Human food for dogs is a big debate, but it’s a wonderful way to provide enrichment and variety. That being said, don’t feel forced to create these amazing feasts you may see on social media – every so often is fine. My own dogs just get extras popped on top, and they haven’t complained about the presentation yet!

Suitable human food for dogs

Regardless of what you feed, raw, cooked, wet or dry, you can add in some great ingredients to boost your pooch’s meals. It’s especially handy if you have bits that are close to their use by dates and you need to make use of them quickly.

Eggs – A wonderful addition to canine diets. Being a complete protein, eggs are an excellent novel protein pick, rich in essential amino and fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Splitting the egg and feeding the white and yolk separately isn’t the best way forward. The white contains protein enzyme inhibitors that, if fed uncooked in large quantities, can affect digestion. The whites also contain avidin, which stops the absorption of biotin, an essential B vitamin. Feeding the egg whole will counteract this, as the yolk contains plenty of biotin (as does a well balanced diet), keeping things ticking along nicely. 

Put simply, it’s wise to feed the egg in its entirety or not at all, so we’d recommend avoiding dog food that only contains one element.

Oily fish – Fish such as sardines and mackerel are perfect dog-friendly additions to your cupboard. They’re an easy means of giving your pup an extra boost of omega-3s – this is especially handy if you’re feeding a poultry-based diet, which is known to be high in omega-6s. A raft of evidence demonstrates how critical omega-3 is for maintaining great canine health, from puppyhood right through to old age. 

Omegas bring wonderful benefits to a dog’s diet, helping with cognitive function and heart health as well as skin, muscle and joint health, and provide overall immune-boosting goodness.

Many dogs do not tolerate raw fish that well, so if you have a dog like this, using tinned fish is a great option. I would recommend buying in spring water and avoid the ones in brine or oil, if you can.

Vegetables – You may have heard the phrase ‘feed the rainbow’. This is true even for our dogs. Adding a variety of safe vegetables and fruit to your dog’s diet is a great way deliver phytonutrients, while the fibre helps feed the microbiome. As dogs cannot break down cellulose, I would advise that vegetables should be put through a liquidiser or food processor before feeding to make the vitamin content available. Ones to avoid are grapes, raisins, and onions; if you choose to feed garlic, you must factor in your dog’s size, as high amounts can cause problems.

Fermented vegetables can also provide wonderful probiotics, feeding the gut and boosting immune function. These are easy to prepare or, alternatively, you can feed a fermented product like kefir for gut health.

Bone broth – Is a multi-tasking wonder for pups. It cultivates a healthy gut, is super digestible, and a source of nourishing comfort for those days when they may be under the weather or just need some extra hydration. Better still, it’s chock full of the essential nutrients and minerals (like magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, collagen, and gelatine) that dogs need, aiding joint support and good immune health.

Herbs – Herbal blends can provide both nutritional and therapeutic benefits, however it is essential to check that your chosen blends are canine-safe and suited to your dog’s unique needs. Hug provides a great range of herbal blends for different uses, from senior blends to mobility blends, created by Hedgerow Hounds.

Meaty bones – Bones can provide wonderful enrichment for dogs, helping to reduce stress and stimulate the mind. Better still, regular chewing can help with dental hygiene. Bones are also a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals; meaty bones such as wings can provide extra glucosamine for joint health. Do make sure the bone is suitable for your individual dog and always monitor when feeding a bone.

The right human food for dogs can be a great diet-booster. I hope this inspires some brilliant meals!

Katie x

If you’re a pooch parent, you’ll likely have seen the phrase ‘with added glucosamine’ popping up on dog food packaging, suggesting some kind of health benefit… but you still have no idea what this magic stuff actually is.

As always, we’re here to deliver the honest facts. In this post, we explain the glucosamine basics, outline where it’s found, and discuss why it’s a fundamental part of joint care for dogs – as well as a great addition to their diet.

Glucosamine defined

Let’s start with the technical talk. Glucosamine is an amino sugar found in the structure of two polysaccharides: chitin and chitosan. Polysaccharides, simply put, are molecules comprised of smaller monosaccharides – sugars such as glucosamine.

Where do we find glucosamine for dogs?

Glucosamine readily occurs in natural goodies such as bone, marrow, and shellfish, but it can also be made in a lab. You can buy it in supplement form or serve it to your dog via whole foods such as bone broth, powdered krill powder, or green-lipped mussels.

