One big trend in the pet world right now are custom dog portraits. And it’s easy to understand why.
Just like the finest Kings and Queens get their portrait painted and display it for decades to come, so can your pup.
Whether it’s a drawing, painting or digital rendering, the most common use is to simply hang it on your wall—but there’s a lot more you can do with them too.
As we mentioned, the most obvious thing you can do with a dog portrait is to hang it. When you receive your artwork, the first step is to print it out on high-quality paper. From there, you can choose an appropriate frame to display it on your wall.
Remember that although your portrait comes in one size, you can adjust the size on your computer. So, if you have a particular frame you like, you can always change it as necessary.
#2 Use it as Your Computer Wallpaper
Many dog portraits are sent as a digital file versus a print version in the mail. This allows you to get it more quickly and since it’s a file, you can save it forever and reproduce it if needed.
One digital way of using your drawing is to resize it and use it as your desktop wallpaper. If the size isn’t fitting how you want, try inserting the image into a Canva template, adding a few elements and making your own correctly- sized wallpaper.
#3 Use it as Your Home Screen
Similarly, you can use your dog portrait as your home screen on your phone. That way, every time you check it, your dog brings a smile to your face 🙂
Again, if your photo isn’t fitting your screen how you want, you can try resizing it and adding a few elements using a Canva phone wallpaper template.
#4 Display in Your Pet’s Corner
Does your dog have a special place in the house where his cage, bed and bowls are? If so, consider displaying his artwork there. For example, I designated a lower shelf in my bookshelf for my dog. In that space, I place his water and food bowl with a piece of dog artwork behind them.
Another option is to put your dog portrait in a stand-up frame and place it on top of your dog’s cage or on a shelf above his cage. Need more ideas? Check out Dog Corner ideas on Pinterest for inspiration.
#5 Make a Photo Wall Display
If you have a blank wall, why not use your custom dog portrait as the beginning of a photo wall? Before you get started, plan out your layout according to the space (example here). You can choose to make it dog-themed, family-themed or no theme at all.
Then frame your portrait and begin working on the photos around it. Of course, you can purchase more artwork. If your budget is low though, you can search for printable artwork and printable quotes to frame. If needed, you can resize them before you print and hang.
#6 Gift It
Dog portraits are a great gift because they’re customized to your friend’s life in the most precious way. Of course, to make this a surprise, you’ll need to find a good picture of their dog to send to the artist. You can do this by scouring their social media. If there’s no high-quality pictures posted there, ask them over text for the best pic of their dog, saying something like, “I miss their cute face.”
Cannabidiol (CBD) is an important component in the medicinal cannabis plant and offers physical changes by interacting with pets’ endocannabinoid system.
There is an exponential growth of CBD popularity for both human beings and animals for numerous good reasons. Scientific studies have proven the benefits of using CBD for pets. The article highlights the benefits of using CBD for dogs and cats and shows the guidelines on how to administer CBD oil to dogs.
Many people doubt the working efficiency of CBD oil and are concerned about how long it takes CBD oil to work in dogs and about CBD oil for dogs’ side effects. Based on the safety level and purity, CBD offers an immediate impact on dogs and immediately offers relaxation in 5-10 minutes only. Moreover, it does not cause any negative complications and side effects, so owners can give their pets the optimal level of CBD dosage.
There are many reasons to use CBD oil for pets, and some of the important reasons are as follows.
Safety profile
Appetite Improvement
Possible application of daily dosage
Maintenance of natural rhythms
Improved sleep patterns
Hair and skincare
Safety Profile
Good quality CBD oil does not exert any negative influences on pets, so it offers a safe profile. However, pet owners should consult with a veterinary doctor to minimize the probability of possible side effects. Moreover, it is also essential to check CBD suppliers’ reliability to avoid the consumption of harmful ingredients. Findings of different scientific studies have shown that CBD offers a much better safety profile than the opioids and NSAIDs.
Appetite Improvement
Giving CBD oil to the pets helps to improve their appetite. Reduced appetite is one of the most commonly encountered problems by the pet owners, and this can be greatly resolved by giving an appropriate amount of CBD oil to the pets. Healthy food is essential to improve pets’ life span, so CBD is an excellent way to enhance favorite animals’ lives.
Daily Dosage
CBD oil does not cause pets to get high, as it is a non-psychoactive compound. Daily dosage will not make pets addicted to CBD, and it will only offer relaxing and calming properties. Based on its safety profile, CBD oil drops can be used for an extended period.
Maintenance of Natural Rhythms
An appropriate and safe dose of CBD improves natural rhythms by supporting and maintaining homeostasis. However, owners should ensure plenty of exercises and a quality diet to extend life span and make pets happier.
