Although my family have always had dogs, I didn’t really start paying attention to the food I fed my own dogs until I moved abroad. My vet there warned me against feeding kibble, saying that, in his opinion, kibble was responsible for the increased number of cancer cases he saw in his clinic. He guided me away from kibble and towards a homemade and raw food diet for my dogs. That was over a decade ago and I’ve never looked back! I set up a business selling healthy dog treats, using my own recipes. Although I still sometimes make baked dog treats for my pup, these days I usually prepare dehydrated and raw treats for dog training and enrichment with her.

This post may contain affiliate links which means I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You’ll find recipes for healthy dog treats and dog cakes here, as well as general information about food that dogs can – or can’t – eat.

Kongs and Lickimats

It doesn’t matter what kind of food your dog eats – homemade, raw, kibble or canned – putting your dog’s food in or on a lickmat provides fantastic enrichment for your pooch.

A KONG is a very versatile product – it can be a simple toy, but it’s even better when stuffed with your dog’s dinner or a frozen summer treat. This article has various KONG filling ideas for dogs.

As well as putting food on a KONG, you can put food ON a KONG – cover it to make it look like a cute snowman.

Similarly, get lots of ideas for food to put on dog’s lickymat in this post.

I’ve even designed a cake for dogs based on a special LickiMat – get the instructions here.

Dog Treat Recipes

It’s not hard to make your own dog treat recipes, and you can make a whole host of DIY dog treats with no special equipment. The benefit of homemade dog treats is that you can make sure you only use healthy, dog-safe ingredients, plus it costs less money. Happy hound, happy human! Win-win!

Yak bars are one of the best-selling dog treats, but they are quite pricey to buy. The good news is you can make your own. Here’s the yak chew for dogs recipe.

Pate for dogs works especially well as a training treat. Get recipes for homemade cheese pate or liver pate for dogs here.

Baked Dog Treats Recipes

Oats can be used as an alternative to flour. This recipe for Fruity Oaty Balls for dogs has the added boost of blueberries.

Bake some cute little Valentines treats for dogs with this Valentines dog treats recipe.

This nutritious and low fat Turkey and Chia dog treats recipe is easy to make.

Quinoa isn’t just for people! These dog treat recipes use quinoa as a base ingredient Quinoa Dog Treat Recipes.

For healthy, Easter dog treats, try this 3-ingredient Easy Recipe, or this turkey Healthy Easter Dog Treats recipe.

Baked Pyramid Pan Dog Treat Recipes

If you use pyramid pans or Collory silicone molds, you can produce hundreds of tiny dog training treats in no time. These recipes all make use of these kinds of dot and pyramid pan silicone molds.

Meaty training treats, especially with liver, are always popular with my dogs. Recipe here.

Tuna makes great little dot training treats for dogs.

This training treat recipe for dogs has tuna AND cheese – 2 of my dog’s favourite things!

Frozen Dog Treat Recipes

In warmer weather these chilled and frozen dog treats will help cool your dog down.

Give your dog some probiotics with these DIY frozen kefir probiotic dog treats.

If you like colourful dog treats, these rainbow frozen dog treats will please you and your pup!

Gummy Dog Treat Recipes

Some dogs need soft dog treats. These gelatine gummie dog treats should hit the spot.

This milky gummys for dogs recipe has just a couple of ingredients.

For cute-looking gummies, this easy carob gummy hearts dog treat recipe is perfect for birthdays, gotcha days and Valentines dog treats.

Holiday Dog Treat Recipes

For Christmas dog treats that are perfect to put in a homemade dog advent calendar, get the instructions here (instructions are for the treats and the homemade advent calendar for dogs)

Give your dog their own Christmas dinner with this Turkey and Cranberry dog treat recipe.

This holiday article has a recipe for delicious Christmas treats for you as well as for your dog.

Holiday and Celebration Cakes For Dogs Recipes

These pupcakes are a quick and simple treat to make for a dog’s birthday: Birthday pupcakes recipe.

Very few dogs dislike the smell and taste of liver. This is an easy to follow Liver and Pumpkin pupcakes Dog Treat Recipe.

Is it your dog’s Gotcha Day? Or perhaps you’re looking for a healthy cake for a dog’s birthday? The dog cake recipe that follow are more elaborate than treats, and will wow your human guests just as much as your dog!

Valentines Day. For gorgeous little cupcakes to tell your dog ‘I love you’, how about these pupcakes for Valentines Day.

This DIY hedgehog cake for a dog does not contain any real hedgehogs!

Some dogs are as football-mad as their human parents! This cake for dogs looks like a football. It’s impressive, and surprisingly easy to make. Get the instructions to make a football cake here.

Are you a Cousin It or Addams Family fan? You and your pup will love this little spooky cake for a dog, which is perfect for a Halloween dog party.

For a winter party for a dog, these cute little snowman cakes for dogs are perfect.

Christmas cake for dogs? Yes, these gorgeous little Christmas tree-shaped dog cakes should do the trick.

Raw Dog Food and Treats for Dogs on Raw Food

I’m based in the UK, and often give my dog different brands of ready-made raw dog food to try. Here are reviews of the best raw dog food in the UK:

Raw dog food reviews UK

DAF and Prodog Raw review

Best dog treats for raw fed dogs

If you’re looking for treats to make for raw fed dogs, here you go:

Best homemade raw dog treats

Homemade dehydrated liver jerky treats

How To Make Dehydrated Treats For Raw Fed Dogs and FAQ

How To Make Chicken Jerky For Dogs

Best Birthday Cakes For Raw Fed Dogs – Tutorial

Dog Food Information

Beans Can Dogs Eat Beans? What You Need to Know

Blueberries are one of the food items my dogs get almost daily. Find out why blueberries are good for dogs here.

Bone broth is great as a treat or a topping on your dog’s normal food. It’s especially good for when your pup is ill and you need to avoid dehydration. It’s simple to make too – here’s the recipe for bone broth for dogs.

Brussel Sprouts for Dogs: Benefits and Risks

Cheese. Read about dogs and cheese here.

Chia Seeds for Dogs: What You Need to Know

Coconut for Dogs The Benefits And Risks

Cranberries make a super dog treat ingredient, as well as a great dog food supplement. Get more info on dogs and cranberries here.

Eggs and eggshells get added to my dog’s food at least once a week. Here’s more info about why eggs are a great addition to your dog’s dinner.

Flour For Dog Treats Recipes – What is best?

Golden paste Turmeric Paste For Dogs

Honey. Is Honey Good For Dogs?

Hummus for dogs: The Health Benefits and Risks

Marrow bones can be great for dogs, but you need to make sure you give your dog the right size, and avoid them if you pup has certain dental problems. Read this article for more information on bones for dogs.

Milk thistle is a useful supplement for dogs and I regularly give it to my dogs to improve liver health. Get more info about milk thistle for dogs here.

Nuts have a bad rap, but many nuts are good for dogs. Get more info about nuts for dogs here.

Popcorn Bad For Dogs? Can Dogs Have Popcorn?

Pumpkin is useful in dog food and as a dog treat ingredient. Pumpkin for dogs.

Quinoa for dogs Health Risks And Potential Benefits

Spirulina is an excellent supplement to add to a dog’s diet, though it’s important to avoid certain kinds that may contain unwanted heavy metals (the minerals, not the music!). Get more info about spirulina for dogs here.

Tomatoes. Read whether it’s OK to give a dog tomatoes.

Tripe: Bleached Tripe vs Green Tripe for Dogs: What’s Best And Why?

Yogurt for Dogs: Benefits, Risks and Serving Ideas

Dog Food Warnings

There’s always the risk that our fur babies will eat something they shouldn’t. Check out things dogs shouldn’t eat at Christmas and holidays, and here’s a list of human food that is toxic to dogs.

