Belly Ache Bites Recipe

Just like sh*t happens to people, sh*t happens to dogs! Sometimes they get a stomach ache if they ate something that doesn't agree, if they're on a specific medication, or any other reason why! It's great to have simple, effective recipes in your "first aid kit" to whip up real quick. No-one can handle seeing their favorite 4 legged fur babies uncomfortable or in pain! This recipe is super simple, easy to make and only takes 5 minutes to whip together.

You're going to use ginger tea in this recipe but you don't want to make this too strong. Dog's aren't used to this flavor. A weaker tea will still help their bellies. If this recipe seems too spicy for your dog and they don't eat it you can always remelt your bites and add more yogurt to them. Another option is to add some bone broth to it. Bone broth has a strong flavor that will help hide some of the spiciness of the ginger. 

What you'll need:

• Ginger - whole - 1 small knob or powdered - 1/4 tsp
• Yogurt or Kefir - 1/2 C
• Water
• Silicon mold or ice cube trays
• Mixing bowl
• Spoon or spatula

What you'll do:

1. Make a ginger tea. When using whole ginger, shave or cut ginger into smaller pieces and simmer over the stove top for 10 minutes. If using powder, boil water and pour over ginger. Let sit for 5 minutes. You will only be using about 2 TB of this ginger tea.
2. Mix 1/2 C yogurt or Kefir with 2 TB ginger tea in mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly.
3. Use a spoon or spatula to place the mixture into molds or ice cube trays.
4. Place in freezer until frozen.
5. Either keep in molds until it's time to use them or pop our and store in a glass storage container in the freezer.

Ginger is an herb that is well known for its ability to calm an upset stomach. It's such a gentle herb that is even safe during pregnancy. It can have a pungent flavor and if it is made too strong, your dog might find it unattractive. If that's the case you can either, let the bites melt and mix in more yogurt so the mixture is diluted or you can add bone broth to the mix. This will give an added boost of nutrients, savory flavor and glutamine!

Glutamine is an amino acid that is very beneficial to the intestines. It helps heal leaky gut, which can be a reason for some food allergies. Glutamine is naturally found in bone broth and yogurt.

Yogurt is the base of this recipe for a reason! Yogurt is another common, traditional fermented food. The fermentation process naturally creates beneficial bacteria that dogs (and ourselves!) need to inhibit our digestive tracts, from top to bottom. This bacteria works as a sort of defense to the outside world. In this sense it helps with immunity as well as digesting food properly, assimilating nutrients and releasing waste appropriately.

The combination of yogurt and ginger can soothe and upset stomach while providing beneficial bacteria to your dogs digestive system.

If your dog has a dairy allergy or sensitivity, you could try this recipe with goats milk or yogurt instead. Goats milk doesn't have the same proteins as cow dairy and can usually be digested easier if a sensitivity is present.

It feels good to be prepared. Your dog will thank you!