Improved Sleep Patterns
CBD oil offers excellent calming and relaxing properties and helps pets to sleep better. Sleeplessness or insomnia is caused by various reasons, but CBD oil can reduce sleeping patterns by the normal release and serotonin regulation.
Skin and Hair Care
CBD oil offers excellent antioxidant properties to improve the condition of hair and skin. CBD is also used in pet shampoos and conditioners. Resultantly, pet owners can enjoy the soothing and good skin of their pets. These skincare products contain the right mix of oatmeal, aloe vera, and CBD extract.
Conclusion
Although CBD products are not regulated and approved by FDA, the results of different scientific studies have proved that regular and prescribed use of CBD improves the wellness and life span of dogs, cats, and other pets by positively influencing their endocannabinoid receptors. Appropriate use of safe and contaminants free CBD oil helps to improve skin, hair, sleep patterns, and natural rhythms. Moreover, it does not cause psychoactive effects on dogs, and a daily dose of optimum level of CBD oil does not make the pets addicted. So, pet owners must consider the use of CBD oil to improve their pets’ life span.
If you’re like me, you find them oddly creepy and gross and will chuck them the first chance you get. But, if you read this, I know you’ll think differently afterward.
That’s because most dogs can eat raw turkey necks. But like many bones, there’s a few safety precautions you need to take to ensure she doesn’t choke.
In this post, we’re answering can dogs eat turkey necks, the benefits and how you can safely incorporate it into your dog’s diet.
Can Dogs Eat Turkey Necks?
When you cook up a turkey, you’ll pull out a bag of what I call “disgust” but my dog would deem “deliciousness.” One of the things you’ll find in there is the turkey neck. Turkey necks are a set of small, easy-to-break bones. This is what makes them a crunchy snack for your pup; they’re easy to dissemble and chew away.
Since cooked bones are bad for dogs, many people wonder “can dogs eat turkey necks?”
The quick answer is that dogs can eat raw turkey necks, but not cooked ones. And, even at that, there are some serious choking hazard cautions you need to take (more on this below).
Another thing to consider is whether it’s appropriate to feed your dog an entire turkey neck. If you have a medium or large-sized breed, feeding it to her whole in one sitting is likely okay. However, for smaller breeds, you may want to chop the neck up and give it to her over the course of a few days.
If you’re cooking multiple turkeys and have a few necks to get rid of, the same is true. Instead of feeding it all to your dog, chop it up or freeze it and give it to her as a treat occasionally.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Turkey Necks?
I have to admit, the fact that most dogs can eat raw meat creeps me out. Won’t the bacteria wreck their stomach? Can they even break it down when it’s not cooked?
Most dog’s stomachs can process raw meat because, compared to us, their digestive tract is shorter and more acidic. That combination can stop the bacteria from making them sick.
With that being said though, many vets and experts advise against a raw food diet for dogs. Even though they’re at a lesser bacterial risk than us, the risk still exists and is increased when you feed your dog raw meat. Although we’re not recommending a raw food diet, a turkey neck may be an acceptable snack once and awhile.
If your dog has never eaten raw meat, she may get sick from eating a turkey neck because her body isn’t used to it. Many kibble-eaters are fine after gobbling it down, but it’s something to consider and watch out for. If you give a dog a raw turkey neck for the first time, start small with a chunk and see how she reacts. If she’s okay, you can slowly start introducing it to her diet on an occasional basis.
If you decide that it’s too risky to give a dog a raw turkey neck, you can use it in other ways. For more information about this, read the last section on how to feed your dog a turkey neck.
Another thing to take into consideration when feeding your dog anything raw is the risks it poses to you. As with any raw meat, you should wash your hands after touching it to avoid transferring the bacteria and making family members ill. When your dog chews on the bone, she’s also likely to transfer the bacteria. To prevent this, you can feed it to her on a patch of grass outside or inside on a washable surface, such as a towel, blanket or her bed.
Cooked Turkey Necks for Dogs: That’s a Quick No
Like any cooked bone, you should never feed your dog cooked turkey necks. Although you may think cooking it gets rid of bacteria and makes it safer, it actually changes the structure of the bone. This makes it more likely to break off in splinters, which can get stuck in and puncture your dog’s throat.
Cooked turkey necks for dogs should never be given—whether it’s baked, boiled, fried or steamed. In any form, cooking a bone damages it and makes it likely to hurt your pup.
If you’re enjoying a Thanksgiving turkey dinner and want to give your dog something cooked, opt to give her a piece of meat instead.
Benefits of Turkey Necks for Dogs
They’re not just a tasty treat. Turkey Necks
Protein— Turkey necks are a good source of high-quality protein for dogs, which makes them feel fuller for longer.
Glucosamine— Many owners give their dogs glucosamine supplements to help with joint and mobility issues. Research has backed up the impact of the nutrient and it can also be found in turkey necks. The combination of glucosamine and chondroitin in the neck’s cartilage and tissue is easy to digest and a natural form of the supplement.
