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Cookie Bouquet Designs for Pet Lovers

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If you have a pet lover in your life, you know that they spend a great deal of time, energy, and money on their beloved animals.  They take them on road trips, they let them sit on the couch, they sacrifice extra sleep in order to get up in the pouring rain to walk them. That’s love!  The perfect gift for a devoted pet owner is, of course, a pet-related gift.  Here are some cookie bouquet designs for pet lovers that will be perfect for virtually any occasion.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Meows

If you have a friend or loved one who prizes their pooch or cat and treats it as a member of the family, then making edible photo cookies is a great idea.  You can do this at home, but this is one of the rare cases when DIY is more expensive. You’ll need an edible printer and edible ink, making this one very pricy bouquet!  Or, you can order photo cookies from any number of online services. You simply upload the image you want (of the beloved pet), and the company will create an iced cookie with his image.

Usually, you will have to purchase a minimum (of 6 or 12); you can then arrange these as your cookie bouquet.  You can request that the company add a skewer or stick so you can “plant” them in a bouquet, or you can arrange them in tissue paper, as you would long stem roses. With some searching, you should be able to find companies that allow you to have one cookie made. That way, you can order one or two, and then fill in your bouquet with homemade treats to save money.

Cut to the Chase

A less pricy option that is still absurdly adorable is to make your own cut animal cookies.  Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe and buy an inexpensive set of cutters. You can find sets online shaped like anything from dogs and cats to rabbits and birds.  Roll your dough thicker than usual, and before baking, insert a long lollipop stick or wooden skewer into the bottom. Bake, and let cool. Decorate with royal icing to personalize the pets, if you wish, and let dry completely.

You can flood one of the cookies with white royal icing and let it dry completely. Using thicker royal icing with food coloring, an edible marker, or gel icing, you can write a message like: “You’re so doggone good,” or “You’re Purrfect.”

Prepare a plant pot by putting in some floral foam. Insert the sticks or skewers into the foam and arrange your “flowers.”  When you’re done, put some crinkled paper or tissue paper over the foam.

Going to the Dogs

Why not make a cookie bouquet for the pet instead or in addition to the cookies for the owner?  Any doting pet owner will appreciate the thought – especially if they get a few chocolate chip cookies, too.  You can find recipes online for cookies for pets!

A cookies bouquet honoring their favorite furry, fishy, or scaly friend will be appreciated – and devoured – by pet lovers. Just warn them if you’ve made doggy or kitty treats instead of sugar and gingerbread!

Attached Images:
  •  License: MBG Stock Image credit MyBlogGuest.com

Pinkchic18 is a writer who enjoys writing about gift ideas for family and friends, along with baking and desserts. She also frequently contributes to the Gourmet Cookie Bouquets Blog.





What’s Up Doc?- How to Care for Your Pet Rabbit

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The number of people who want to make rabbits as their household pet is on the rise. In fact, based on the U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook, which was published by the AVMA or American Veterinarian Medical Association last 2007, there are around 6 million rabbits that are kept as pets.

Despite being labeled as the most damaging pets to furniture and fixture as well as house structures, rabbit owners have stated that there were fewer disadvantages to owning these animals as compared to other smaller species. The pet owners have testified that these pets are the least noisy of the caged pets, and they were also ranked as one of the best stress relievers.

A Rabbit’s Diet: Understanding The Needs Of Your Pet Rabbit

There are different species of rabbit, and they may vary in size, body shape, and personality. Generally, the biology and behavior or these animals are very similar to that of wild rabbits. This means that their needs are very complex and they are not very easy to care for. If you want to own a rabbit and keep it as a pet, you must be aware of how they live, eat, and behave. Additionally, you must also be aware that these animals, if cared for properly, can leave up to 8 to 12 years.

