Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Flourless Peanut Butter Mug Cake (for Elka)

Not only had I quicked Elka's nail while trimming it Sunday night, but when Monday morning rolled around, and we took the sock off, she was bleeding again. Or still. I think again; it looked like A LOT, but I think being freaked out about it probably multiplied the volume. Me being freaked, that is. Elka minded it, but wasn't a wreck. I just didn't anticipate it to still be a problem; I knew that Elka didn't have Von Willebrand's Disease (will post about this on Thursday. This week is just coming together, isn't it?), so I didn't think it was life threatening. But still bleeding was a total problem in my eyes.

So I called out of work. And took her to the vet, hoping they would be able to get her in without an appointment. Last time we had to have an emergency vet trip was the year before I started the blog. She'd broken her toe by getting it caught in the leash while pouncing on a tennis ball in the back yard, and the vet sedated her to x-ray her to be sure of which toe was broken. In all honesty, I should've said no, because it seemed pretty obvious which toe, and that it was only one. But what it came down to was she peed the bed, with my fiance in it, while sleeping off the sedation. So, not knowing what the vet trip would hold, I called out, so that I could supervise her and keep her from worrying at it through the day, in the belief (hope) that things would be better Tuesday.

Of course, I still felt horribly guilty. She yelped when I pressed a paper towel to it, which she hadn't on the night of the Incident. So I sprinkled some cheese on her food after we came back (armed with cauterizing powder and gauze). I kept a baggie of treats on the coffee table and gave them to her for doing things like moving out of my spot on the couch. And oh yeah, making her a Flourless Peanut Butter Mug Cake, from the Kirbie's Cravings recipe.




While I don't stick strictly to grain free with Elka (her treats are frequently grain-y, she gets things from us like pizza crust or the last bite of a sandwich), I figured a flourless mug cake recipe would be better suited for a dog. I replaced the sugar with molasses (gotta get those trace minerals!) and didn't add any salt. I've made at least one Kirbie's Cravings mug cake recipe before, but it was chocolate. Obviously, this would not be suitable for Elka's consumption!

I will not claim that, in batter form, this looks appetizing

"baking" action shot

It's not Instagram; it's the steam coming off of it fresh out of the microwave!


After the cooking, there was also the agony of waiting for it to cool. I was smart this time, and I didn't tell Elka that a special treat that she would then have to wait for was hers.  Her excitement is adorable, until it isn't. By the time I'd plated it in the lead-in photo, though, she knew something was up. I did try a bit of it that stuck in the mug; even without salt, it was pretty good. I guess peanut butter and molasses is a dog treat "thing" for a reason!

Oh, for me?

Nom nom nom

Wait, that was it? All done?


Is there more?

31 comments:

  1. microwave mug cake...for dogs?! What an inspired idea!I would never have thought of that! Looks tasty too!

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    1. I really really didn't want to fire up the oven, and haven't won your dehydrator yet ;)

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    2. BOL! Wishing you the best of luck on the dehydrator ;0)

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  2. Poor Elka, stay strong. I know how it feels to panic when it comes to your pup. I'm not a particularly paranoid person but every time Elsa gets sick I feel sure she is dying! It's the worst. Feel better girl.

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    1. It is the worst! You just wonder what you could possibly do to stop it/fix it/take it back.

      I'm sure she does feel better by now. I'm just making doubly sure at this point.

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  3. oooh dear poor elka, bet you felt so bad when you made her little toenail bleed, i beat myself up when i get stuff wrong i feel such a failure. ive even taken to filing stormys nails instead cos i thought it would be safer and also you get to round them off a bit so they dont feel so sharp. i was amazed the first time when stormy just laid there and let me file em LOL!! so great!

    fingers crossed her little poorly gets better soon xxx

    i think she has probly forgiven you now tho after that yummy looking mug cake, very impressive, i'll have to make one of those :P

    Charlene and Stormy
    xxx

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    1. I have filed her nails when the edges were too square after a clipping. I think filing might be the way to go now!

      I think a mug cake is a good idea ;) It's super easy, only gets the mug and a couple utensils dirty, and is fast.

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  4. Yummy mug cake is a good enough apology we think.
    Best wishes Molly

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  5. Not that dogs hold a grudge, but noms always buy forgiveness.

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    1. Yes, I do think that tasty treats really help to allay the trauma.

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  6. Great idea! Will have to check it out!

    I do all Kirby's grooming except his nails. I'm terrified of cutting the quick and he picks up on my fear so that's one job I gladly pay my vet to do. Poor Elka but I'm quite sure she was happy you went with her! I tried the pedipaws which files the nails but Kirby couldn't stand it. Maybe Elka will like it?

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    1. At the vet, they even tried to be all "Oh, so we'll just take her around back and..." I said "No thank you, I prefer to stay with her." Of course the next question was "Oh, does she bite?" -.-

      Maybe PediPaws would be successful for Elka, I don't know!

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  7. Seems like nobody can catch a break lately, can they? What a yummy cake though. Sooner or later things ought to get better ... don't they? Still waiting ... LOL

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    1. Yes, I'm confident that things will get better soon! For everybody!

      Of course, "soon" is one of those words.....

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  8. Mug cake, yum. It sounds pretty yummy to me. I'd forgive you too if you made me some of that! ;-)

    I hope her nail has improved now and she doesn't suffer from any more bleeding.

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    1. She was okay this morning! We're keeping the sock on for another day so that she'll leave her freaking nail alone! She wasn't this bothersome with her spay stitches, it's very odd.

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  9. Oh poor thing. Nail clipping is just the worst isn't it? Even with the white nails they sometimes bleed when you're sure its safe; I've taken to trimming just the very tip or using a pedi-paws if the dog will let me. I do have an old post on nail clipping, if its any help http://peacefuldog.blogspot.com/2011/10/nail-clipper-desensitization.html
    The links outline a good process for desensitization.

    The cake looks like a masterpiece!

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    1. Thanks for linking the post! For the most part, she actually stays still very well, offers me her paws, etc. This last time, I guess she just didn't wanna.

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  10. Hey Elka, Jet here.

    Nice to finally make your acquaintance. Mom had trouble for a long time with certain blog hosts besides wordpress. :(

    Anyway, we sure hope your toe feels more comfy. You will never guess who has the Von Willebrand's thingie... MOM... yup... Mom and the Dobies...

    The treat looks yummy, hope it distracts you. :)

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    1. Sometimes Blogger can be a big old pain :( Glad to see you here!

      Your Mom has Von Willebrand's? I'd never heard of it until I got into the Doberman world. I guess she has to take some precautions!

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  11. Poor Elka and Poor mom, clipping nails is so hard. The cake sure looks tasty and nice way to help you feel better!

    urban hounds

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    1. I do think that she was pretty thrilled with the cake!

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  12. Oh my word! We love peanut butter
    Benny & Lily

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  13. I bet Elka is feeling a whole lot better about that bleeding nail.

    Glad you were able to get help from the vet. Blood is not fun.

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    1. Yes, I think she's just fine now!

      I'm glad we were able to get help at the vet as well. I banked on people being away for summer vacation, and/or not wanting to come in right at 8 when they opened. We got lucky!

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  14. Aww, poor Elka! I'm glad she got something to make up for her earlier injury. They sure have a way of making us feel guilty!

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    1. Oh yes, they do, with those big eyes and reproachful ears!

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  15. The cake looks yummy. Hope her nail is better soon. At least you are trying to make it up to her. ;)

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    1. Looks just fine today. We kept it covered until this morning, and then I walked her, and she's even licked it some, and it's back to normal. I'm sure she's already forgotten what the problem was, and wonders why we're making a fuss!

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