You won’t find any low-quality, artificial glucosamine in our meals. Our recipes for hounds of every age contain Antarctic krill powder, a natural source of glucosamine and a superior supplier of omega-3: this powerhouse ingredient cultivates long-term joint, heart, and brain health in dogs. Alongside krill, you’ll also find green-lipped mussels in our senior recipes:  an excellent source of both glucosamine and chondroitin, another joint support hero.

The health benefits of glucosamine for dogs

Like chondroitin, glucosamine is a structural component of cartilage – the tissue that supports joints and cushions the bones – and it’s also found in the fluid around the joints.

Extensive research has demonstrated the crucial role glucosamine plays in fighting and treating joint disease. First, it’s an excellent preventative, especially for active canines, as it aids the maintenance of healthy cartilage sites, keeping joints robust. In particular, it fortifies articular cartilage, the tissue that envelopes the ends of bones where they meet to form joints, reducing wear and tear.

Glucosamine is also a critical component of joint care for senior dogs – and, unlike other medications for joint-related conditions, it comes with minimal side effects.

As hounds get older, their natural levels of glucosamine drop, triggering the slow erosion of joints over time. From here, we see arthritis and joint disease occur, both of which cause painful inflammation in the joint capsule. To combat the ageing process, canines need a diet that makes up for this glucosamine shortfall… but does ‘added glucosamine’ mean the same from dog food to dog food?

Glucosamine for dogs… beware the claims

As we mentioned earlier, ‘added glucosamine’ is now a claim that accompanies commercial pet foods far and wide. However, not all claims are made equal.

You’ll find joint support listed as a benefit on plenty of dog food packaging as these recipes technically include glucosamine. The main issue? Many provide far less glucosamine than your pooch needs to enjoy proper joint support.

When shopping for food containing glucosamine for dogs, your best move is to opt for whole food meals that make glucosamine abundantly bioavailable: this allows your canine to absorb a meaningful quantity from their food fast and efficiently, in its natural form. Fresh, glucosamine-rich foods are also less costly than prescription diets – and just as potent. So, add in those powerhouse ingredients and fill your pooch’s bowl with all that extra goodness.

We hope you no longer feel in the dark when it comes to the glucosamine game. If you have any questions or concerns, drop us a line – we’re a friendly bunch with years of expertise in all things dog and cat.

Enrichment for cats is so important, especially when they’re exclusively inside the home. Felines have an innate desire to hunt, play, and explore, so it’s essential to provide stimulation in these areas, allowing for the expression of natural behaviours.

Some cats may be active with toys – you can easily encourage this healthy habit, join in with games, and provide a variety of toys. However, you do have some indoor cats that may not be toy-driven. In these instances, using food as a form of mental enrichment can certainly help. Let’s explore how.

How to use food as enrichment for indoor cats

Probiotics 

Indoor cats are not organically exposed to the good bacteria that occupy our microbiome. In contrast, wild cats have been shown to roll their meat in soil: it’s theorised that they do this to cultivate their digestive system with soil-based microbes (in other words, good bacteria) that guard the walls of the digestive system.

Why does this matter? Because good bacteria protects against the entry of ‘bad’ bacteria, pathogens, and inappropriate food particles into the blood and supports the absorption of immune-boosting nutrients. It cultivates a robust microbiome, which is essential for your cat’s physical and emotional well being.

To ensure your mog doesn’t miss out on all the fantastic bacteria she’d encounter hunting outside, you could try adding a broad-spectrum probiotic to her diet.

Cat grass 

Although they are obligate carnivores, cats naturally choose to cleanse their digestive system by eating fibre; this is often in the form of grass or from the fur or feathers of prey. As indoor cats do not have access to this fibre, some end up resorting to house plants, which, in certain cases, can be toxic. 

It’s a great idea to offer your friend fibre such as cat grass: you can either grow your own or stock up at most pet stores, where it’s readily available to buy. This is also wonderful for outdoor cats with a tendency to nibble on outside grass that may be chemically treated.

Puzzle feeders

It’s a smart idea to mimic hunting scenarios. Cats love to chase and will hunt even if they’re not hungry for food: it’s an instinctive urge they are programmed to fulfil.

A recent study found that delivering meals to cats via a puzzle feeder led to reduced signs of stress, contributed to weight loss, decreased aggression towards humans and other cats, and lowered anxiety and fear levels. Consider feeding their meals in a puzzle feeder, so they have to ‘hunt’ for their meal – you could even provide an additional outlet by hanging a piece of air-dried meat or a treat from a string, just out of reach. I’ve even known owners to introduce live crickets for stimulation!

Whole prey

Depending on the diet your cat is fed, you could increase the length of mealtimes by feeding whole prey such as frozen chickens and meaty bones, such as chicken wings. This encourages house felines to chew much as they would in the wild and stimulates the mind.