Another food-related problem – a lack of certain proteins, vitamins or minerals could lead to a nutritional deficiency in dogs.

General Food Articles

21 Actionable Tips to Get Your Dog Eating Again

The post Dog Treats and Dog Food appeared first on Canine Compilation.

I love halloween, but there may be some aspects of it that our dogs don’t appreciate. Here are some tips for a spooky but safe Halloween for you and your dog.

This post may contain affiliate links which means I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

WALK YOUR DOG BEFORE DARK

All the things that make Halloween such fun for us – weird face painting, freaky costumes, spooky lighting – can make it equally scary for a dog.

Even the calmest dog can be spooked by something otherworldly and out-of-the-ordinary. If you walk your pup before dark, you should be able to avoid any such encounters.

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

There are some really cute Halloween costume for dogs, but what if your dog hates being put in a costume?

I’m lucky, I could put my girl in anything and she wouldn’t have a problem with it. However, not all pups are like that. If your dog is uncomfortable in costumes, how about a more simple Halloween costume that won’t upset her?

There are lots of lovely bow ties for dogs that you can buy, or make your own dog bow tie. You could even make your pup a gorgeous, bat-shaped Halloween bowtie like the one below – no sewing required!

HALLOWEEN DOG FOOD

All festive occasions involve food – a delicious treat for us but potentially problematic for our pups.

If you’re having a Halloween party, make sure Fido can’t get at the kids’ sugary trick-or-treat bowl. Not only is the sugar really bad for dogs (or potentially even worse, the toxic sugar replacement, xylitol), but they could choke on a candy and its wrapper.

Just because some human food is bad for your dog though, doesn’t mean your fur baby has to go without.

You could have a bowl of treats that are just for your dog and make sure that any guests know they can only give your dog those treats.

Dehydrated dog treats like chicken jerky are great for parties – if any of the 2-legged guests accidentally eat them, they’ll probably not even realise they were for your dog! Here’s a tutorial for how to make chicken jerky for your dog.

Making celebration cakes for a dog is fantastic fun. Here’s a recipe for a Halloween cake for dogs.

One of the things I most enjoy about Halloween is pumpkins, and that’s something I can share with my dog. Pumpkin is super healthy for dogs and there are plenty of pumpkin treats for dogs you can make.

TRICK OR TREATERS AT THE DOOR

Where I live, the general rule of thumb if you’re participating in Halloween is to put a carved, lit pumpkin in the window, a sign to the local kids that there’s a bowl of yummy trick-or-treat candies waiting for them. Otherwise, close your curtains and you won’t be bothered by trick-or-treaters (these days there’s only treats, no tricks!)

Thankfully, my dog doesn’t get upset when people come to the door or ring the bell, but not all dogs are like that. If your pup does get upset with people coming to the house, make sure she has a safe space to snuggle up in, where she can get some distance from all the excitement at the front door.

Even dogs that don’t normally have problems with visitors can end up feeling overwhelmed by a constant stream of excited children in strange looking costumes. If you keep your dog in another room, both she and your visitors will stay safe and calm.

You could also put some calming music for dogs on in whatever room she’s in.

HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS

Sadly, most candles nowadays are bad for dogs. They’re made with potentially toxic things like synthetic fragrance oils and paraffin.

Dog-safe candles can be made from beeswax, coconut wax, natural soy or vegetable-based wax, with something like a cotton, lead-free wick. Since some essential oils are toxic to dogs, beware using scented candles. If you want to know more about essential oils for dogs, see this article.

So if your dog is in the same part of the house as your lit pumpkin, could you use a pet-friendly candle in it instead of a standard tea-light?

Another consideration is to make sure that Fido can’t jump up and knock any candles over. The last thing you want is to be putting out house fires!

With a little careful consideration, Halloween can be a hoot for you and your dog!

The post Halloween For Dogs: Tricks, Treats and No Trauma appeared first on Canine Compilation.

Guest post by Lisa Smith

Regular vet visits are crucial for your furry buddy’s well-being. However, no one wants to take their dog to the vet over something preventable. Your dog could be shedding excessively or producing abnormal stool simply because there could be nutritional deficiencies. 

This post may contain affiliate links which means I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Poor nutrition is one of the leading causes of health issues in dogs. It’s not just about the dog not receiving the required quantities, it’s also about the right balance. 

You can learn the symptoms of nutritional deficiencies in dogs. It will help you to prevent nutrition-borne ailments and, of course, save plenty of cash. Read on and learn some of the most common nutritional deficiencies in dogs and their symptoms.

Poor Skin and Coat

Is your dog’s coat dull, sheds excessively, full of dandruff, flaky and greasy? If the answer is yes, your dog could have a skin and coat problem. Poor skin and coat are some of the earliest indicators of neglect, illness, allergies, or nutritional deficiencies in dogs. 

You can begin to eliminate possible causes of poor coat condition and get to the root. For example, if you don\t have your dog groomed, try to at least clean and brush the coat regularly. If the poor skin and coat are due to allergies, contact a vet and eliminate the allergen.

If allergies and grooming are not the cause, check the dog’s diet. Low levels or lack of digestible protein, omega oils, and vitamin E can lead to poor skin and coat conditions in dogs. 

Suppressed Immune System

Your dog’s immune system is crucial for countering inflammation, fighting disease-causing pathogens, healing wounds, and helping your dog adapt to different environments. The two most important contributing factors to an effective immune system are proper nutrition and exercise. 

If you wane on either, your dog’s immune system could be suppressed, resulting in symptoms like:

To boost your dog’s immunity, provide the right quantities of vitamins, omega fatty acids, and prebiotics in their food. Also, ensure your dog gets enough exercise and provide plenty of clean drinking water also. You might want to change your dog’s bowl too: studies have shown that certain stainless steel bowls are the best as they don’t leach chemicals into food.

BEST OVERALL STAINLESS STEEL DOG BOWL

If you want the best for your beastie, go for a BasisPet dog bowl. Safe, strong, made in the USA and available in various sizes, this is the king of dog bowls.

Buy through the BasisPet link below for multiple bowl discounts.

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Chronic Paw Licking and Terrible Odor

We have already seen that excessive paw licking could be due to yeast overgrowth due to a suppressed immune system. Incessant paw licking could also be due to excess carbohydrate content in the dog’s food. Yeast populations grow fast when the dog’s immune system is weak. If the diet contains excess carbohydrates, the yeast population explodes. 

As a result, you may notice the following symptoms:

• Hairless and sore paws (pink)
• Terrible odor from the dog’s ears and paws

To avoid such eventualities, feed your dog a diet rich in dog-friendly protein and prebiotics. 

Lethargy

Most dog breeds are active and enthusiastic. Few dog breeds enjoy lying on the couch and wearing a bored face all day. If your dog lacks energy and enthusiasm for exciting activities, it could be because of nutritional deficiencies.

If your dog is lethargic, yet you feed it regularly, it could be due to malabsorption or parasitic infestation. Many pet parents routinely give their dog chemicals to kill internal parasites (worms), but these same chemicals can do unspeakable damage to some dogs too. Rather than use chemicals, there are effective, natural methods to control worms in dogs.

A visit to the vet to determine the underlying cause of lethargy will be more beneficial than boosting the nutrient contents in Fido’s meals.  

Obesity

Most obese dogs develop the condition as a result of eating non-balanced meals. When you give your dog excess treats, high-carb meals, and lots of kitchen scraps, your dog could reject other nutritious meals. As a result, your dog could grow overweight and become susceptible to other conditions like diabetes and heart disease. 

HAVE YOU EVER WISHED YOU COULD JUST CALL A VET WHEN YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR DOG?

Now you can! Vidivet is like having a vet at your fingertips, 24/7.

Get personalised advice from a real vet, whenever you need it. Send a text, audio message or video, or organise a 1-2-1 video call with one of the vets.

There are plans to suit every pet parent’s budget, and even a free trial. What do you have to lose?

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There Could be Other Symptoms 

The above symptoms of nutritional deficiencies in dogs are just the tip of the iceberg. But they are also the most common. Look out for the following symptoms too, it could be that you are feeding your dog the wrong stuff:

• Dull coat
• Excess flatulence 
• Fur loss
• Abnormal stool (texture, color, or odor)
• Increased skin disorders
• Stunted growth (puppies), weight loss, or an inability to gain weight
• Bowed or knocked limbs (at the knees)
• Frequent ailments

A final word – knowing your dog is essential to detecting these symptoms

The above symptoms could be obvious or hidden. If you frequently observe your dog and examine his or her skin and coat, you are more likely to detect early warning signs. Talk to a dog nutritionist about the best nutrition to offer your dog. Remember to include water, exercise, and play to keep your fur kid as healthy as possible.

The post Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Dogs appeared first on Canine Compilation.

A KONG is such a versatile dog toy. Most of us use it for fetch games, stuff it with food, or freeze it for great summer refreshing treats for our pups. Have you ever considered using it as the base for a celebration ‘cake’ though?

To make this cute snowman ‘cake’ for my dog, I used her classic KONG and covered and decorated it. It was quick and easy to prepare, and more importantly, I only used healthy, human-grade food.

This post may contain affiliate links which means I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED:

• something white for the ‘snow’ frosting: read on for more info
• an egg yolk (for the head)
• a slice of something like cheese or carrot for the hat
• dried fish or carrot sticks for the arms
• chopped up pieces of dried liver, cranberry or pumpkin seeds for eyes and buttons

To create a white frosting, I have two recommendations.

• I used a mix of cooked egg whites and low-fat cream cheese. 2 hard-boiled egg whites and 1 tbsp low-fat cream cheese were enough to cover my large classic KONG. You might find that a thick Greek yogurt works just as well as cream cheese. You don’t want the mix to be too sloppy though. The cream cheese/yogurt is just to bind the eggs and stick to the KONG
• Alternatively, you could use mashed potato, but I don’t feed my pup potato. I do like her to get plenty of eggs in her diet though, as they are such a powerhouse of nutrients.

As well as the frosting, you’ll need some bits and pieces to give the snowman some buttons, facial features, arms and a hat – or whatever you choose to dress him in. Check out this snowman cake I baked (not a KONG, but a real cake) for ideas as to how to dress your snowman with a scarf too.

Here are some things you might use to decorate the snowman:

• thinly chopped carrots make good arms (I used bits of dried sprats)
• a slice of carrot or cheese can be cut into a circle for a hat
• chopped up pieces of dried liver, cranberry or pumpkin seeds make good eyes and buttons

As well as food, you will of course need a KONG!

KONG CLASSIC

Suitable for average chewers

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KONG EXTREME

Suitable for aggressive, power chewers

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KONG PUPPY

Suitable for teething puppies

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KONG SENIOR

Suitable for older teeth and gums

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INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cook two hard-boiled eggs. Shell them and cut them in half.
2. Separate the egg yolk from the egg white – make sure you keep it whole, you need one for the head!
3. Put the cooked egg whites and the low-fat cream cheese in a food processor and blend til smooth.
4. If you’re planning to make this ‘cake’ last as long as possible, stuff it with food now, before you cover it. Here are lots of ideas for filling a KONG.
5. Spread the white mix over the KONG. Don’t worry about making a perfect snowman, or whether little patches of KONG show through the snow. By the time you finish adding the decorations, he will look super cute.
6. Carefully stick the 2 egg yolk halves together with ‘snow’ to recreate a ball. Cover it with snow and pop it on the KONG – be sure to put the join horizontally so the 2 halves don’t come apart.
7. Pop a slice of carrot or cheese on his head for a hat.
8. Lightly press a piece of dried fish or carrot sticks in place for arms, and other bits of food for eyes and buttons. Of course, add more features if you wish!

If you have leftover ‘snow’ you can use it on a lickimat. Get more lickimat topping ideas here.

CONCLUSION

It’s easy to turn your KONG into a fantastic Christmas dog treat. While you’re tucking into turkey and cranberry sauce, your pup can happily slurp away at his or her snowman KONG. If you stuff the KONG first, it will give your dog even more entertainment – maybe even long enough for you to get started on your Christmas pud!

The post New Ways With KONGS – What to Put on a KONG! appeared first on Canine Compilation.

Though I’ve fed my dogs a DIY raw diet in the past, these days I find the ready-made minces far more convenient. Lots of raw dog food suppliers have excellent subscription plans, with a variety of protein options, all conveniently delivered frozen to your home, ready to pop in the freezer.

The freezer aspect is often the downside of feeding your dog ready-made raw minces. Not all of us have plenty of freezer space available. Depending on the size of your dog, or dogs, you might need an entire freezer just for your dog’s food.

However, don’t let this be a stalling point for you – many suppliers are happy to arrange smaller, more regular deliveries to get around the lack of freezer space.

This is a review of 2 different brands of 100% complete 80-10-10 ready mixes – Durham Animal Feeds (DAF) and Prodog Raw. My gorgeous girl Toxa was very happy to do the taste testing!

DAF website

Prodog Raw website

This article may contain affiliate links. As an Associate with Amazon and other companies, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. Don’t worry, there’s no extra cost to you!

In case you don’t know what an 80-10-10 mix is, it means 80% meat, 10% offal and 10% bone. The bone is always ground up into small pieces in these mixes. It’s one of the reasons why I now feed a ready-made mix. My girl swallows down whole bones – when I used to feed her a DIY raw diet with whole bones such as chicken necks or wings, I lived in fear of her choking on them.

If you’re looking for a review of Cotswold Raw, Nutriment, or The Dog’s Butcher, look at this article.

THE RESULTS

You can read on for more details, but here is a summary of the results:

I think the quality and service of Prodog Raw is better and their packaging was also better – but with a cautionary note. Read on to see why.

From my dog’s point of view it was a close contest, but she showed a slight preference for DAF.

THE TASTE TESTS

I always try to give my dog more choice in life, and letting her choose what to eat is so simple. In case you’ve never tried it, doing Free Work enrichment at mealtime is an excellent way to introduce choice.

Toxa had previously eaten DAF before this taste test, but the Prodog Raw was new to her.
She usually eats the raw minces from Bella & Duke, as these are the best I’ve found overall, though we often try out different suppliers. If you want to try Bella & Duke, use this code to get 50% off your first order c56173f

We ran the test with 4 different proteins – rabbit, lamb, beef and turkey. Both suppliers had these proteins, so it made the comparison as like-for-like as possible. I gave Toxa some of the same protein from each brand in 2 separate piles. I swapped where I put each brand for each meal so that she had the choice of both foods each time, but in a different position.

She eats her food on lickimats most days, so we did the test using lickimats. Lickimats are fantastic for feeding raw mince to your dog. I recommend the brand LickiMat, they use food-safe rubber, not cheap silicone alternatives. Get lots of other lickimat topping ideas here.

Day 1: Turkey

Toxa didn’t demonstrate a clear preference for either brand. She ate them both up happily, going back and forth from one brand to the other.

The DAF turkey says it also has apple in it, so it’s not a pure 80-10-10 mix.

Winner: neither

Day 2. Rabbit

Toxa started on the DAF. She ate half of it, then left it to go to the Prodog.

She ate all the Prodog before returning to finish the DAF.

Winner: Prodog

Day 3. Lamb

Toxa checked out the Prodog briefly, then went to the DAF and polished it all off before going back to Prodog.

Note: as you can see in the first picture, the DAF pack leaked (I cut the pack open, it didn’t come like that).

Winner: DAF

Day 4. Beef

The Prodog raw beef was one of the tubs that arrived broken. I had to poke around in the meat to fish out the little piece of missing plastic from the tub.

In the first meal of the day, Toxa showed no preference for either brand. For her dinner though she checked out the Prodog briefly, then went to the DAF and polished it all off before going back to Prodog.

Winner: DAF

DAF website

Prodog Raw website

Here’s a quick video of Toxa trying out both brands’ turkey raw food. She went back and forth between them, expressing no preference.

Tap twice to load then open Video...

REVIEW OF INGREDIENTS AND OVERALL QUALITY

Some raw food suppliers are very clear about where they source their meat.

In the case of DAF, I couldn’t find any information on their ‘About Us’ or ‘FAQ’ pages about where the meat comes from. They simply state: “all ingredients are ethically sourced”.

ProDog on the other hand states that their recipes are “formulated using only ethically sourced ingredients from … UK only farms“.

ONLINE SHOP AND HOME DELIVERY

I picked up the DAF at my local raw food store but I had to get the Prodog Raw online. DAF does do a delivery service though, and some raw food stores stock Prodog, just not mine.

DAF does not deliver to Northern Ireland or the Scottish Highlands.

Prodog does deliver to those places, but charges a pretty hefty premium to do so.

Both companies have bulk deals, but DAF doesn’t sell the basic range (the one I tested) individually. You need to buy them in boxes of 14 packs. Each pack weighs 454gr.

Prodog does sell the individual packs, enabling you to mix and match different flavours. Their packs are slightly larger at 500gr each.

Here’s a summary of each supplier’s online shop ease of use, and delivery information. Note the delivery costs refer to buying frozen meat products, not the other items in their stores.

DAF website

Prodog Raw website

PACKAGING

DAF PACKAGING

Courier packaging: Since I bought the DAF food at my local store, I didn’t get to see how it was packaged for the courier. According to their website, orders are sent in polystyrene boxes to keep them frozen.

Food packaging: Of the 2 suppliers, DAF had the simplest packaging: a clear film plastic wrap. On their website, DAF state: “To ensure that Durham Animal Feeds customers get the best possible price and value, simple clear, transparent, sealed and fully recyclable (where facilities allow) packaging is used for the products”.

I couldn’t find any information about what the packaging was made of – such as whether it’s made from recycled materials, where it’s produced etc.

Apart from this, there are 2 practical problems with the DAF food packaging.

If you’re portioning up your dog’s food, you’ll need to transfer any remaining food to another container with a lid, or leave it open in your fridge. Once the food defrosts the packaging is very flimsy so if you don’t at least put it on a plate, you’ll possibly end up with a mess on your fridge shelf. Yuk. This is especially the case with the fish proteins that are quite sloppy. (We didn’t include those in this review but believe me, I speak from experience).

However, once defrosted DAF food squishes down pretty well into either Bella & Duke or ProDog Raw containers, so if you’ve already bought from those suppliers you can simply recycle the containers for DAF.

The second problem with DAF packing is that it often leaks. They are definitely improving – when I first used DAF a couple of years ago it ALWAYS leaked – I mean EVERY SINGLE PACK.

For this test 1 in 4 packs leaked. To avoid a disgusting mess dripping down your fridge, make sure you put the pack on a plate or in a container when you put it in the fridge to defrost.

PRODOG RAW PACKAGING

Courier packaging: The order arrived right on time, including a reminder message from the courier that morning. It came in a cardboard box, which as you can see from the photo above, was a little dented on the bottom. Inside the box they use a recyclable wool sheet lining to protect the containers and keep the food cold. The tubs were still frozen.

Prodog are clearly very eco-conscious and this is evident in all the detailed information they give about their packaging – where it is produced, how to recycle it – or upcycle it – and they also have a discount system in place for returning the wool lining.

Unfortunately though, the wool lining doesn’t protect the plastic food containers as well as polystyrene or stiff cardboard packaging. Several of the Prodog plastic food containers were chipped or cracked.

I have regular deliveries of raw food from another supplier, Bella & Duke (B&D). Like Prodog, their food comes in plastic containers. However, B&D send them in strong, double-wall cardboard boxes with a couple of dry ice packs inside. No wool, no polystyrene. I’ve never had a broken plastic container from B&D. (If you’re interested in Bella & Duke, use this code to get 50% off your first order: c56173f)

The B&D plastic containers are exactly the same as Prodogs’ in terms of design. They only differ in colour – Prodog’s are yellow (great for recycling apparently) and B&D’s are white. You can see a white Bella & Duke container that I used to put the DAF food in, to prevent it from leaking all over my fridge.

Food packaging: ProDog Raw had the best packaging from an ease of use point of view. Their lidded, plastic containers, allow you to portion up the food and seal the container again – if they’re not broken that is.

Some of the tubs were dirty on the outside, with blood and bits of food stuck to them.

Summary of the food packaging:

VARIETY OF RANGE BY EACH SUPPLIER

As well as the single protein minces tried in this review, both suppliers also offer other ready-made mince ranges and treats. Neither offer a senior range, but both offer supplements, including products for older dogs. Prodog offers the broadest range of mince products and novel proteins.

PRICING

Durham is cheaper, which makes sense when you consider its simple elaboration and presentation. However, the quality, range and service of Prodog is much better.

When you take into account the free delivery on the Prodog Raw bundles, it’s not that much more expensive than DAF.

CONCLUSION

If you’re really stuck for cash but still want to feed raw, DAF is one of the few options available to you. Here is a cautionary note though – whilst this has never happened to me, and I’ve bought DAF from time to time when I’ve been in a jam, I’ve heard several other pet parents complain that they’ve found small bits of plastic in the DAF dog food.

If you do buy DAF, break it up before feeding just to make sure…

If your budget can stretch to it, Prodog is by far the better economical option. Pricewise, it’s somewhere between the cheapest option (DAF) and the other quality raw food providers on the market. Compared to DAF, Prodog has better quality meat, packaging, information, and product range. It also has a loyalty rewards system and free treats for returning the wool linings to them.

Although my dog marginally favoured the DAF more than the Prodog, this wouldn’t put me off Prodog. I often choose to eat pizza rather than a salad – we don’t always make decisions based on what’s best!

Although I want her to eat the best, I also recognise that choice is important. If she chooses something that I view as lower quality, I’m OK with that so long as it’s not happening all the time.

What do you feed your dog? Have you tried either of these raw food suppliers?

DAF website

Prodog Raw website

BELLA AND DUKE

My go-to supplier for Toxa’s food is Bella and Duke. They are a little more expensive than Prodog, but they’re very careful how and where they source their meat, and they have a great product range for senior dogs, something Prodog doesn’t currently have. They also provide regular information from their vet and canine behaviourist, with lots of free support, especially in the facebook group.

For UK raw dog food, I highly recommend Bella & Duke. This is the brand that my dog eats more than any other, and we test out different UK raw dog food brands regularly.

They have several options suitable for dogs of all ages. They also have options for dogs with specific dietary or health requirements, such as a range for older dogs, low fat blends for dogs with pancreatitis, etc.

Use this code to get it a 50% DISCOUNT off your first order:

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GO TO BELLA & DUKE

RAW TREATS FOR DOGS

Many raw feeders, especially those new to it, ask ‘What can I feed as treats?’. If that sounds familiar, we’ve got you covered!

With over 40 pages of raw dog treats, this eBook will keep your raw fed dog happy when it comes to treat time!

Raw Fed Dog Treat Guide – eBook

In the Raw Fed Dog Treat Guide, you’ll find over 40 pages of raw treat ideas and recipes, perfect for your four-legged best friend.

From frozen treats for summer days to dehydrated delicacies, or nutritionally complete treats to raw celebration cakes – there’s something for everyone, or rather, everyone’s dog.

$9.99

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Related articles:

Best bought dog treats for raw fed dogs

Best homemade dog treats for raw fed dogs

The post Best Raw Dog Food UK: DAF and Prodog Raw Reviews appeared first on Canine Compilation.

Does your dog get frustrated and rip stuff up? Or perhaps your dog is tired of the same old food all the time? Or do you maybe already have a KONG but you get bored of filling it with the same food and you need some new ideas?

KONGs are fantastic boredom-busters!

Read on for an overview of the different KONGs available (yes, there are more than just the classic red KONG), which KONGs are best for different kinds of dogs, and what to stuff them with.

If your dog doesn’t already have a KONG, I’m going to give you scores of reasons why it’s worth adding it to your dog’s toy basket.

There are just a couple of warnings for us pet parents: don’t give your pup their KONG on your favourite rug or sofa. KONGs are fantastic fun for dogs but can make a mess, depending on what you fill them with.

And as with any toy, there are a couple of safety issues to be aware of – read on for more details.

This post may contain affiliate links which means I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

This post may contain affiliate links which means I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

WHAT IS A KONG?

A KONG is a hollow toy that is made of dog-safe, toxic-free rubber – all made in the USA. The KONG shape resembles a ridged cone and it bounces and rolls unpredictably. Some dogs like to play with it as if it was a ball, but the real benefit comes from stuffing a KONG with food.

They are often filled with peanut butter, giving your pup hours of fun and entertainment in licking it clean. Although peanut butter might be the most common stuffing for Kongs, it’s certainly not the healthiest and there are lots of other more interesting and exciting Kong fillings for your fur baby.

WHY IS A KONG POPULAR?

A KONG toy is incredibly versatile. So what are the benefits of KONGs?

KONG FOR ENRICHMENT

KONGS are a great way to add to your dog’s enrichment and keep your pup entertained.

By combining meal times with gentle play, you’re essentially making your pup work for their food – something dogs love to do.

Eating from a bowl isn’t an enriching experience and does nothing to engage a dog’s brain. Stuffing food into a KONG is a practical way to encourage physical play as well as mental stimulation for dogs. This combination really helps satisfy a dog’s natural instincts.

Combine a stuffed KONG with other enrichment elements in Free Work for your dog and get maximum benefits from it.

KONG TO BEAT BOREDOM

When dogs are bored, they get up to no good. If your dog tends to pull apart things they shouldn’t, giving them a kong might save your slippers, table legs, or cushions from being destroyed!

KONG AS A FETCH TOY

Because of its irregular, unpredictable bouncing pattern, the KONG makes a challenging and fun toy for your pup to fetch.

KONG AS A SLOW FEEDER

You can smear food on the outside of a KONG (messy for you, fantastic for your pup), or, you can stuff it. Putting food on the inside of a KONG means your dog’s eating is slowed down – no more wolfing down their food!

Stuffing a KONG with your dog’s normal dinner effectively replaces using a bowl.

If you freeze the KONG and its contents, it will make mealtime even slower.

KONG AS A CHEW TOY

Made of dog-safe rubber, a KONG is a durable chew toy.

Unlike bones or some other chew toys, the rubber KONG is hard enough to be durable but soft enough so it won’t break your dog’s teeth.

KONG FOR DENTAL HEALTH

Dog toothpaste, dog oral gel or spray, or a small amount of coconut oil can be smeared on the outside or inside of the KONG. This, in addition to the soft scraping of your dog’s teeth on the rubber when they chew, helps to keep their teeth clean.

KONG FOR CRATE TRAINING

Use a filled KONG as a high-value treat when training your dog to enjoy spending time in their crate.

Fill the KONG and let your dog check it out before you pop it in the back of the crate. Encourage your dog to investigate the crate in their own time. Don’t shut the door on them once they’re inside.

Instead, let your dog enjoy their KONG in the crate so they associate the crate with positive experiences.

KONG FILLINGS CAN ADD VARIETY TO YOUR DOG’S LIFE

Can you imagine having to eat the same thing for every meal? That’s exactly what life is like for lots of dogs.

Dogs love variety and get bored just like us though. By stuffing the KONG with different food, you can give your dog the variety they crave from their dinner.

KONG FOR WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

One of the main differences between feeding in a KONG and feeding in a bowl is that your dog has to move much more when they eat from a KONG. The erratic movement of the KONG can provide a dog with a good 15-20 minutes play and chase time.

KONG AS A STRESS RELIEVER

Many dogs experience separation anxiety when left alone. If you need to leave your dog at home when you go out, a KONG can help to relieve your dog’s stress at being left alone.

However, although many pet parents do this with a KONG that has been fully stuffed or even frozen, I personally would not. I’m a paranoid dog-mom who doesn’t like to leave her pup alone with toys that might potentially have safety risks. Read on to see what those are concerning KONGs and some potential solutions.

TYPES OF KONGS

The KONG company produces lots of different toys, not just the hollow, rubber bouncing shape we all know and love. We’re not concerned with the other KONG toys here though – instead, we’ll focus on the 4 types of original KONG.

Each of the 4 types comes in a variety of sizes. Each of the 4 types has its own signature colour.

CLASSIC KONG

The classic, red KONG is probably the most well-known dog enrichment toy on the market. It’s suitable for a ‘normal’ adult dog.

What do I mean by normal? One that doesn’t destroy everything in their sight in 2 seconds flat, and isn’t a puppy or an older dog.

If your dog’s aim in life is to destroy everything he can get his teeth on, the KONG Extreme is more suitable. Made of super-tough rubber, it’s much harder to chew up.

EXTREME KONG

Of course, any dog parent knows there is no such thing as indestructible when it comes to dogs, but the black, Extreme KONG was created with power chewers in mind. It’s made of tougher rubber than the other KONGs. If you’re looking for the best KONG for heavy chewers, this is the boy for you.

SENIOR KONG

Since many older dogs tend to suffer from oral health issues, the Senior KONG is made from softer, purple rubber. It encourages chewing but is kinder on your dog’s teeth and gums.

PUPPY KONG

The Puppy KONG is the only variation that comes in 2 colours – pink or blue. Both are made of soft, chewy rubber that won’t be too challenging for your puppy’s teeth.

As your puppy’s 28 baby teeth come through, it can make their gums sore. Chewing on a Puppy KONG can help relieve some of the teething pain that puppies go through.

Their adult teeth are set at around 9 months old – they can then move on to either a KONG Classic or KONG Extreme.

KONG PUPPY

Suitable for teething puppies

BUY ON AMAZON

KONG SENIOR

Suitable for older teeth and gums

BUY ON AMAZON

CHOOSING THE RIGHT KONG FOR YOUR DOG

It’s essential that you get the correct type of KONG, and the right size of KONG, for your dog.

One-size-fits-all does not work when it comes to KONGs.

WHAT SIZES DO KONGS COME IN?

KONGs come in 6 sizes, though you can’t get all 6 sizes in every type of KONG.

This table shows you a summary of KONG type and the sizes of KONG that are available.

WHAT SIZE KONG DOES MY DOG NEED?

To choose the right type and size KONG for your dog, answer these questions:

1. What age is your dog? – choose from Puppy, Adult (Classic/Extreme), or Senior.
2. If your dog is an adult, are they a normal chewer or an aggressive chewer? Choose a Classic KONG for normal, an Extreme KONG for aggressive chewers.
3. What does your dog weigh? Use the table below to identify the right size based on your dog’s weight.

If your dog’s weight is on the cusp between 2 different sizes, KONG recommends that you size up and go for the larger model.

When giving any toy to dogs, bigger is better to prevent them from swallowing small pieces of the toy.

The manufacturer recommends sizing up if you’re unsure which size to buy. Here are recommended Kong sizes for common breeds of dogs.

WHAT SIZE KONG WORKS BEST FOR DIFFERENT BREEDS?

KONG produced a chart with suggested sizes for different breeds. Use this along with the table above listing the weight of your dog to find the right size for your dog’s breed.

My girl is a small dobermann (27kg) and she’s enjoying a large KONG Classic in this picture.

HOW TO CLEAN AND SANITISE KONGS

Once your pup has licked the KONG clean, it will be delightfully slobbery! I find it easier to clean it straight away, otherwise, food gets dry and crusty inside and it’s harder to clean it properly.

KONGs are dishwasher safe, so if you have a dishwasher, pop the KONG in on the top rack. If you don’t, here’s how to clean a KONG by hand.

1. Rinse it under the hot water tap to remove any lumps of food
2. In case of stubborn treats, soak the KONG in warm water until dried up food has softened
3. Scrub the inside of the KONG using an old toothbrush or bottle brush
4. Rinse thoroughly with tap water after washing to remove any soap suds.

HOW LONG DOES A KONG LAST?

Provided your dog is not an expert destroyer (in which case, get the Kong Extreme) a Kong will last for years. Check the KONG regularly for cracks, separations or missing pieces and dispose of the KONG if you find any (or use the KONG pieces in nose work!).

Some pet parents report that after 7 or 8 years of regular use, the KONG starts to break down, with the rubber becoming a little sticky and oil leaching from it. Clearly, you should replace any KONG as soon as this happens.

Still, 7 or 8 years regular use before it degrades makes this incredibly good value for money!

KONG STUFFING TIPS

Some dogs understand how to use a filled KONG immediately. Others need a little help though.

TOTAL BEGINNER For a dog that’s never had a filled KONG before, start simple. You want it to be an enriching challenge, but not frustrating.

If your dog seems really confused about what to do with it, start with a filling that’s super easy for your dog to get to. The simplest way to use a KONG is as a treat dispenser. Pop some treats in there and let your dog paw at it, rolling it around to get the treats to fall out.

Once they are happy nudging the KONG around to get to the food, raise the challenge level a bit – time to mix in some sticky stuff and/or plug the holes up.

INTERMEDIATE If necessary, plug the small bottom hole with something sticky or paste-like (such as cream cheese or nut butter). This is if you’re using really small treats or kibble pieces that would fall out otherwise. Add treats to kibble, then plug up the large hole with more sticky stuff. This stops all the food immediately spilling out of the KONG as soon as you put it down.

Increase the difficulty over time by packing it a little more each time. Mix the food with a binding base such as some yogurt, pureed / canned pumpkin, cream cheese, or wet dog food such as raw ground meat or canned dog food, healthy nut butter, or pate and just let your dog lick at it.

If your dog seems confused by what to do with it, don’t stuff the KONG so it’s jam-packed. Leave some loose food such as bits of meat (or kibble, if you feed it) in the top of it so they fall out easily.

ADVANCED Fill the KONG fully. Maybe add in and layer elements that are harder to get out, such as chunks of ice-cubes.

If you haven’t already, try your hand at making frozen KONGs by filling them with food and liquid.

HOW TO STUFF A KONG

KONG stuffing can get a little messy, depending on what you fill it with.

Some fillings can simply be spooned in – this is what I do with my dog’s raw mince.

For some fillings though, the easiest method is to prop the KONG straight up in a jug or glass, with the small hole to the bottom.

If necessary, plug up the small hole with something sticky: common options for this are peanut butter, cream cheese, a piece of cheese, a slice of carrot, mashed banana, wet dog food or a chewy treat. It can be any dog-safe food that will plug the hole so that the rest of the food doesn’t come out.

Begin pushing or spooning in the rest of the filling. The large hole can be made oblong shape by squeezing the top of the KONG which will let you push larger items into the KONG. This works well when you want to include ice cubes, for instance.

Once you’ve filled the KONG, plug up the large hole with some more sticky food if necessary.

MIX IT UP

Mix wet and dry ingredients to make it more interesting and challenging for your dog to get to the food.

Vary the ingredients so there’s always a surprise for your pup as they progress through the contents of their KONG.

HOW TO STUFF A KONG FOR PUPPIES

We need to be careful when we introduce new food types to any dog, but especially so with a puppy because of the risk of them vomiting or having diarrhea.

To begin, stuff the KONG mainly with your puppy’s regular food, and add a small amount of new food that has been chopped up tiny so there’s no choking risk. Options include small bits of fruit and veg like banana, apple, carrot or broccoli.

Use small amounts of low-fat cream cheese or cottage cheese as glue to bind the food together, and to ‘plug’ the opening once you’ve filled the KONG.

Alternatively, try KONG’s own range of fillers for puppies.

KONG READY-MADE FILLINGS

Just in case you don’t want to prepare food to fill your dog’s KONG, KONG makes a full range of their own squeezy fillings and treats too.

Choose from squirty fillings for puppies, or for adults in various flavours including: liver, sweet potato, peanut butter, or bacon and cheese.

KONG Snacks and Bites are also available for puppies or adults – these are solid treats designed to go inside a KONG.

SIMPLE KONG FILLINGS

If you’re a beginner, or maybe even just short of time, go for a couple of simple KONG fillings.The best KONG fillers are usually whatever your pup goes nuts for.

Two things to bear in mind: All food types should be chopped up small enough so they don’t pose a choking hazard, and don’t add too many high-calorie foods or your poor pup will end up looking like a KONG.

Mashed banana or yogurt make a good binding base for the filling. Binding the filling together will stop it from falling out of the KONG too easily. What else you put in there is up to you; it could be pieces of fruit, chopped vegetables, pieces of meat or even your dog’s kibble if he’s kibble fed.

Here are some other ideas of things to stuff a KONG with.

The easiest option for filling a KONG? YOUR DOG’S DINNER! It might seem like a cop-out, but it really isn’t. Your dog needs to eat and you can make mealtime much more interesting for them by offering them their food in a more enriching format.

If you usually feed kibble, mix the kibble with some other dog-safe ingredients from the list above and pack them into the KONG. Plug the opening with something sticky and your dog’s dinner just got a lot more interesting for them.

Tap twice to load then open Video...

FROZEN KONGS

A frozen KONG lasts longer than a standard KONG. It also makes an excellent refreshing treat for your dog in warmer weather.

Freezing the KONG opens up a whole host of new filling options. Because it will be frozen, you can use liquid fillings as well as solid food.

How long does a frozen KONG last? That depends on your dog, but my girl takes an hour to finish a loosely packed frozen KONG. Not bad for 5 minutes of my time!

For the best frozen KONG recipes for dogs and puppies, add liquid to a solid food filling to create a more challenging stuffed KONG.

Liquid base options:

• Bone broth – homemade is best. If you use a bought one, check it’s not full of salt and doesn’t contain onions.
• kefir
• yogurt

Solid food options:

• pieces of chopped up meat
• pieces of chopped up fruit or veg
• pieces of kibble if you feed kibble
• canned dog food

Sticky food to plug the holes:

• cream cheese
• nut butter

FROZEN KONG RECIPE

This recipe combines liquid and solids, with a fish leaping out of the large hole!

