Skin & Coat Care
A dog's skin (and by extension, their coat) is its largest organ, accounting for about 12% of their body weight. It is made up of around 95% protein, and accounts they use 35% of their daily protein intake on maintenance and growth (Dog Food For a Health Skin and Coat | Eukanuba, 2021). Treats high in protein, as well as beneficial omega 3, will benefit the skin and coat.
Digestive System
Digestibility describes the relative amount of nutrients within a food that are available to the dog after breakdown and absorption (Watson, 2011). Largely determined by the ingredients, as well as processing and amount fed, digestibility is highest for organ, muscle and offal meats. These products are suitable for young and older dogs as well as those new to eating natural treats.
High Protein
The 22 types of amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are essential for the healthy functioning of cells in every part of the body. 10 of these are essential so can only be obtained through feeding a balanced diet.
Although they can digest plant proteins, meat, including natural chews, is the best source for dogs due to it’s high bioavailability (Scott, 2021).
Dewormer
Many owners wish to move away from the use of routine chemical worm treatments for their dogs in favour of more natural alternatives. Animal fur provides fibre that is poorly digested in the stomach, so as it travels through the intestines, it gently brushes the inner lining, aiding in physical worm removal. It is not 100% effective, so worm counts and treatments will still be required. However, it may help to keep the worm burden low (de Blerk, 2021).
Hypoallergen
Hypoallergenic means low-allergy-causing and can be used to describe any food that doesn't contain any ingredients that are commonly linked to allergies. Whilst there is no single set of agreed ingredients to avoid within the dog food industry, our products that are free from wheat, maize, dairy, soya and chicken are listed in our product information on each item.
Joint Care
Around 1 in 5 dogs in the UK are affected by osteoarthritis, and its prevalence increases as dogs age (Identifying Signs of Arthritis - Canine Arthritis Management, 2021). Whilst incurable, many dogs go on to live comfortable lives with correct treatment. A variety of compounds have been found to assist in symptom management, including Omega-3 (Moreau et al., 2012), Glucosamine and Chondroitin (Gupta et al., 2011), and Turmeric.
Omega-3
Omega-3 is a group of essential fatty acids, widely renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties. These have been shown to improve gut health (Ephraim, I Jackson, Yerramilli and E Jewell, 2020), improve symptoms associated with osteoarthritis (Moreau et al., 2012) and reduce risk factors for brain aging in elderly dogs (Pan, Kennedy, Jönsson and Milgram, 2018). The most practical way to provide these is to feed products containing a source of oily fish.
Dental Hygiene
It is estimated that approximately ⅔ of dogs aged over 3 years suffer from some degree of periodontal disease, making it the most common disease to affect dogs (Hiscox and Bellows, 2021). This is caused by tartar forming, following a build up of plaque. Chewing on firm treats can help to prevent this by aiding in the removal of plaque before mineralisation occurs.
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