Do note: if you give your cat a bone, it’s always crucial to monitor them and check they’re chewing on these safely, especially when they’re new to eating bones.

Water fountain 

Cats have a strong preference for clean, flowing water due to their low thirst drive. Why not purchase a cat fountain to encourage drinking? The running water can be more enticing to felines than a still water bowl, which many don’t favour. The sound and motion of a water fountain are also very intriguing to mogs, especially the playful ones.

I hope these tips help and lead to one highly entertained cat!

Katie x

The question of how to prevent ticks, fleas, and worms is common amongst pet parents and vets – and hotly debated. You’re not alone in your wish to avoid chemical treatments, and I would definitely advocate using more natural preventatives where you can. Fortunately, nature offers up lots of handy parasite-fighters, but first, let’s delve a little deeper…

Chemical tick preventatives

Spot on (chemical) treatments are insecticides that are applied to the skin of a dog or cat to kill off fleas and ticks. Many of these won’t actively prevent your hound from getting fleas or ticks; they will simply help eradicate them once they’ve arrived.

Due to over-use, these chemical treatments don’t tend to work particularly well and often come with negative side effects. Certain breeds can be highly allergic to them, so it’s crucial to look at the ingredients, discuss each option with your vet, and understand what you’re putting on your canine’s skin. Always avoid the over-the-counter medications you can find in a supermarket or pet store – these treatments should only be purchased through professionals who can ensure they are being administered correctly, keeping your pooch safe.

Removing ticks

As ticks can carry various diseases, you want to remove them from your dog’s skin straight after you find one – and prevent them from dropping off somewhere in your house and attaching to you! When extracting a tick, it’s essential to avoid squeezing it: this can cause it to regurgitate blood back into your pet, further increasing the risk of disease and infection. Using a tick hook, slowly twist the tick until it comes away, always ensuring all parts of the tick, including the head, are removed.

If you are unsure of how to use a tick hook, speak to your vet or vet nurse, and they will happily show you how to do this correctly. Don’t try to burn a tick off, and don’t use creams or Vaseline to “suffocate” it – this again can lead to infection, and we want to avoid this. Once you have removed the tick, keep the area clean and continue observing it. If you notice any reactions that concern you, speak to your vet.

How to prevent ticks naturally

Luckily, thanks to high demand, more natural parasite treatments are now readily available, from sprays to shampoos. It’s still vital to check the ingredients in these products, though. Some may claim to be natural but, on second glance, turn out to contain harmful elements, so do read the labels before applying to your pet.

Also, look for the correct dosage: although some treatments may only be using essential oils, these can still be toxic to your pet in high quantities. Make sure you follow the instructions the brand gives you or double-check with your vet.

One essential oil that’s often used to prevent ticks is Rose Geranium. Ticks are guided by their sense of smell and apparently aren’t fans of Rose Geranium’s sweet scent, so you’ll find it in many natural tick preventatives.

Citronella is another common parasite preventative. It works by masking the scent of things that would normally attract parasites or insects.

Neem oil has been proven to be a great preventative for parasites, including ticks. Better still, it also has antibacterial, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties: these aid the healing of the skin if a tick manages to attach or your pet suffers from any other insect bites.

Natural, food-grade diatomaceous earth is a handy parasite-buster, too. It covers parasites and then sticks to them, drying them out, causing their pores to shrink, and ultimately suffocating them. This can be used topically on your pet or scattered over affected areas such as bedding or the carpet if you suddenly have an infestation in your home.

Apple cider vinegar has also been shown to be a natural repellent. You can use it topically, add it to your dog’s water bowl, or mix it in with their food. The acidity is meant to be less appealing to fleas and ticks, thus preventing them from attaching.

Here are a few companies that provide ready-made, natural parasite repellents:

Hedgerow Hounds – Natures Bounty

Aniforte – Tick Spray

Billy No Mates – Flea and Tick Prevention

Herbal Dog Co. – Flea & Tick Natural Spot On

Dermadog – Insect Spray

Even if you use these methods to prevent ticks, it’s still important to carry out regular tick checks, especially in the spring and summer months. Combing through your dog’s coat and checking their ears will hopefully enable you to catch and remove them quickly, but it can be hard to find the tiny ones – especially if you have a pooch with a lot of fur!

I hope these pointers help, and you feel more prepared to combat those pesky ticks this summer.

Katie x

As we know, keeping a dog hydrated is crucial. The thing is, every dog is different, and some aren’t fans of drinking lots – this can come down to the food they’re eating, a preference for a specific type of water or even their water bowls. The good news? There are some easy steps you can take to improve your dog’s desire for water.