Ingredients:

• Cream cheese (low fat preferably)
• ground meat (raw or cooked)
• bone broth
• dehydrated / fresh small fish (I used sprats)

Instructions:

Given that we’re going to put bone broth in the KONG, you might be wondering, how do you fill a KONG with liquid? Read the instructions, or watch the video.

• Start by plugging up the smaller hole with cream cheese or nut butter. I use a knife and force cream cheese into the hole from the outside. I put around a teaspoon amount in there to plug the hole well.
• Put the KONG, plugged hole to the bottom, in a jug or small bowl. Ideally, the KONG will not have room to fall over, so don’t use a jug/bowl that is much bigger than the KONG.
• Spoon in the ground meat and a few fish.
• Pour in some broth.
• Plug the top hole with cream cheese and poke a fish or 2 into it.
• Freeze.
• It’s not necessary to completely pack and fill the KONG, especially if your dog isn’t used to eating from a KONG. Over time you can gradually fill it more and more until it is completely full of food.
• Once it’s completely set, it’s ready for your dog!

USE THE KONG AS A BASE FOR A CAKE!

As well as stuffing the KONG with food, why not use it as a quick and convenient base for a celebration cake? In this project I covered the KONG to make a snowman. See how to do it in this article.

KONG WARNINGS AND ADVICE

Make sure that you’re not precious about the area where your pup will be playing with the KONG. Drooling dogs and sticky, wet KONGs are guaranteed to make a mess, so keep the KONG away from your sofa or carpets.

My girl enjoys her KONG on her bed or the floor in the kitchen. Her bed topper is machine washable so I just throw it in the wash if it gets covered in food. The rug in the kitchen is washable too so I leave her to enjoy her KONG freely, without worrying about any slobbering.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN USING KONG TOYS

Risk is rare, but it does happen. I know many pet parents that rely on a stuffed KONG to entertain their dog when they go out and leave the dog alone. It seems like a fantastic way to occupy them, especially in the case of separation anxiety, but I would never leave my dog with a filled KONG unsupervised. Let’s look at the potential risks of leaving your dog alone with a KONG – to be honest, most of these points are true of ANY dog toys.

DURABILITY

Is your dog a destructive chewer? If so, go for a KONG Extreme. It’s made of tougher rubber and will be harder for an aggressive chewer to shred it up. For dogs that destroy their toys, it’s better not to allow access to any toys, including KONG toys, while unattended. Otherwise, there is a risk your dog will end up eating fragments of rubber.

WRONG SIZE KONG

Consider the size and shape of your KONG toy. If a large dog is given a KONG toy designed for small dogs, risks go up significantly. An appropriately-sized KONG toy will be hard to swallow. A general rule of thumb is to get a KONG that is almost the size of your dog’s head.

However, bear in mind that your dog’s bottom jaw could get stuck in the larger hole if the hole is too big. It’s not usually difficult to get it off, but I recommend that you supervise KONG playtime in case that happens.

OLD KONGS

Look for cracks in the rubber or signs of aging. Any toy that is beginning to break down increases the risk of your dog swallowing it.

DIETARY ISSUES

Calories count, even when delivered in a KONG toy!

VACUUM/SUCTION RISK

There have been a handful of cases reported where the action of the dog licking inside the KONG creates a vacuum and the dog’s tongue gets stuck in the KONG. In theory, the second, smaller hole in the KONG is designed to stop that happening but if the KONG is packed full of food or frozen, there won’t be any air getting into the KONG through that smaller hole.

One solution to this that lots of pet parents do is to push a straw through the KONG – in one hole and out the other – before they freeze it. They remove the straw before giving the KONG to their dog.

I think it’s a little pointless though, as the hole is likely to close up while your dog is licking away at the contents of the KONG. The food/liquid can potentially defrost and block the hole anyway.

Instead, I prefer to be around when my girl is enjoying her KONG. I would also avoid packing it too densely for dogs that go nuts and try to devour their KONGs.

Does your dog have separation anxiety? Many pet parents leave their pups with a stuffed or frozen KONG to keep them occupied when they’re alone. I personally would not do this. I’m a paranoid dog-mom who doesn’t like to leave her pup alone with toys that might potentially have safety risks.

One solution, instead of leaving your dog with a stuffed or frozen KONG when you go out, is to just smear food on the inner walls of the KONG, leaving a hole through the middle so air can still get in. Yes, your dog will finish it much sooner, but you won’t be worrying about them all the time you’re out.

ALTERNATIVE TO A KONG

Other manufacturers’ versions of KONGS are cheaper, but they’re not as durable so they’re not really cost-efficient in the long run. They’re more likely to break apart and cause a choking hazard or lead to your dog inadvertently eating bits of rubber.

CONCLUSION

KONGs make excellent enrichment toys. They also give us a simple way to make mealtimes more fun and stimulating for our dogs. They’re so versatile and can be used as a fetch toy, a replacement for a food bowl, a refreshing treat in the summer, and as a simple play toy.

KONGs can be filled with any kind of dog-safe food.

It’s important to get the right KONG for your dog though, based on different criteria such as size, durability, and the age of your dog.

So what type of KONG does your dog need, if you don’t already have one? What’s your favourite stuffing for a KONG? Let us know what drives your dog crazy!

I am not a veterinarian: this information is not intended to replace medical advice, but rather, to help you make informed decisions to improve your dog’s health and wellbeing. Please, always seek your vet’s opinion, especially in the case of your dog being ill. 

The post A Complete Guide to KONGS for Dogs: Sizes, Types, Fillings appeared first on Canine Compilation.

You might not go out of your way to feed your dog pumpkin, but if you’re cooking one there’ll be lots to spare, so here are some ways to use up leftover pumpkin by sharing it with your dog!

Of course, the simplest option is a pumpkin dog food supplement – just add some pumpkin to your dog’s dinner. I often cook pumpkin and other squash, which means my dog gets it in her food regularly. Squash makes a good alternative to pumpkin for dogs.

You can also make pumpkin dog treats. Check out the fantastic pumpkin dog treat recipes we have for you – or rather, for your pup!

This post may contain affiliate links which means I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

WHY BOTHER EATING PUMPKIN? HEALTH BENEFITS OF PUMPKIN FOR DOGS (AND US HUMANS)

Pumpkin is full of vitamins, minerals and fibre. It’s a super nutritious, low-calorie food – not just the flesh, but the seeds too.

HIGH IN ANTIOXIDANTS

The alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin in pumpkins function as antioxidants. Antioxidants may protect your cells from free radicals damaging them and studies have shown that antioxidants can lower the risk of certain cancers and other illnesses.

GOOD FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Because pumpkin is highly nutritious but low in calories, you can eat more of it than other sources of carbohydrates (like potato, for example). Its high fibre content helps to curb your appetite too.

PUMPKIN AND WHY IT IS ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR DOGS

Apart from the general health benefits of pumpkin for dogs, there are several ways pumpkin can specifically help your dog.

PUMPKIN FOR DOGS ON A KIBBLE DIET

Because pumpkin is 94% water, it’s a fantastic way to increase the moisture in a kibble diet.

PUMPKIN FOR DOGS GLANDS

Pumpkin can be effective in helping to prevent anal gland irritation. By increasing the fibre in a dog’s diet, it will help bulk up stools and encourage the anal glands to express themselves naturally.

PUMPKIN IS GOOD FOR BOTH CONSTIPATION AND DIARRHOEA

Dogs often have toileting problems. Did you know that diarrhoea is the most common reason for a visit to the vet? Because the fibre in pumpkin can help create more solid stools, feeding pure pumpkin for dogs with diarrhea should help create more solid poop.

Is canned pumpkin good for diarrhea in dogs? Yes, you can use freshly cooked or canned pumpkin, but in the case of canned, make sure it’s 100% pure pumpkin with no added ingredients.

