You may be preparing fresh, local and organic food for your family, but have you considered what you feed your pets? Just like humans, your four-legged friends can't eat just anything and don't respond well to chemicals and preservatives. To protect your pets, the Environmental Working Group recommends that you serve pets organic food:

Choose organic or free-range pet foods. Check labels to avoid the chemical preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and ethoxyquin, and switch your cat’s food regularly to limit the exposure to mercury in seafood.

This week, my parent's dog Moxie got to be the official tester of Ma Snax organic dog treats. When I say Moxie is a picky eater, it's not just for the sake of this blog post, she really won't eat food or treats that don't smell fresh and yummy. As you'll notice in the photo below, Moxie was REALLY into these treats and ran halfway across the yard to investigate. After the obligatory "sit, sit, ok good girl", Moxie gobbled down one of Ma Snax wheat and corn free Cheddar Crackers and then came back for more.

Veterinarian Dr. Barbara Royal says that when it comes to dog food, "mostly meat and no corn or wheat is best." She cautions against food made in China because there are no standards for regulation of those products. That's why local and organic foods for your pets are the safest (and most tasty) route.

All of Ma Snax treats are handcrafted in Sonoma, California with fresh, organic ingredients. The Cheddar Crackers are made with real cheese and soothing botanicals that also help with a dog's breath.

Check out this wholesome ingredient list:

Organic whole grain oat, barley and brown rice flours, organic rolled oats, filtered water, real cheddar cheese powder, organic parsley, organic chamomile, organic flax meal, organic ground tumeric, organic cage-free eggs, canola oil, vitamin E.

Ma Snax makes a really impressive range of products that sound delicious enough for humans to eat! Think: Sweet Potato & Ginger Snaps or Green Apple & Oat Biscuits with Reishi Mushrooms, Kelp & Thyme.

And if you want to share a extra special treat with your dog, Ma Snax was nice enough to provide us with their recipe for Ma Snax Carob, Carrot & Calendula Cake for Dogs below the fold.

Ma Snax Carob, Carrot & Calendula Cake for Dogs

Makes one 9-inch cake or 6 cupcakes

Ingredients:

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 cups grated fresh carrot

2 large whole cage-free eggs

1 cup organic all purpose flour

1/4 cupt brown sugar or honey

2 TBL carbo powder

2 TBL organic flax meal or seeds

2TBL dried organic Calendula flowers

1 TSP ground cinnamon

1/4 TSP salt

1 TSP baking powder

1 TSP baking soda

Optional: 1/4 unsweetened carob chips

Method: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour cake pan to prevent sticking. Using a stand mixer with paddle attachment or hand mixer, beat eggs with oil and sugar [or honey] until well mixed. Mix in grated carrots. Sift dry ingredients together and add. Do not over mix. Fold in carob chips if using. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until center spring back when pressed. Cool and decorate.

Frosting suggestions: Mix softened cream cheese with peanut butter, vanilla and honey.

Garnish suggestions: Ground peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, carob chips, banana chips.

*Serve to lucky dogs!

-Dorothee