Phosphorus and Calcium— Raw turkey necks for dogs are also a good source of Phosphorus, which is a major component of bones. It’s also high in calcium, which is another critical nutrient for bone and cartilage health.
Healthy Fats— Along with its protein, a turkey neck will also keep a dog full because of its higher fat content. Unlike some treats, that use unhealthy fats, the fats contained in turkey necks can contribute to a balanced diet.
Easily Broken Down— Not only are turkey necks easy to break apart and chew, but they’re also easily broken down by your dog’s stomach acid.
Teeth Cleaning— Since a turkey neck is made up of many small bones, taking it apart gives your dog’s teeth some work to do. In turn, this can help scrape of grime and lead to better oral health.
Entertainment— Like most bones, working at it gives a dog something to do when she’s bored. Just remember, unlike some treats, you’ll want to supervise her each time you give her a turkey neck, so make sure to be home!
Are Turkey Necks Safe for Dogs? Choking Cautions to Take
Even though dogs can eat raw turkey necks, they are not without safety hazards. Whether or not you’ve fed one to your dog before, you should always be around when she’s eating it. That’s because you’ll be close by if she happens to choke.
One thing that’s easy to forget about is the shape of a turkey neck. Just like ours, it’s long and thick, which means it can pose choking risks. If your dog doesn’t chew it fully and instead inhales it, it can get stuck in her throat. This could be an issue for dogs of any breed, but you’ll want to be particularly careful with smaller breeds since there’s less room in their windpipes for the neck to slide down. If your dog is small, one idea is to start off with a small animal neck first, such as a chicken neck. These are substantially smaller, meaning they’re less likely to choke on.
To prevent this, you can hold one end of the neck while she chews on the other. That way, she’s forced to slowly eat it, making it impossible for her to gulp it all down. If you can, it can also be a good idea to split it into chunks. Although this doesn’t completely get rid of choking risks (unless it’s really small), it significantly reduces the chances. This is a particularly good idea if you know your dog is one to inhale food.
Another option is to freeze the turkey neck beforehand. Although this isn’t foolproof and you’ll still need to supervise her, it makes her more likely to tear off pieces as opposed to swallowing it whole.
Again, you may think it’s unlikely your dog will swallow the whole thing, but it’s actually quite common. In fact, on a message board, one animal worker wrote, “Chicken and Turkey necks are the #1 reason we have to go in with the endoscope to retrieve an esophageal foreign body. I have known pets to die as the esophagus becomes too necrotic, or is perforated when the bone is removed.”
To back this up with some doggy data, bones or bone fragments are the most common cause of oesophageal obstruction in dogs. They account for 47% to 100% of cases in reported studies.
To summarize, you can prevent your dog from choking on a turkey neck by:
Always supervising her when she’s eating a turkey neck
Holding one end of the neck while she chews
Chopping it into smaller pieces
Freezing the turkey neck beforehand
For smaller breeds, consider smaller animal necks (ex. chicken or duck)
Turkey Necks for Dogs: How To
If you want to give a dog a raw turkey neck, there’s a few ways you can obtain it.
Buy a turkey and save the neck for your dog
Buy frozen turkey necks
Buy broth made from turkey necks
Buy freeze-dried or dehydrated turkey necks
Preparing Turkey Necks for Dogs:
Raw— If you’re comfortable feeding your dog raw food, you can serve up the raw bone as is (preferably chopped into chunks, read the safety section above).
Broth— You can stew it in some water for a few hours to make a delicious broth. Just make sure to strain before serving (never give your dog cooked bones!).
Pupsicles— Simply strain the turkey neck broth and give it to your dog warm, cold or freeze it into ice cubes for a pupscile.
Dehydrate— You can choose to dehydrate or freeze dry your own turkey neck, just be safe it’s done enough for your dog to eat without safety or choking hazards. (Since these are dry, be sure your dog has plenty of water if you go this route). Your local butcher may be able to take on this task for you.
Summary of Turkey Necks for Dogs
Turkey necks should no longer be overlooked now that you know your dog can enjoy them in some circumstances. Remember that you should never feed your dog cooked bones, including necks because they could splinter and get lodged in the throat.
If you’re wondering can dogs eat turkey necks, remember to feed it to her raw and to take safety precautions to avoid her choking. You should consider cutting the turkey neck into smaller pieces and, if your dog is a smaller breed, smaller animal necks may be more appropriate. In any case, you should always supervise your dog while they’re eating a bone, especially ones from the neck. If you’re uncomfortable giving raw meat to your dog, you can prepare the neck in the other ways we’ve suggested above. Remember: even if it’s safe for your dog, it’s not safe for you, so wash your hands and sanitize any surfaces the raw neck touches.