To eat or not to eat, that is the question December 18 2013

With the holidays swiftly approaching and holiday guest coming over, I thought I would compile a list from WebMD on foods you should never feed your dog. Make sure you have enough Bubba bites on hand to feed your pooch instead of the following human food.

1.Avocado - No matter how good you think the guacamole is, you shouldn't give it to your dog. Avocados contain a substance called persin. It's harmless for humans who aren't allergic. But large amounts might be toxic to dogs. If you happen to be growing avocados at home, keep your dog away from the plants. Persin is in the leaves, seed, and bark, as well as in the fruit.

2.Alcohol - Beer, liquor, wine, foods containing alcohol -- none of it's good for your dog. That's because alcohol has the same effect on a dog's liver and brain that it has on humans. But it takes far less to do its damage. Just a little can cause vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, problems with coordination, difficulty breathing, coma, even death. And the smaller the dog, the greater the effect.

3.Onions and Garlic - Onions and garlic in all forms -- powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated -- can destroy a dog's red blood cells, leading to anemia. That can happen even with the onion powder found in some baby food. An occasional small dose is probably OK. But just eating a large quantity once or eating smaller amounts regularly can cause poisoning. Symptoms of anemia include weakness, vomiting, little interest in food, dullness, and breathlessness.

4.Coffee, Tea, and Other Caffeine - Caffeine in large enough quantities can be fatal for a dog. And, there is no antidote. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits, and bleeding. In addition to tea and coffee - including beans and grounds -- caffeine can be found in cocoa, chocolate, colas, and stimulant drinks such as Red Bull. It's also in some cold medicines and pain killers.

5.Grapes and Raisins - Grapes and raisins have often been used as treats for dogs. But it's not a good idea. Although it isn't clear why, grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. And just a small amount can make a dog ill. Repeated vomiting is an early sign. Within a day, the dog will become lethargic and depressed. The best prevention is to keep grapes and raisins off counters and other places your dog can reach.

6.Milk and Other Dairy Products - On a hot day, it may be tempting to share your ice cream cone with your dog. But if your dog could, it would thank you for not doing so. Milk and milk-based products can cause diarrhea and other digestive upset as well as set up food allergies (which often manifest as itchiness).

7.Macadamia Nuts - Dogs should not eat macadamia nuts or foods containing macadamia nuts because they can be fatal. As few as six raw or roasted macadamia nuts can make a dog ill. Symptoms of poisoning include muscle tremors, weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters, vomiting, elevated body temperature, and rapid heart rate. Eating chocolate with the nuts will make symptoms worse, possibly leading to death.

8.Candy and Gum - Candy, gum, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods are sweetened with xylitol. Xylitol can cause an increase in the insulin circulating through your dog's body. That can cause your dog's blood sugar to drop and can also cause liver failure. Initial symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination. Eventually, the dog may have seizures. Liver failure can occur within just a few days.

9.Chocolate - Most people know that chocolate is bad for dogs. The toxic agent in chocolate is theobromine. It's in all kinds of chocolate, even white chocolate. The most dangerous kinds, though, are dark chocolate, chocolate mulch, and unsweetened baking chocolate. Eating chocolate, even just licking the icing bowl, can cause a dog to vomit, have diarrhea, and be excessively thirsty. It can also cause abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and death.

10. Fat Trimmings and Bones - Table scraps often contain meat fat that a human didn't eat and bones. Both are dangerous for dogs. Fat trimmed from meat, both cooked and uncooked, can cause pancreatitis in dogs. And, although it seems natural to give a dog a bone, a dog can choke on it. Bones can also splinter and cause an obstruction or lacerations of your dog's digestive system. It's best to just forget about the doggie bag.

11.Persimmons, Peaches, and Plums - The problem with these fruits is the seeds or pits. The seeds from persimmons can cause inflammation of the small intestine in dogs. They can also cause intestinal obstruction. Obstruction is also a possibility if a dog eats the pit from a peach or plum. Plus, peach and plum pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to both humans and dogs. The difference is humans know not to eat them. Dogs don't.

12.Raw Eggs - There are two problems with giving your dog raw eggs. The first is the possibility of food poisoning from bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli. The second is that an enzyme in raw eggs interferes with the absorption of a particular B vitamin. This can cause skin problems as well as problems with your dog's coat if raw eggs are fed for a long time.

13.Raw Meat and Fish -Raw meat and raw fish, like raw eggs, can contain bacteria that causes food poisoning. In addition, certain kinds of fish such as salmon, trout, shad, or sturgeon can contain a parasite that causes "fish disease" or "salmon poisoning disease." If not treated, the disease can be fatal within two weeks. The first signs of illness are vomiting, fever, and big lymph nodes. Thoroughly cooking the fish will kill the parasite and protect your dog.

14.Salt - It's not a good idea to share salty foods like chips or pretzels with your dog. Eating too much salt can cause excessive thirst and urination and lead to sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms of too much salt include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, and seizures. It may even cause death.

15. Sugary Foods and Drinks - Too much sugar can do the same thing to dogs that it does to humans. It can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly the onset of diabetes.

16.Yeast Dough - Before it's baked, bread dough needs to rise. And, that's exactly what it would do in your dog's stomach if your dog ate it. As it swells inside, the dough can stretch the dog's abdomen and cause severe pain. In addition, when the yeast ferments the dough to make it rise, it produces alcohol that can lead to alcohol poisoning.

17.Your Medicine - Reaction to a drug commonly prescribed for humans is the most common cause of poisoning in dogs. Just as you would do for your children, keep all medicines out of your dog's reach. And, never give your dog any over-the-counter medicine unless told to do so by your vet. Ingredients such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are common in pain relievers and cold medicine. And, they can be deadly for your dog.

18.Kitchen Pantry: No Dogs Allowed - Many other items commonly found on kitchen shelves can harm your dog. For instance, baking powder and baking soda are both highly toxic. So are nutmeg and other spices. Keeping food items high enough to be out of your dog's reach and keeping pantry doors closed will help protect your dog from serious food-related illness.

Here is what WebMD suggests your to do if your dog does ingest one of the above foods:

Dogs explore with their mouth. And, no matter how cautious you are, it's possible your dog can find and swallow what it shouldn't. It's a smart idea to always keep the number of your local vet, the closest emergency clinic, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center -- (888) 426-4435 -- where you know you can find it in an emergency. And, if you think your dog has consumed something that's toxic, call for emergency help at once.

What's In a Bubba Bite December 03 2013

I know a lot of people, myself included, that have dogs who have terrible allergies. My little Harlee gets such red and irritated skin so I have to be careful as to what I feed her. It is important for you to know what is in our dog treats before you make that purchase. It's important to make sure what we offer is the best. So here are is what is in our treats.

I hope this helps in making the selection for the treats.

Don't forget with the holidays coming up, to place your orders so you can get them delivered in time for the holidays. Bubba wanted me to put the below message on for him.

The Whole Package November 22 2013

I wanted to share with you all what I had experienced today when I went to the Tempe center to show a new employee her new work space. It was amazing to see such a happy group of people working together to get to one goal. There was a group in the storage room checking the expiration dates to make sure we always send out a fresh product. There was another group weighing and measuring out the dog treats to make sure nobody gets short changed. Then there were two groups going through each treat by hand making sure you get a quality product. They were looking for ones that had spent a little to long in the oven to the ones that weren't exactly the shape of a dog bone.

It was amazing to me to see their happy faces knowing that they were making a difference and being productive citizens. Knowing that the hours they worked would be money to help their families out or just to go out and have fun on the weekends. Seeing these faces diligently working and striving to do their best makes me proud to work for Gryphen Specialty Products and Services.

