Heinz body hemolytic anemia.

The active constituents of garlic include alliin, alliinase, quercetin, anthrocyanins, amino acids and volatile oils. Garlic contains 33 sulphur compounds and the compound that you can smell once a garlic clove is cut or crushed is called allicin.

Allicin is an unstable compound that dissipates rapidly when exposed to air and heat so for maximum effect it is best consumed within 10 minutes of crushing. The familiar garlic odour can travel throughout the body when consumed, and we can smell it on our breath and through our skin. This also applies to our dogs which is thought to make them more unpalatable to parasites of all kinds, hence why people use it as a natural preventative at certain times of the year.

When it can be useful:  

Before adding any supplementation to your dog’s diet, it is important to establish what you are aiming to achieve by doing so and what benefits there are for your dog.

The most frequent reason for including garlic is for the control of parasites, be that internal or external in the form of fleas, ticks, and mites.

It can be a useful addition to the diet as a small part of the overall natural regime of preventing fleas and ticks if you live in a high-risk area of the country. If you intend on using garlic as a means of internal parasite control it is still essential that you regularly use faecal worm counts to establish that your natural method of worm control is working for your particular dog.

The only time I include a form of garlic into my dogs diet is during the short growing season of wild garlic, also known as Ramsons, which is a broad leaf garlic occurring in late spring with a much milder action than the pungent bulb garlic. I have also witnessed dogs self-selecting wild garlic whilst out on a walk and consuming small amounts of the leaf and flower as it emerges in the spring.

When to avoid:

Garlic can interact with certain medications such as insulin, heart medication, immune suppressants, blood thinners, chemotherapy drugs and it should also be avoided if your dog has any pre-existing anaemia.

There is believed to be an increased risk of side effects in the Akita and Shiba Inus, so if you have these breeds, it is advisable to research further before use.  

Due to its blood thinning properties, it is recommended that garlic is removed completely from the diet for two weeks prior to any surgery and for a week post-surgery.

Avoid feeding to pregnant and lactating females and bear in mind that it can taint the milk.

Do not feed to puppies under six months of age and use caution in dogs that are 6 – 12 months of age.

How to feed:

If your dog doesn’t have any of the contraindications mentioned earlier and you want to include garlic into your dog’s diet then here are a few guidelines.

It is not recommended or necessary to feed garlic in large amounts or for a long period of time. If you feel that it will be a useful addition over the summer months for added flea control, then freshly crushed garlic will be more effective from smaller doses.

Dosage:

Due to the incredibly pungent aroma and bitter taste of fresh garlic it is highly unlikely that even the greediest of dogs will want to eat large amounts in one sitting or consume it on a very regular basis.

So, if your dog is not on any contraindicated medication or has any existing health issues which could be compromised by feeding garlic, the following dosage for short term use should not cause any problems.

Based on the guidelines of holistic vet, Dr. Karen Becker, she recommends freshly crushing a clove of garlic, setting it aside for 10 minutes before adding to the food at a rate of quarter of a teaspoon for every 15 pounds (6.8kg) of bodyweight. This suggested dose is for use 2-3 times a week, just for the duration of the flea and tick season and not all year round.

This does also depend on your dog’s tolerance of garlic, as it can cause intestinal upset and if they find it palatable enough to eat in their meals.

As a rule, one clove, when crushed or sliced equals one teaspoon of garlic.

You can of course buy a garlic supplement specifically for dogs in a tablet form and because these are more palatable than fresh garlic it is important to follow the dosage guidelines of the product carefully.

Caroline Hearn MICHT, Dip.ICAT. MIAAT

Sports & Remedial Massage and Canine Holistic Therapist

Skin Care Essentials

Caring for our animals in Summer & Winter brings many challenges, not least trying to maintain a healthy skin, avoiding sores and cuts and effectively dealing with skin abrasions that can occur.

There are four products that I wouldn`t be without at any time of the year but they really are an essential in the colder and wetter months in order to quickly deal with any issues and prevent infection taking hold.

GREEN CLAY has excellent drawing properties so can be used for drying up wet eczema and hot spots and helping control infection in wounds and abscesses. Green Clay is so versatile and can be used for dogs, cats, horses, sheep and other livestock. It forms a protective layer over injuries and also naturally repels insects. I have found when treating horses and livestock which are troubled by flies, a drop of tea tree or lavender essential oil into the wet clay can further aid in repelling flies away from the treated area.

Used dry, it has a calming and soothing effect on a dog’s itchy or traumatised skin, breaking the itch, scratch cycle and is completely safe should your dog accidentally lick or consume it. The clays perfect partner in dealing with wounds, sores and fragile skin is Leucillin, they compliment each other beautifully.

Green clay can be made into a thick paste with a little water and spread onto the effected area. This acts as a protective barrier for sore or fragile wounds and as the clay dries, moisture is drawn away from any wet areas of skin. It is now available in two sizes (250g & 650g bags) on the shop https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/green-clay

Leucillin Is an extraordinary product that I have to hand at all times. It works wonders on so many skin issues, wounds, cuts and scrapes as well as an effective and kind skin cleanser, with the added bonus that it doesn`t sting on application. It also makes a brilliant hand sanitiser!

It is available in four sizes from the small dropper bottle which is ideal for use to cleanse eyes, for tiny animals or those that are very scared by the sound of sprays, to the large 500ml spray which is great value for larger animals such as horses or livestock or a multi dog household.

Leucillin contains the active ingredient Hypochlorous, this is a naturally occurring chemical in the body produced by white blood cells. Hypochlorous is one of the most effective and efficient biocides known to man. Whilst being totally safe, it is 300 times more effective than bleach and is almost instant in its effect. Hypochlorous is a natural chemical already existing in the body, so animals that have shown a sensitivity with other products in the past, will not suffer any adverse reactions to Leucillin. It`s 100% safe to use on sensitive areas such as, cuts and open minor wounds and is completely harmless should it be licked off the treated area. https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/leucillin-antiseptic-spray

Healing Balm A versatile healing balm that can be used on minor cuts, scrapes, sores or dry skin. Perfect as a paw balm for dry and cracked pads or for crusty noses, mud fever and general winter skin woes.

Ideal to use as a protective barrier and the perfect partnership with Green Clay & Leucillin

A beautiful blend of Sweet Almond, Coconut oil, Beeswax and a selection of herbs including Calendula for its anti-inflammatory & moisturising properties, Plantain to promote healing, Comfrey for its well known soothing & healing abilities, Yarrow as a wound healer and Rosemary for its anti-bacterial property. https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/comfort-balm-horse-hound

The Photizo Vetcare is a valuable tool for health professionals and owners alike. Photizo has a powerful combination of pre-programed 31 second doses of pulsating red and infra red LED Phototherapy.

It is widely known for helping with arthritic and muscular conditions but it is also excellent for accelerating the healing of wounds, injuries and skin complaints. This is really important in the Winter months as even the smallest cut or wound can become infected due to wet, muddy and gritty conditions underfoot.

I have had excellent results treating a horse with severe mud fever that meant he was unable to be turned out in a paddock. The area was cleaned with Leucillin and a twice daily treatment with the Photizo meant that the healing time was greatly reduced. When the skin was healed enough to allow turn out, a thick paste of clay was applied to the area for added protection.

https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/photizo-vetcare

Caroline Hearn MICHT, Dip ICAT. MIIAT - Human, Canine & Equine Sports Therapist

www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk