Have you ever wanted to try a home cooked meal for your dog or cat, but not sure where to start or what food is safe for your pet? I am here with this week's article to bring you some options when it comes to dog & cat home cooked meals, treats, & even maybe a birthday cake.  These are, by far, not the only recipes available so feel free to find more online (Pintrest).  

Turkey Rice Casserole
Ingredients:
-  2 to 3 cups rice (white or brown), uncooked
-  3 tablespoons olive oil
-  3 pounds ground turkey
- 4 cups (or more) frozen vegetable medley (corn, peas, carrots, green beans), defrosted
Directions:
1. In a large saucepan, cook desired amount of rice according to package directions. Set aside.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large stockpot, and add the turkey. Cook over medium heat until browned, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the vegetables, adding more if you’d like.
4. Transfer to a large mixing bowl, and add rice. Add gravy (see below) and remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix well.
5. Spoon into plastic bags or containers. Freeze what won’t be eaten within three days.

​Gravy
Ingredients:
- Meat drippings
- 6 cups water or stock (vegetable, chicken)
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons water
Directions: 
1. Mix 3 tablespoons of the water and the cornstarch together until well-combined.
2. Add this mixture slowly to the meat drippings. Then slowly add 6 cups water or stock, continuing to stir.
3. Bring to boil on high heat.
4. Turn down heat to medium until gravy thickens. Stir constantly.
​5. Once desired thickness is reached, turn off heat. Add to meat in desired amount. Freeze or refrigerate leftovers.

Ingredients
- 2 cups wheat flour
- 1 can (10.5 oz) beef broth
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup shredded apple
- 1/2 cup cinnamon apple sauce
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 egg
Instructions
1. Shred up carrots and apples. Turn oven to 350 degrees.
2. Measure all ingredients and put in bowl. Mix all ingredients together.
3. Fill cake pan with mixed ingredients and put in oven for 50 minutes, or until cooked throughout.
4. After cake cools, frost with peanut butter and then top with some of your pup’s favorite crumbled treats.

Ingredient
- Ground lamb – 1 cup
- Brown rice (steamed) – ½ cup
- Minced alfalfa sprouts – 6 tbsp
- Small curd cottage cheese – ¾ cup
​Instructions
1. Fry the ground lamb until it browns and then drain and cool it.
2. Take a dish and serve the ingredients together.

Do not refrigerate the leftovers for more than 3 days.

Ingredients
- Chicken liver – quarter cup
- Mixture of chicken gizzard and heart – half a cup
- Water – 2 cups
- All-purpose flour – 2 tbsp.
- Salt – quarter tsp.
Instructions
1. Boil the chicken parts in the water until it is tender.
2. Remove the chicken and chop them while keeping the stock aside.
3. Take a saucepan and pour the stock, the flour, the meat and salt and keep cooking over low heat while stirring from time to time until the gravy is thick.

You can, optionally, blend this in a blender to make a puree and preserve them as ice cubes for a longer period of time.

According to the Humane Society, about forty percent of US households that have dogs have more than one dog, with the large majority of that number (twenty-eight percent) having two dogs. It’s probably safe to assume that not every dog in those multiple-pet households arrived at the same time. 

​Choosing to add a dog to your family is an exciting prospect, but if you already have other four legged companions at home, you will also be faced with the sometimes daunting task of introducing your new pet to the existing members. It is important that this is done calmly & safely as to set up a good environment for the future.

In this article, I will be covering introducing a dog to a dog household & also a cat household.

1. First meeting is on neutral territory
A park or even the sidewalk down the street from your home is a smarter meeting spot then in your home or in your yard. This is your original dog's "territory" & he/she can become territorial of a perceived threat.  Diffuse/eliminate this possibility by allowing your dogs to meet on neutral ground to get to know each other prior to moving the meeting inside your home.
2. Always have dogs on leash for first several nose to nose meetings
This is just a safety issue.  It also requires you to have an extra hand when introducing dogs.  This allows you to control the space each dog has & also control the interactions & quickly but safely intervene if necessary.
3. Be aware of dog body language
I have an entire article on reading dog body language that you can find by clicking here. 
4. Understand there will be a hierarchy
I have also done an article on the pack mentality that you can find here.  Know that there will be scuffles & arguments among your dogs as they decide the pack order. Your job is to ensure these small arguments do not escalate to a full fight.
5. Continue to reestablish your "pack leader" mentality
You are the alpha dog in your pack.  Continue to enforce the house rules with both pets.  See #4 above to find the article on pack mentality.
6. If possible, keep dogs separate when you are gone for the first few weeks.
Again, this just comes down to safety.  If you aren't present during the beginning weeks, then you aren't there to intervene if arguments escalate.  Once your dogs have established their new pack order & have lived together for several weeks, it will be safe to leave them together when you are gone. 

1. Separate the animals
As you start to make introductions, scent first. Keep one of your pets kenneled or in a separate room, allowing the other pet free roam of the house to explore the scents & sounds.  You can also try feeding each animal on his or her side of the door: The cat eats his food in his room, right next to the door, and the dog eats her meal on the other side of the door. This allows each animal to associate the smells of the other with something good: food. Once each pet has gotten familiar with the other's scent, you can move on to the next step.
2. Desensitization
To begin desensitization, let the dog view the cat briefly through a gate or a glass door then get the dog to focus on something else, such as playing with a toy or practicing cues. Hopefully, through this process of slowly letting the dog see the cat and get accustomed to the cat’s presence, the dog will eventually become desensitized and lose interest in the cat also let the cat get used to the dog's presence.
3. Controlled face to face introduction
Allow the animals to see one another, but do not let the dog chase the cat, even in play. Keep the dog on leash to better control space & safety. Reward both animals with treats and praise. 
4. Pay attention to body posture
I have an entire article on reading dog & cat body language that you can find by clicking here. 
​5. Keep separate during the first few weeks while you are gone
Again, this just comes down to safety.  If you aren't present during the beginning weeks, then you aren't there to intervene if arguments begin. Once your pets have lived together for several weeks, it may be safe to leave them together when you are gone. 
6. When to seek professional help...
Sometimes the dog & cat are just not adjusting well to life together & the desensitization period or introductions haven't gone well.  It may be time to seek the advice or help of a trainer.  Safety of your pets is critical so don't be afraid to reach out for additional resources.

By taking the extra few days to make a smooth & safe transition for your new pet, you can ensure a much happier & more importantly safer household for all of your four legged friends!!!

- If done before 2.5 years of age, greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors, the most common malignant tumors in female dogs
- Nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra, which otherwise would affect about 23% of intact female dogs.  Pyometras are a life threatening condition where the uterus fills with pus & can quickly become fatal if the animal does not receive emergency medical attention
​- Reduces the risk of perianal fistulas
- Removes the very small risk (≤0.5%) from uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors
- Reduces roaming activity seeking a mate during heat cycle

The ASPCA does offer low cost clinics. I have included their website below. You can also check with your local shelters who may also have spay & neuter clinics throughout the year where they offer services at a discounted price.