After I was done showing the new employee around she was so happy. She was pleased how well everyone worked together and how they were all cooperating to get the job done. I think she will be a good fit to our team.

 Here are a few more pictures of my co-workers.

Holiday Shopping November 14 2013

With the gift giving season coming up, I thought some pet gift ideas would be appropriate for today. Of course when giving gifts to your friends with pets and your own four legged friends, we hope you will consider giving Bubba Bites.

Why not make a gift basket out of pet supplies. You can always find cute baskets or boxes at Ross, Target, or even TJ Maxx. Once you have your cute basket picked out, start with a treat...HINT HINT...Bubba Bites make a good treat to start with. From their you could add cute holiday toy. I was at Petsmart this week and they have tons of holiday toys, my favorite were the Disney ones. Along with treats and a toy, you could throw in a new collar and leash and a cute holiday shirt for the pooch. You could also do a gift basket with a towel, shampoo, a brush and of course a box of Bubba Bites. There are so many ideas you could do for the pet loving friends you have in your life. Here are a few pictures I picked up off the web to show you cute gift basket ideas.

Maybe you have that one friend who loves to take photos of their pampered pooch and turn those photos in to scrapbooks. There are tons of scrapbook paper, stickers, and embellishments out there that you can buy. If you check out Michaels, Hobby Lobby, or Jo-Anne stores you are sure to find pet loving scrapbook materials. Here are a few ideas for you.

I hope that these ideas help you during the gift giving season. Don't forget to get man's best friend a gift this holiday. They are our loyal companions and are by our sides during the good times and the bad times.

The Faces Behind Bubba Bites November 05 2013

Thank you a million times over for all the likes and love on our social media pages. If you have not liked our Facebook page or our Twitter page yet, please show us some love. We are also so pleased with our sales from this page. If your pooch hasn't tried Bubba Bites yet, we strongly recommend it.

It's now time to introduce you to some of the faces behind our delicious dog treats. We have an awesome team that works harder, faster, and put so much love in to each and every bite. When you order, you will be sure to have a quality product after our team reviews each and every Bubba Bite individually.

First I want to introduce you to H and K, they are working so hard to make sure each Bubba Bite is cut out and that each one is in the exact shape of the dog bone.

Next up is K and B, they are the master mixers of the ingredients. Both can whip up a batch of dough in no time.

What about T, she precisely places each treat on the baking sheet so they won't stick together.

E and M roll out the dough to just the right thickness. They both have this perfected.

With all these hard workers, you are sure to get a product your precious pooch will love. We hope that we can continue serving you, for your all natural dog treat needs. We are committed 100% to giving you a quality product. Thanks for helping us make our dream grow.

Welcome to bubbabites.net June 05 2013

We are happy to have our Bubba Bites web site up and running so we can share Bubba's treats around the US. We can’t wait for all of you to sniff around our new web site and tell us what you think about it. We hope that you enjoy what you see and that you and your pooch love our organic dog treats and other products we are offering.

Bubba bites are produced and distributed by Gryphen Specialty Products and Services (SPS). Gryphen SPS supports the choices of individuals with developmental disabilities by promoting and delivering flexible, quality, consumer-driven services, and supports employment within communities. Gryphen SPS, is based out of Arizona. We have four locations in Arizona; Chandler, Tempe, Casa Grande, and Coolidge. The corporate office is based in Tempe, Arizona.

Bubba is our company mascot. He is a nine year old American Bulldog. Bubba lives with our Vice President. He enjoys being lazy and playing with his sister. Bubba is a good boy and we love to have his name on our treats. All of our treats are Bubba approved.

We produce two different types of organic treats, honey oat and peanut butter. The Honey Oat treats have oatmeal, whole wheat flour, honey, cinnamon and water. The Peanut Butter treats have whole wheat flour, white flour, peanut butter, water, and oil.

We look forward to getting our online store perfected and make it as easy as possible for you to find what you are looking for. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Bubba and the Gryphen family are happy to have you here.