Hello everyone! Welcome to this issue of Mighty Mutts! Hope you are all well and enjoying summer with your doggos!

This week we’re continuing the “Summer Safety” series; each week, Pablo’s going to teach us all about which summer fruits are safe, which ones to avoid, and which ones are perfect for sharing!

I hope you have all been staying safe from the smokey air… I know we are quick to complain, but don’t forget about the communities and people that have had to evacuate. Animals have also been adversely affected. If you’re looking for ways to help, there are a number of Canadian charities set up, including the Canadian Red Cross, the Canadian Humane Society and the Ontario SPCA.

And of course, Pablo has some things to tell his furry friends.

-Enjoy!

Don’t keep us a secret – share this with another large breed dog owner: mightymutts.beehiiv.com

Pablo’s Ponderings

Hello furry friends out there! Hope you’re enjoying summer! I’ve just been chillin on the patio with mom and dad. Kevin the squirrel has been busy - I think I saw him steal a piece of toast the other day and skirmish up our tree. Man, he’s quick! But I’ll catch him someday, mark my words… I’ll catch him someday..*sigh*

In the meantime, check out the squirrel shaped cookies in the Mighty Mutts kitchen - don’t they look amazing? Mom said she’s going to make them this week…

That’s about it for this week, stay cool and enjoy these lazy dog days of summer!

Don’t forget to send in those pictures - would love to see them!

Until next time...

Woofs and wags,

Pablo

Summer is one of my favourite times of the year.

The barbecue gets fired up. Mom heads to the farmers' market. And somehow, delicious fruit starts appearing in our house almost every day.

Naturally, I assume everything is for me.

Mom... not so much.

The truth is, many summer fruits are perfectly safe for dogs when fed in moderation. Others can make us very sick. And some should never, ever end up in our food bowl.

Let's sort them out!

These fruits make excellent treats when served in small amounts.

🍓 Strawberries
Loaded with fibre and vitamin C. Wash them well, remove the stems, and cut large berries into smaller pieces.

🫐 Blueberries
Tiny, tasty, and packed with antioxidants. They even make great training treats!

🍉 Watermelon
A refreshing summer snack. Remove the seeds and rind before serving. Now I have to tell you, watermelon is a favourite for many of my friends, but I won’t touch the stuff - yuck!!!

🍑 Peaches
Yes, peaches are safe—but only if they're prepared properly.

Remove the pit first, then cut the peach into bite-sized pieces. Better yet, sit outside on the deck and share one with your best furry friend. (I highly recommend this option.) Peaches are my favourite!!! Mom will cut slices up for me, and I wait patiently while she eats her piece.. one piece for me, one for her… until it’s all gone 🙂

🍎 Apples
Remove the core and seeds, then slice into manageable pieces. Use your best puppy dog look so your human will put some peanut butter on it! Works for me every time!

Now for the serious part.

These should never be given to dogs.

While the exact mechanism is still being studied, veterinary experts believe the toxicity is driven by tartaric acid. Dogs are uniquely sensitive to this compound, and eating grapes can lead to severe poisoning and can cause sudden kidney failure.

Here's the scary part:

Some dogs become extremely ill after eating only a handful of grapes—or even fewer. Others may appear completely normal.

Because there's no way to predict which dog will react, every case is treated seriously.

Large breed owners sometimes think their dog can handle things that would affect a smaller dog.

After all, if a Chihuahua weighs ten pounds and your Newfoundland weighs 130 pounds...

Surely one grape isn't a big deal?

Unfortunately, that's not how grape toxicity works.

Researchers have never established a "safe" amount based on body weight. Even very large dogs have become seriously ill after eating grapes or raisins.

Being bigger does not make these fruits any safer.

If you know—or even suspect—your dog has eaten grapes, raisins or currants:

✔️ Call your veterinarian immediately.

✔️ If your vet is closed, contact your nearest emergency veterinary hospital.

✔️ Don't wait for symptoms.

The sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome.

Dogs may initially seem perfectly fine, but kidney damage can begin before obvious signs appear.

Peaches, plums, nectarines and cherries all contain large pits.

The fruit itself may be safe, but the pit is not.

Pits can:

So please...

Don't toss your dog a whole peach and let them figure it out.

Remove the pit first, cut the fruit into bite-sized pieces, and enjoy it together.

If you're ever unsure whether a fruit is safe...

Ask your veterinarian before sharing it.

Trust me.

I'd much rather settle for a few slices of peach than spend the afternoon at the emergency clinic.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I hear Mom just came home from the farmers' market...

...and I think I smell Ontario peaches.

—Pablo 🐾

Ingredients:

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a blender, add the old fashion oats and blend until it is the consistency of flour.
Mix in the flour, put into a bowl and set aside.

Step 2

In a blender, add the peach slices, honey and water. Puree until well blended.
Pour into a medium size bowl and add half the oat/flour mixture and mix well...then add the rest of the oat/flour mixture and mix and knead well, forming a smooth dough ball, adding additional flour if needed.

Step 3

Roll out dough till it is about 1/4" thick and use your choice of cookie cutters to cut out your doggie cookie treats.
Carefully place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 10 minutes and then turn cookies over and bake for another 10 minutes.
Let cool before serving.

(courtesy of: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/non-edible/non-edible-for-pets/peachy-squirrel-cookies-for-the-dog.html)

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That’s it for this issue. See you next week! Feel free to share this with other dog owners!

--Maryanne and the Mighty Mutts team