When Rocky, Rottweiler's mix of Megan and Steve Long, started having digestive problems, the couple needed a way to help her keep her food.

Megan scanned the Internet for remedies, but none seemed to do the trick.

"I'm not a crazy lady, I really wanted to extend my boy's life," she said.

Then she stumbled on a solution that she could brew: "Beer" for dogs – a non-alcoholic drink containing healthy ingredients for mutts. Almost a year later, the Good Boy Dog Beer Company sells three different beers through Houston in more than 20 restaurants and dog-friendly bars.

And they are not alone. In the United States, dog "breweries" have emerged over the last 10 years to create dog beverages that allow owners to share a cold with their pet while providing them with a nutritious treat.

Long and her husband were already in the area of ​​bars and restaurants in Houston before the first brew for Rocky. After a few friends asked for it, they saw a business opportunity.

They call it beer "because we use a lot of the same equipment that a brewery uses, we simply skip the fermentation process," said Long.

Since the launch of Good Boy Dog Beer in August, the couple has also shipped batches to other states and plans to introduce a fourth beer in its lineup: "Sniffin Crotch" Ale, to base of peanuts and unsalted almonds, whole grain oats, cinnamon and water. .

Breweries can be served alone or poured over food to soften it – that's how Rocky uses it to aid digestion, added Long. The drinks, which sell for $ 5 a can, are not meant to replace a full meal, she added.

Long said that dogs liked it, but for humans, it tastes bland because there is no salt.

"Lot IPA in the yard", "Session … Squirrel!" and "Mailman Malt Licker" contain various vegetables, meats and spices, but all three also contain turmeric – an ingredient that Long says is "amazing" for digestion of dogs.

All beers served by Good Boy Dog Beer beer are made from all-natural ingredients, she said. "We only use 100% dog-friendly and healthy spices," Long said.

Other companies selling dog beer in the United States include Happy Dog Beer Co. in Montana, Pet Winery in Florida and Apollo Peak in Colorado.

Jenny Brown, CEO of Seattle-based Bowser Beer, says breweries are not just a fad.

"It's not just a seasonal thing or gifty," she said. "Many people use it as a daily garnish."

Brown, who founded her business in 2007 and quickly started making one of the only dog ​​beers she has ever known in the United States, now sells her at more than 600 pet shops, restaurants and bars. across the country. It is also looking to expand after reporting that Bowser Beer had doubled its sales last year.

Given how people invest in their dogs, Brown thinks that growth will continue.

In 2017, Americans spent nearly $ 70 billion on their pets, including $ 29 billion just for food, according to the non-profit organization American Pet Products Association. In 2007, total expenses amounted to $ 41 billion, according to the professional association.

"The truth is that people like to do things with their dogs," said Brown. "People like to include them in everything."

Both Brown and Long find this surge in their customers, especially among the youngest who are waiting to have children and treat their dogs like children. Many restaurants and bars now accept more pets, which helps them boost their business, they said.

As Brown says: "People love their dogs and love to prolong what they like about their dogs."

Follow Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller

Read or share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2018/10/12/dog-beer-houston-good-boy-berwery/1608381002/