Among the things you need to know is the eating habits and diet of these animals. Here are some of the essential diet facts you need to be aware of:

  • Rabbits need water for without any water to drink, they can become seriously ill
  • They love to graze on and eat grass and other plants. Additionally, their digestive system needs to have grass or hay so that it can function properly. Rabbits also eat mainly at dawn and dusk.
  • Eating grass can also help keep their teeth in good condition. Grass can ensure that their teeth are kept at the right length and shape. Failure to follow the proper diet will result in serious dental disease and health issues.
  • The amount of food they ingest will depend on the rabbit’s age, state of health, and lifestyle
  • You must also know that rabbits do not eat cereals, root vegetables and fruit.

Important Diet Tips

Now that you know the key aspects of a rabbit’s diet, you must also learn how you can provide proper diet and nutrition. If you fail to provide your pet with the proper diet and nutrition, your rabbit will suffer from either malnutrition or obesity. Malnutrition will result from the lack of food and nutrient intake. Obesity, on the other hand, will result from overeating. Here are some of the things you need to do to properly care for your beloved pet.

Clean Drinking Water: You must provide your rabbit with fresh clean drinking water all the time. You must remember to check their water supply at least twice a day. If you place your rabbit outside during the winter, make sure that the water does not freeze.

High Quality Hay or Grass: Provide your pet with high quality hay or grass since this makes up most of his/her diet. Aside from grass, you can also add a small amount of rabbit pellets or cereal mix; however, grass is much more important for their diet. If you choose to add rabbit pellets, you must follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Additionally, you can also consult your veterinarian since he/she can advise you on how to provide the best diet for your pet.

Food That Must Be Avoided: Never feed lawnmower clippings to your pet since this might upset your rabbit’s digestive system and make them seriously sick. In addition, you must also remember to give only small amounts of root vegetables, such as carrots or fruits.

To ensure that your pet is eating properly, you must observe the amount of food they eat as well as the amount of water they drink. If you notice any changes in your pet’s eating behavior, or the number of droppings is significantly reduced, or there are soft excretions sticking to the rabbit’s end, immediately consult your veterinarian. These might be symptoms that your pet is seriously ill.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Creative Commons – Svadilfari.”Rabbit”. August 23, 2008. Online Image. Flickr. Dec 8, 2012 image source

Kris Lim is an animal lover who is also interested in caring for exotic pets. She also writes about rabbits which are quickly becoming popular among animal lovers. If you want to care for a rabbit, the author offers simple tips, and she advises owners to bring their pets to a Miami Animal Clinic where a veterinarian can be found.

Finding the Best Holiday Accommodation for you and your Dog

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When you have a dog and you’re planning to go on holidays you can’t even consider leaving your loved pet behind with family or friends, in fact you want him to be by your sides at all times. This is why it’s a sensible idea to plan your holidays in advance in order to have enough time to look for the perfect holiday accommodation for you and your four footed friend. Here are some tips on finding the best holiday accommodation not only for you but also for him.

Your Holiday Destination

When you plan to go on holidays it is really important to have a clear idea of your destination, in fact knowing your holiday destination will help you plan the rest. You’ll be able to book your ticket in advance and enjoy potential offers and you’ll also be able to book your holiday accommodation in that very location. Some people plan to go on holiday with their dog, they book an accommodation such as a hotel room without asking if dogs are allowed, this is exactly the kind of things that can ruin your holidays. So make sure that the accommodation you choose is dog friendly before making your bookings.

The Kind of Accommodation you’d Like

Do some searches on the Internet and write down the kind of holiday accommodation you’d like. During this selection phase make sure that you have your needs in mind but also your dog’s. In an ideal world finding an accommodation that is next to a park will be perfect for him, as you’ll be able to take him to the park for a walk any time you feel that he may need some fresh air. You can also choose an accommodation by the sea as dogs enjoy running on the beach, and if you’ve never brought him to the beach it will be the best occasion to make him discover new sensations. Once you’ve selected your favourite accommodations, make sure you don’t take your decision too quickly. In fact, take the time to compare the different accommodations you selected.