Why water is so important

A dog’s body is around 70% water. Water carries out a range of vital functions, helping regulate body temperature, carrying electrolytes around the body, and aiding the movement of nutrients in and out of cells, so every muscle and organ receives proper nutrition. It also helps remove waste from each cell once nutrients have been utilised for energy, normally in the form of urine or faeces.

Water also helps lubricate the body surfaces and joints, making movement easier. Essential tissue found in areas such as the eyes, mucous membranes, and the brain relies on water to fully function.

It doesn’t stop there, though. Water has a pivotal role in the digestion process. In the summer months, you may find your dog’s prone to constipation, as more of the body’s water supply is used up through panting, making faeces quite dry and harder to pass. Extra water can contribute to keeping their digestive tract hydrated and flushing everything through.

Compared to humans, dogs can go for just 3 days without water. They only need to lose about 15% of the water in their bodies to risk health complications, which can become fatal. This is why the number one nutrient for all mammals is water, above protein, fats, and all other groups.

Tips on keeping your dog hydrated

Diet plays a big part in keeping your dog hydrated. Let’s consider the figures: dry food contains around 8-15% water, while a fresh food diet is jam-packed with moisture, serving up about 60-70% water. By simply feeding a diet higher in moisture, you are naturally increasing your pup’s daily water intake, reducing the need to drink extra water.

Wet, raw or cooked diets can be great moisture delivery vehicles for your canine, especially if they are not big drinkers. However, in warmer months, to account for heat-induced water loss, I’d recommend adding water to their meals regardless of the type of food they’re fed.

Many dogs are not keen on tap water due to the chemicals it’s treated with, depending on where you live. Rainwater is often favoured or muddy puddles when out on a walk. To tempt his taste buds, you could collect rainwater for your dog to drink or try filtered water.

The type of bowl you use can make a difference, too. Some dogs are not keen on drinking from ceramic, metal or plastic bowls, as they can affect the taste, so consider testing different kinds of bowls and see if yours favours one in particular. Also, remember that bacteria can build up on some materials and change the taste, so it’s key to keep water bowls clean and refresh the water daily.

Place water bowls in various rooms within your home and outside – especially in multi-dog households, as this can decrease competition.

Feeding extra fruit and veggies is another fantastic means of sneaking more moisture into your friend’s diet. They taste great and can really give them a boost, so it’s a win-win.

Making your dog’s water more palatable by adding some flavour may also encourage him to drink more. Bone broth is an excellent example of this: it provides additional nutrients, it’s hydrating, and many hounds will happily lap it up.

Make hydration fun! In the summer, you could create dog-friendly ice lollies, freezing some berries, vegetables or treats in water or broth for them to lick and enjoy. When water is disguised as a snack, most pooches will eagerly tuck in.

It is critical to note: if you notice any changes in drinking habits, such as suddenly drinking lots or not much, it’s worth discussing with your vet to rule out any underlying health concerns.

I hope these tips help, and your pup will be staying cool this summer.

Katie x

The concern of dogs with separation anxiety is a common one. Research suggests that a whopping 8 in 10 canines will find it difficult to cope when left alone. 

This is one of their stories. Meet Betty, an anxious dog who was helped by the calming power of herbs.

Post-lockdown stress

Betty had always suffered from bad separation anxiety, but successive lockdowns only intensified the problem. She became used to having her pet parents around all the time, so when things started opening back up, and they began going out more, she became incredibly stressed.

“We tried everything.”

Different relaxation plug-ins, puzzle toys, Kongs stuffed with tasty treats… Betty’s family tried everything, but nothing was working. 

Having heard a little about herbs’ soothing qualities, they decided to try our Calming Blend, as it was easy to mix in with Betty’s food. 

Within a week, Betty’s temperament started to change. Her owners continued to work on her separation anxiety with a trainer, but the herbal mix seemed to take the edge off. In fact, in combination with the training, it significantly aided in the improvement of Betty’s mental wellbeing. She became a happier, more relaxed pooch. 

Herbs for dogs with separation anxiety

Calming Blend is designed for anxious, excitable, nervous, and reactive canines, including dogs with separation anxiety. 

It puts to work a stress-busting line-up of herbs, botanicals, seeds, and roots: avena sativa, chamomile, lemon balm, vervain, passiflora, marshmallow root, calendula, chia seed, fennel seed, and coconut oil. Each ingredient has been chosen for its ability to calm worried minds and soothe the gut, which can be impacted by upset. 

Betty isn’t the only pooch whose health has been improved by our Calming Blend. 

Ruby, a beautiful red Labrador, is a re-home. She is a very reactive lab, particularly during shooting season, when she becomes extremely jumpy and barky, responding to the slightest sound. Within 2 weeks of taking 1 teaspoon of our Calming Blend per day, her anxiety ramped down, and her demeanour became mellower overall. 

Elder is a Jack Russell. He is 15 years old and blind, so going out for walks can be a little nerve-wracking for him. Taking our Calming Blend makes him less anxious when he’s out and about, which is brilliant to see.

A bit more about Calming Blend ingredients…

Chamomile is an herb with pretty daisy-like flowers, well known for its calming properties. It is antispasmodic in nature and particularly useful in settling digestive upset caused by stress or excitement. Its affinities are very much with the nervous system and the digestive tract. 

Avena sativa are flowering oat tops, picked in what is known as the “milk stage” of growth. It has affinities with the nervous system and is particularly good in the senior or debilitated animal. 

Fennel seed has long been used as a relief from indigestion, bloating and gas and often fennel tea would be offered after a heavy meal. It is also thought to balance the emotions and lift the spirits when feeling down. 

Chia seed are tiny seeds from the Salvia hispanica plant originating from South America and highly prized by the Aztecs. They are high in fibre, making them a valuable addition to improving gut health and rich in the plant form of Omega 3. When the seeds become wet, they form a thick gel, this has a soothing effect on the gut as well as adding bulk to the stools. 

Marshmallow root is traditionally used internally to ease coughs and soothe intestinal complaints. It is particularly gentle to the stomach due to its high mucilage properties. Mucilage is a soluble fibre that traps and absorbs water to form a gel. It is a perfect substitute for Slippery Elm, which has sustainability issues. Used topically, marshmallow root powder is great for drawing out splinters and thorns and as a poultice for boils and abscesses.  

Vervain is useful for calming the excitable individual and in the herbalist Nicholas Culpeper’s book, “The English Physician” vervain was used to treat” over enthusiasm” maybe along the lines of the typical Springer Spaniel!

Lemon Balm is also known as Melissa or affectionately called “bee balm”. It is a beautifully fragrant herb from the mint family with uplifting citrus notes. It is commonly used for anxiety, nervousness, insomnia and easing reflux.  

Passiflora has been traditionally taken to ease nervous tension, anxiety and to assist in getting a good night’s sleep. 

Impressive, right? We bloomin’ love what herbs can do for dogs – not just those with anxiety.

The Topper we put on every raw meal

Our herb toppers, sprinkled on top of every raw Hug meal before despatch, are the perfect daily supplement for your pet. We use two different blends, with carefully selected ingredients:

• Our cookable raw meals are topped with a naturally healthy mix of parsley, dandelion leaf and root, plantain, kale, moringa, chlorella, chia seeds, fennel seeds, pumpkin seeds, and coconut oil.
• Our traditional working dog meals come topped with our Mobility Blend – great for active, senior and less mobile dogs. This blend includes organic distilled msm, wildcrafted boswellia, nettle, rosehip, moringa, chia seed and celery seed.

Interested in herbal help for your pal? We’re always here to offer friendly advice and guidance. 

I’ll start with the simple answer: yes, you can switch to a new type of food! But before doing so, we first need to understand the care that must be taken.

Being the pet parent of a diabetic cat, you’ll know that treatment involves administering a daily injection of insulin to coincide with her feeding routine. The routine will come down to the individual feline and will be worked out by a vet: this is why any dietary alteration must be carried out with their professional support and consent.

The switch needs to be made slowly, as the carbohydrate content in a raw or cooked diet is much lower than that of a dry diet: this will affect blood sugar levels significantly, which, in turn, can impact insulin levels. As a result, consistent monitoring by you and your vet is vital during this period.

When food is ingested, carbohydrate particles are broken down into glucose by the small intestine; the glucose is then taken up into the bloodstream. In healthy animals, this glucose is used in cells as energy, allowed through the cell membrane by insulin.

In the case of Diabetes Mellitus patients, they lack insulin or the ability to use insulin. The result is starvation of glucose in the cells plus high glucose in the bloodstream. The kidney excretes the excess blood glucose into the urine.

If Diabetes Mellitus is left untreated or poorly managed, pets can develop Ketoacidosis. In this instance, the body begins to break down stored fat into fatty acids and ketones, which provide energy but are very acidic. The body becomes too acidic and goes into shock.

Nutrition plays a crucial part in the regulation of glucose in the body. Like many dry diets, a carbohydrate-based diet causes a fluctuation in blood glucose; moving away from this and instead opting to feed a fat and protein-based diet can really help bring your mog’s glucose levels under control.

A high fibre and low soluble carbohydrate diet is recommended for felines – and is especially good for a diabetic cat. Whole food diets such as these are known to achieve better blood sugar control than dry diets and are proven to reduce daily required insulin doses. A raw or cooked diet can also help with weight control, which can be a big issue for a diabetic cat; lowering their weight can lead to less strain being placed on their body while improving their overall health.

In other words, it’s worth saying goodbye to a dry diet and going fresh.

Do note: as reduced-carb diets lower the needed insulin dose, it’s critical to closely monitor blood sugar when switching. Otherwise, an insulin overdose could occur and result in Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar).

Switching the diet of a diabetic cat

As we know, many cats are resistant to change, so the switchover to a raw or cooked diet can take a while – in some cases, a good few months! Don’t be too disheartened if the process takes time: it’s completely normal.

Felines often favour food by texture, so as you are transitioning her from dry food, the shift to raw may take a little longer. She’ll need to get used to eating softer food, and many mogs don’t accept this straight away.

Another note: please do not let your cat starve herself during the transition. Those who refuse raw food will not give in, even if they are hungry. This can cause feline Hepatic Lipidosis (liver failure). Transitioning at a rate she is comfortable with is very important.

You could try starting with cooked meat first, and then once she’s happily eating a cooked diet, you can gradually reduce the amount of time you cook the meat until, eventually, you’re serving it raw. Here at Hug, our premium raw cat food recipes can be safely cooked or fed raw, providing a complete diet either way – perfect for transitioning a cat who’s new to raw.

Below is our handy guide to switching over to a new type of food. As mentioned previously, as you have a diabetic cat, it is essential to have your vet on board so they can determine a monitoring schedule for blood sugar and provide you with guidance.

Kick things off by gradually introducing the new food into her dry meals – any mix is fine, even if it’s just a tiny spoonful.

The benefits of raw food for cats are well researched – and quite amazing. I hope these tips help and your friend starts enjoying the perks of a lower-carb diet very soon.

Katie x

Suppose your pooch suffers from an allergy or intolerance. In that case, your vet may have suggested a hydrolysed prescription diet; this is part of a new generation of pet food, one many pet parents are unfamiliar with. Wondering how hydrolysed dog food works – and what benefits it delivers? We’re here to explain.

Hydrolysed dog food defined

In certain canines, specific dietary proteins can cause an abnormal immune reaction. In many cases, these are proteins such as chicken and beef, commonly found in dog foods. Some dogs get to a stage where they can’t consume the majority of popular dog food ingredients without triggering a reaction, leaving owners with little choice of what to feed.

The problem is that dogs need protein – you can’t simply cut it out of their diet. Upon ingesting protein, their bodies use and combine the amino acids it contains to create new proteins; their muscles, disease-combatting antibodies, and hormones are all comprised of proteins. In other words, hounds depend on protein to remain strong and healthy.

So, what do you do if your pal’s body rejects protein? One option is feeding hydrolysed dog food. 

Hydrolysis is a natural method that uses the enzymes in water to partially digest long chains of amino acids in proteins, breaking them down into shorter ones – just as your dog’s digestive system normally would.

Feeding these pre-digested proteins doesn’t generate the abnormal immune response it usually would in an allergic dog, as, in effect, the proteins have changed shape, so remain unrecognisable to the immune system. This allows canines with severe protein intolerances to enjoy meat like any dog while avoiding an allergic response.

When is hydrolysed dog food prescribed?

Hydrolysed dog food is most commonly prescribed to treat IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) or a protein allergy.

We’ve talked a lot about the merits of a robust microbiome: a network of good bacteria on and inside a pooch’s body, safeguarding the digestive system’s walls.

A thriving microbiome is critical for good digestive and immune health. When the microbiome is in poor condition, the digestive system becomes compromised: its walls become weakened, which allows for toxins (food particles and pollen, for example) to enter the bloodstream, causing the immune system to go on the attack.

A potential knock-on effect of this? Your dog’s immune system begins (incorrectly) to earmark dietary proteins as a health hazard and starts going on the attack each time it identifies their presence.

Symptoms of a protein intolerance can include:

• Itchy skin •  Vomiting •  Repeated ear infections •  Flatulence •  Nausea • Rumbling stomach •  Weight loss •  Constipation •  Lethargy •  Fresh blood/mucus in stools • Reduced appetite

If you spot any of the above, it’s best to consult your vet.

A protein intolerance is typically diagnosed by placing a dog on an elimination diet, feeding a novel (new) single-source protein for several weeks, then rotating between other proteins over time. If a canine’s symptoms improve during the period, then reemerge upon feeding a specific protein, a protein intolerance can potentially be pinpointed.

Which hydrolysed dog food should I feed?

As with any dog food, not all are created equal. The selection of hydrolysed diets for dogs is limited, and many prescription hydrolysed diets contain low-grade ingredients. You’ll find items such as chicken feathers instead of good-quality muscle meat used for protein, in addition to artificial preservatives and fillers – not a recipe for robust long-term health.

We created Chicken Comfort with this in mind. In addition to using top notch cuts of free run, hydrolysed chicken, it’s rich in immune-boosting nutrients, soothing lavender, and chamomile. Nourishing and comforting, it’s a hug in a bowl.

Better still, our hydrolysed dog food is complete, grain free, and cold pressed. Rather than blasting ingredients at high temperatures, the cold pressing method uses low temperatures to lock in maximum goodness – exactly what your dog deserves.

Still have questions? We’re more than happy to help.

Moving a puppy onto a raw diet is a very common concern among vets and pet parents, as they are concerned it may lack calcium for growth or provide enough protein, in addition to other essential nutrients. However, you can certainly make the switch. What’s critical is to ensure you’re feeding the right diet. Sadly, not all raw diets are created equal, and some may not be appropriate for your puppy.

Certain vets will suggest waiting until a puppy is 6 months old before switching to a raw diet, but you do not need to hold off if you’re buying from a reputable supplier who can provide appropriate food for their life stage.

I recommend starting with a raw mince formulated with puppies in mind, as it will typically have finer bone content and will be easier on smaller breeds’ digestive systems. As a guide, we can look at what an 8-week old pup would have eaten in the wild pre-domestication. At this stage, a puppy definitely wouldn’t be hunting. Instead, they’d be eating the food their mother chewed and regurgitated for the litter. They’d also be playing, snuffling around, and investigating the carcass remains as their teeth came in and the desire to chew fired up. We can learn from and, to a certain degree, replicate this diet when feeding today’s puppies, hence starting with a raw mince.

The best raw diet for puppies will also be complete and balanced, designed to stimulate healthy growth and development. If you are unsure whether a company provides a complete raw diet for puppies, ask them! A good company should be happy to answer any questions they get on their food.

Transitioning to a raw diet for puppies

There are 2 ways to shift to a raw diet for puppies:

1. A straight swap 

If you’re feeling brave, you can safely make the swap right away to a raw diet for puppies in mince form, kicking off a new day with their new raw diet. 

2. A gentle transition

Want to take things more slowly? Hug’s raw puppy food is the ideal introduction to a raw diet. Unlike most puppy foods, it’s cookable, so you can gently acclimatise your pup to raw food by adding it cooked to their kibble. (I do not recommend cooking any type of raw that contains bone). Likewise, while fresh veggies and raw meat tend to be a hit, some pooches may be resistant to change or have health concerns that need factoring in, such as digestive issues. In cases such as these, we recommend a gradual transition to a raw diet.

Begin by feeding half of their morning meal as cooked Hug mince. If all is well the following morning, feed the whole morning meal as cooked mince.

After you have shifted your pup to a raw diet, their poop should become firmer, and there will be less of it. If your young’un is a little more sensitive to change and passes softer stools, pause at just one cooked meal or half-cooked meal per day until they’re passing solid stools. From here, wait a day or two, then gradually replace their second meal of the day with cooked mince until you are serving both meals cooked.

At this stage, if you’re happy cooking the food, continue doing so. Alternatively, you can reduce cooking time over a week until you’re serving the food entirely raw. Once your pooch is eating their meals 100% raw, you can switch to traditional raw with bone or stay on the cookable raw puppy food.

Formulating your own raw diet for puppies requires specialist knowledge, especially for those with large or tiny breeds. Rather than going DIY, I recommend consulting a nutritionist or professional for a plan, as things can easily go wrong. You also need to be careful of certain types of bones with puppies until they have all of their adult teeth, so this can restrict available options when DIY feeding in the early months.

The focus needs to be on delivering a bone content of approximately 10%, in addition to ensuring that meals are calorie-dense enough to meet energy and growth requirements. Like I mentioned before, not all diets are created equal, and regardless of the type of food you wish to feed, a poor and imbalanced diet can cause lots of problems!

How much should I feed my puppy?

Unsurprisingly, puppies expend a lot more energy than adult dogs as their bodies and minds continuously grow and develop. Due to this, they need a lot more food, up to around 6-8 months of age. Once they’ve reached adult size, they can drop down to a daily allowance of roughly 2-3% of their body weight.

Although it may seem like quite a lot of food when switching your puppy to a raw diet (especially if you previously fed dry food), it is needed!

I hope this helps and your pup enjoys their new raw lifestyle!

Katie x

Does a raw diet cause aggression in dogs?  

It’s a common myth that feeding dogs raw food causes them to become ‘blood thirsty’, increasing their desire to chase and eat live animals. However, no studies have ever shown this to be any likelier in dogs fed raw than those on dry or wet foods. For example, just because a dog is fed raw beef, this doesn’t mean they will look at a cow and associate it with mealtimes. A keenness for hunting prey comes down to the individual canine – not their diet.

Of course, as with any food that a pooch really enjoys, some may be defensive or territorial when eating and won’t want to share. If your dog is known to be possessive over food or you’ve witnessed some aggression linked to treats or meals, do bear this in mind when switching to something they may view as a high reward.

We know that what we feed can affect a hound’s wellbeing. A raw, species-appropriate diet can strengthen the condition of your dog’s microbiome, the route to improved physical and mental health, which, in turn, can help improve overall behaviour.

Although aggression in dogs is no more than one of many myths associated with raw diets, feeding your friend fresh whole foods can bring about some changes – ones you may not have expected or experienced with dry, processed food. It is important to be aware of these in advance to avoid issues and differentiate between what is normal and what may not be, as is needed with any alteration in diet.

Let’s take a look at the changes you might see… 

They don’t drink as much water

A raw food product contains approximately 65-70% water. Compare this to standard dry dog food, which is about 15-20% water, and we can see why the drive to drink is significantly reduced on a fresh, raw diet. This is entirely normal and nothing to be concerned about. 

On hot days, you can always pour some extra water into meals to keep them hydrated or add enticing things to their water bowl to encourage drinking.

They don’t pass as much poo

A raw diet is around 95% digestible compared to a processed diet which is roughly 75% digestible. As a result, a raw food diet produces less waste and fewer smells – a major perk!

They produce white faeces

White faeces are an indication of a diet containing bone. You may notice whiter faeces the day after you feed a bone-heavy meal or if you leave a poo for a few days in the garden – as it breaks down, it may change to a shade of white. Again, this is totally fine and no cause for concern unless your dog is constipated.

In most cases, adding water and green, leafy vegetables to a hound’s diet will help ease constipation. Longer term, make sure that the individual canine has a low bone content in their diet of around 8-10% – each dog has a different bone level tolerance, so it’s essential to monitor this when switching to raw feeding. For more advice on this, please do get in touch.

Fighting with other dogs?

Raw meat and bones are greatly prized and can cause some dogs to become protective if they are known to have food possession issues. If your hound is prone to guarding, avoid giving bones in an area with several dogs, and observe them closely during feeding times. 

In multi-dog households, this problem can arise over extra desirable treats, chews or bones, so it is crucial not to cause conflict. Simply feed separately or, if you are feeding a complete, raw diet, there’s no need to give dogs bones at all; there are plenty of alternatives you could use instead for chewing or mental stimulation, such as papaya or coconut chews.

They start burying bones

It’s wonderful to see natural canine behaviour come on display thanks to raw feeding. In the wild, bones are used as food during periods of starvation, so if your dog buries theirs, they’re just exhibiting a hard-wired instinct.

On the other hand, some pet parents may not be happy with their pooch trying to dig holes in the garden – or the sofa! Keep an eye out if you want to avoid digging, and do be aware of hounds unearthing bones that have been hidden for a while, as these may not be ideal for eating.

They’re hungrier during the switch

We often find that dogs switching from a kibble diet to a raw diet appear hungry. When kibble hits the stomach, it swells, and the carbohydrate content gives a false sense of fullness. As your dog settles on their new raw diet, their stomach will get used to the change, but it’s always crucial to monitor body condition, as feeding amounts may need tweaking to suit their unique needs and ensure they maintain a healthy size. 

To summarise, the simple answer is no, a raw diet isn’t the cause of aggression in dogs.

If you have any concerns surrounding behaviour and food, it’s always worth consulting a behaviourist or trainer to work on the underlying problem. It’s also a good idea to talk to your vet so they can rule out any underlying health conditions, especially if a shift in behaviour is new or sudden.

I hope this helps ease your mind. The benefits of raw feeding are well proven, and the impact it can have on dogs’ lives is incredible.

Katie x