Bear in mind though that there might be an underlying health reason why your dog has diarrhea. If that’s the case, trying to stop the diarrhea by giving her pumpkin isn’t going to get to the bottom of the problem.

Equally, and rather confusingly, pumpkin is also good for constipation, helping to move food along the digestive tract. For more information on how to treat constipation in dogs, see this article.

However, if the constipation is caused by an existing high-fibre diet, adding more fibre is not likely to help. A high fibre diet needs to be balanced with plenty of water. If your dog isn’t drinking enough water, try adding bone broth to her kibble – see how to make bone broth in this article.

In general, pumpkin functions as a great pre-biotic, encouraging healthy gut bacteria and improved digestion.

PUMPKIN SEEDS BENEFITS FOR DOGS

Baked pumpkin seeds are beneficial for our health, of course, but are especially good for our dogs’ health. They’re loaded with protein, amino acids, fibre, iron, copper, phosphorus and magnesium, calcium, zinc, potassium, folic acid and niacin. They’re rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.

PUMPKIN SEEDS FOR GIARDIA IN DOGS

Apart from their nutrients, pumpkin seeds also have a functional benefit – you might already know about pumpkin seeds for deworming dogs naturally. The amino acid, cucurbitin, paralyses and eliminates the worms from a dog’s digestive tract. One study showed that squash and pumpkin seed extracts can kill giardia parasites in 48 hours. Get more information about how to naturally manage worms in your dog in this article.

PUMPKIN FOR IBS IN DOGS

If your dog suffers from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), adding pumpkin to her diet can help by adding fibre, which helps food move down the digestive tract. However, your vet will advise you if feeding pumpkin is a good idea or not, given that IBS in dogs can be a symptom of different underlying conditions.

HOW TO CUT UP A PUMPKIN TO COOK IT

I cook pumpkin and other types of squash every week. I prefer to bake it over other cooking methods.

I used to struggle to cut pumpkin up in order to bake it, but I’ve found the easiest way is this:

• Cut a hole in the top, just as you might if you were going to make a pumpkin lantern
• Scoop out the stringy sludge and seeds. Don’t throw away the seeds. You can cook and eat the seeds, but throw the stringy bits in the compost bin. Raw, organic pumpkin seeds for dogs are great too
• Pop the lid back on to the pumpkin
• Make space in your oven and bake it whole till it softens
• Once cool, remove the skin (more fodder for the worm bin) and chop the flesh up unto chunks.

I find baking it like this saves me time and is safer. Trying to cut up a pumpkin into pieces when it’s raw is hard work and potentially dangerous if the knife slips. There’s always too much pumpkin to use all at once so I often freeze some of the cooked pumpkin to use later.

HOW TO USE PUMPKIN FOR DOGS?

You can prepare pumpkin yourself, or buy canned pumpkin to give to your pet.

CAN DOGS EAT RAW PUMPKIN?

In theory they can, but if you plan to give raw pumpkin, grate or shred it first. Otherwise, it will be very hard for your dog to digest it. Chunks of raw pumpkin could present a choking hazard too.

PUMPKIN PULP FOR DOGS

The easiest way to add pumpkin to your dog’s diet is to bake or steam the pulp first. You can then either add chopped up cubes of pumpkin to your dog’s dinner, or puree it.

There’s always lots of pumpkin from one fruit, so just freeze whatever you don’t use. Either freeze the puree in ice cube trays or freeze chopped up cubes.

BOILED PUMPKIN: HOW LONG TO BOIL PUMPKIN FOR DOGS?

Take a whole pumpkin and remove the seeds, then slice it into big chunks. Put the chunks in a pot of boiling water and boil for 20 to 30 minutes or until it’s tender.

Of all the ways to cook pumpkin, boiling it loses more nutrients than anything else.

PUREED, OR MASHED PUMPKIN FOR DOGS

This is one of the ways I often give my girl pumpkin. I spread a little pumpkin puree onto a lickimat and let her at it. Mashed pumpkin makes an excellent lickimat topping. You can mix it with a little ground meat, yogurt or kefir if your pup is a picky eater. See more lickimat topping ideas here.

IS DEHYDRATED PUMPKIN GOOD FOR DOGS?

Yes, absolutely dogs can eat dried pumpkin. Check out this article for how to prepare dehydrated pumpkin dog treats. If your pup likes fruit and veg, pumpkin jerky for dogs makes for excellent treats.

FROZEN PUMPKIN FOR DOGS

My super picky pup wouldn’t touch a piece of pure pumpkin with a barge pole – I have to sneak it into her food by mixing it with other things. Some dogs though love it as it is. If you freeze pumpkin into little cubes, it can make excellent healthy treats, straight from the freezer.

HOW TO GRIND PUMPKIN SEEDS FOR DOGS

I have a small nut / coffee grinder that is spectacular for grinding pumpkin seeds. I use this little mini food processor every week to prepare supplements and treats for my dog. It’s not expensive and it makes life much easier.

BUY ON AMAZON

A blender you can also use as a grinder is such a useful tool to have for making treats.

As well as using it for your own needs, like making smoothies or grinding coffee beans, it’s perfect for grinding oats, nuts, seeds and even dried fruit for dog treat recipes.

Just a warning, don’t try to grind too many seeds at once or it’ll take longer and you risk overheating the grinder’s motor.

HOW MUCH PUMPKIN TO GIVE A DOG?

As with any food, too much of it will most likely lead to stomach upsets. If your pup’s never had pumpkin before, start with a small amount.

Feed pumpkin flesh at 1 tsp per 10 pounds of body weight. Seeds can be fed at 1/4 tsp per 10 pounds of body weight. In general, it’s not recommended to give your dog more than 10% of her diet in treats or fruit/veg.

PUMPKIN DOG TREAT RECIPES

We’ve got the best pumpkin treats for dogs recipes here. From easy pumpkin treats for dogs to special, celebration cakes, we’ve got you covered.

Pumpkins and Halloween, a classic combination! Why not try making these gorgeous little pupcakes styled on Cousin IT from the Addams Family? Pumpkin is one of the main ingredients.

Get the recipe here.

These easy to make pupcakes are based on the popular liver cake for dogs, but with pumpkin as a principal ingredient.

Get the recipe here.

One of the simplest and also healthiest ways to feed pumpkin is to prepare pumpkin jerky. Get the instructions here.

Another really simple option is to make pumpkin puree and use it as a lickimat topping – see lots of lickimat topping ideas here.

Pumpkin bites for dogs -these easy-to-make dog biscuits have just 3 ingredients, one of which is pumpkin!

Get the recipe here.

Another celebration cake recipe, these cute little hedgehogs contain pumpkin.

Get the recipe in this step-by-step photo tutorial.

Steamed pumpkin or squash feature in these beautiful yet simple dog birt or celebration cakes.

Get the instructions here.

FUN PUMPKIN DOGS CLOTHING

Do you love to get your dog in on the action at holiday times? If you’re looking for some fantastic Fall or Thanksgiving inspired dogwear, how about a bandana for dogs and pumpkin face?

For Halloween, try our easy, DIY bat-shaped bowtie for dogs. You don’t need any sewing skills for this one!

Get the instructions here.

For a simple DIY dog bowtie (not bat-shaped), get the instructions here – they’re easy to make and you can use some pretty pumpkin or Halloween fabric.

FAQ

CONCLUSION

Is pumpkin good for dogs? Absolutely! For most dogs it has lots of health benefits and there are several different ways to add it to your dog’s diet, such as in some of the many dog treats and dog cake recipes we included. What pumpkin-based food do you plan to make for your wonderful dog?

The post Pumpkin for Dogs – Benefits and 7 Pumpkin Dog Treat Recipes appeared first on Canine Compilation.