Comparison Phase

This phase helps you to eliminate any accommodation that you think would be a bit problematic for you or for your four footed friend. For instance if you’ve selected a hotel room you can forget about this as most hotels don’t allow pets, for various reasons. Then, if you choose a sharing accommodation, the presence of a dog might cause problem for some of your flatmates, therefore this is definitely not the holiday accommodation you should go for.

The Best Dog Friendly Accommodation

Most people who have a dog or any other pet prefer spending their holidays in self-catering holiday cottages as they will not only have all the comfort they need but also enough space for them and their dog. In addition, most holiday cottages are located by the countryside so you can take your dog for a walk any time you want. Some of the best holiday cottages in the country are in Devon, more precisely in the city of Dartmouth, so if you need a nice dog friendly cottage you can book a Dartmouth accommodation for your next holidays.

Cassandra has been a dog lover all of her life, and would never even think of going away without her canine companion. She is currently studying in travel and tourism.

Everything You Need to Know about Dogs and Heartworms

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No matter what type of breed you have, or where you live, heartworms are a threat to your dog. Heartworms are exactly what they sound like: worms that live in your dog’s heart. As you might expect, this condition is very costly, and extremely dangerous for your furry friend. Fortunately, it is also relatively easy to prevent. Here is everything you need to know about dogs and heartworms:

How do dogs get heartworms? There are many myths surrounding the spread of heartworms, but the truth is that they can only be spread in one way – by mosquito. This means that your dog cannot give it to other dogs, or to you. If a mosquito infected with heartworm larva bites your dog – and one bite is all it takes – then your dog can become infected. Unfortunately, mosquitoes are everywhere, and there is no way to tell which mosquitoes are infected and which aren’t. That is why prevention is so important.

What are the symptoms of heartworm infection? The worst thing about heartworm infection is that it often takes a long time for symptoms to present, which means you won’t know your dog has heartworms until the condition has progressed enough to cause health problems. The earliest symptoms are shortness of breath and coughing. Eventually, your dog could lose energy and not be able to exercise, and may even pass out from lack of blood flow. If left untreated heartworms can lead to death.

How do you treat heartworms? The best way to treat heartworms is with a drug called Immiticide. This drug is delivered in a series of three injections; however, there are two ways to proceed with treatment. The most preferable (and safest) way is to run a course of pre-treatment prep work, including x-rays and blood work, in order to determine the seriousness of the case before giving the drug. This method is rather expensive (around $1000), so it is not unusual for dog owners to forego this step and proceed straight to the injections, which cost around $300.

How do you prevent heartworms? Of course, the best approach to heartworms is prevention. You have a few options when it comes to prevention: monthly topical treatments, monthly pills, or twice-yearly injections. The great news is that these treatments are extremely inexpensive (less than $100 for an entire year’s treatment) and easy to administer.

If your dog has heartworms, then you should know that the condition can be successfully treated, as long as you catch it in time. Therefore, you should pay close attention to signs that your furry friend may have contracted this troublesome infection.

About the Author: Bok Leikam just adopted a new puppy and the vet put him on heartworm meds right away. He orders his petmeds online to keep costs low and spends a great deal of time caring for his new family member.

What’s for dinner?

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I’m trying to decide what to make for dinner. It’s getting later and later and I still can’t decide. There’s a beautiful fillet of rainbow trout in the fridge that I should eat, but I just don’t feel like eating fish tonight. I should though because the fish will probably go bad soon if I don’t eat it.

I hate having to eat something just because it’s there .. but sometimes that’s what you have to do isn’t it! Oh well, if I don’t end up loving it my dog will get a little bit and she’ll love it.

My Lab is back to not eating very well again so anything I can do to encourage her to eat is worth doing! She’s been like this most of the summer. First it was a yeast infection in her bowel and now she’s gone into heat and I think that’s causing her to be a finicky eater again. Sigh … it seems whenever she gets sick she goes into heat. This will be her last heat let me tell ya!

Ok .. I’d better go gaze into the refrigerator and decide what we’re going to eat.

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