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Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Try our bakers’ deliciously wholesome and grain free dog treat recipe; a baked creation that all our four-legged friends can enjoy! Peanut Butter for dogs? Try our homemade peanut butter dog treats! Bake your four-legged friend 100% dog happy with these homemade grain free peanut butter dog treats! Utterly delicious and packed full of flavour…who can resist these tea-time dog treats? Remember though – dogs can only have dog-friendly (xylitol free) peanut butter so be sure to use this rather than your own stash! Ingredients 1 ½ cups of almond meal ½ cup peanut butter for dogs (ensure it is dog-friendly and does not contain xylitol) ½ cup coconut flour 1 large sweet potato, cooked and mashed ¼ – ½ cup water Coconut oil Yogurt Into the mixing bowl … Preheat your oven to 225°C. Grease two baking trays with coconut oil. Combine almond meal, coconut flour, sweet potato and water together. Divide your dough into two and roll out each part. Cut out your biscuits and place on baking tray. Bake for 25 minutes. Let the biscuits cool and then dip in yogurt. Place in the fridge to set and then let your four-legged friend enjoy! We made plain peanut butter treats but also then adapted the recipe to include cranberry pieces. We then got even more creative and dusted with some dog-friendly coloured icing. But if you prefer to keep things natural, then these treats are just as delicious left undecorated! You can share your homemade dog treat photos with our bakers by posting them on our social feeds. *Always supervise your dog when eating, and ensure your four-legged friend has lots of fresh, clean water on offer. This recipe is a complementary pet food intended as an occasional treat only. If you’d like to try some of our peanut butter flavoured dog treats, take a look at our Fruity Paws. These natural plant based dog treats are 100% vegan and made with natural ingredients.
Learn moreEpilepsy in Dogs
While epilepsy in dogs can be controlled by prescribed drugs, it has been reported that monitoring a dog’s diet can also help to reduce the amount of epileptic fits. While epilepsy in dogs can be controlled by prescribed drugs, it has been reported that monitoring a dog’s diet can also help to reduce the amount of epileptic fits. This month we caught up with Anne Morley, from the Canine Epilepsy Support Group, to understand more about this condition and how, as pet owners, we can be aware of the signs. “Often there is no obvious cause for the seizures in dogs and this can be linked to genetics…” Epilespsy in Dogs As in humans, epilepsy in dogs is a brain disorder that causes your four-legged friend to have a sudden fit. Often there is no obvious cause for the seizures in dogs and this can be linked to genetics. The most common age for dogs to start with epilepsy is said to be between one and five years old but the Canine Epilepsy Support Group have helped puppies from five weeks old to dogs of over fourteen years, so epilepsy can start at any age. Some breeds of dogs can be more prone to having epilepsy than others, such as: Beagles, Border Collies, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Italian Spinones and mixed breeds such as Cockerpoos. What happens during an epileptic seizure in dogs? During an epileptic seizure, your furry friend will look dazed and unsteady and can often collapse onto their side, making jittery movements. While this is happening, they will be unconscious and unresponsive and can often lose control of their bladder or bowel. Most epileptic seizures in dogs last between one and three minutes. If a seizure lasts for more than five minutes, then veterinary attention is needed. Epileptic triggers Triggers of your dog’s epilepsy can be unpredictable, often occurring when your four-legged friend is relaxed, sleeping or just waking up. Only very occasionally is the dog’s seizure linked to exercise. After a fit is over, your dog may still be slightly dazed for a while; however, some dogs may get back on their paws and be back to their normal selves quite quickly. “It is important to stay as calm as you can and remember that your dog is not in pain.” Make a safe area If your four-legged friend has an epileptic seizure, remove anything from around them which could be a source of danger. It is important to stay as calm as you can and remember that your dog is not in pain. You should make sure you don’t move your dog or put your fingers in their mouth. Communicating with your vet If you suspect that your dog has had an epileptic fit, contact your vet immediately. Your vet will usually only suggest medication if the fits are three weeks apart or less. Then they will be able to prescribe medication for your dog that will help to reduce the number of fits they are having as well as providing guidance on how you can help your dog during the seizure. Following your vet’s instructions is important. “…it has been reported that monitoring a dog’s diet can also help to reduce the amount of epileptic fits.” Dietary help for dog seizures While epilepsy in dogs can be controlled by prescribed drugs, it has been reported that monitoring a dog’s diet can also help to reduce the amount of epileptic fits. Choosing a more suitable diet that contains wholesome ingredients and essential fatty acids, while avoiding artificial preservatives, chemicals, colours and flavours, can have positive benefits. Laughing Dog recipe endorsed by the Canine Epilepsy Support Group Our Laughing Dog Traditional Mixer has been endorsed by the Canine Epilepsy Support Group as it has shown to have helped their four-legged friends with epilepsy. Please note, we provide this recipe in a Puppy & Small Dog version too. Anne Morley, who joined the Canine Epilepsy Support Group in 1991 and became Hon. Secretary in 1998, says: “Epilepsy in dogs is very frightening at the beginning but there is a lot which can be done to help, apart from conventional medication, or alongside medication.“We treat each dog as an individual and work out a diet for each dog which will help reduce the epilepsy and deal with any food sensitivities the dog may have.“We helped one dog change from 6-7 fits every day, to a 14 week fitting interval, just by changing food, adding in a particular herbal tea and changing the home situation slightly. There is so much which can help, and we are at the end of the phone 24/7 to give help and support.” At Laughing Dog, we always recommend that if you have any concerns that your dog has epilepsy or how your dog is coping with epilepsy you must seek advice from your veterinary practitioner.
Learn moreHomemade Cheesy Dog Treats
Homemade dog treats! Why not make your four-legged friend our deliciously cheesy cracker biscuits this Christmas? Homemade dog treats We love making homemade dog treats in the kitchen – and it certainly feels like we’ve embraced home baking rather a lot this year! For Christmas we thought it would be nice to make some homemade gifts for our dogs, and we were delighted when our nutritionists suggested this festive dog treat recipe…homemade cheesy cracker dog treats. It’s a super easy dog treat to make at home and can be made with store cupboard essentials! Why not make your four-legged friend our deliciously cheesy cracker dog treats this Christmas? Packed full of deliciousness, they are a fun and festive dog treat for your furry friend, as well as being 100% wheat free. Homemade dog treats…. Into the mixing bowl you will need: 113g cheddar cheese (grated & low salt variety if you can) 3 tbsps. olive oil 3 tbsps. apple sauce 100g blueberries 226g oat flour Milk to bind Method Preheat your oven to 190°C. Combine all the ingredients together, until a sticky ball is formed. Cover and chill for 1 hour. Roll out your biscuit dough and use a biscuit cutter to cut out shapes (we chose little dog bones!). Bake in the oven for 15minutes or until golden brown. Once cool, let you furry friend enjoy! *Always supervise your dog when eating, and ensure your four-legged friend has access to plenty of fresh, clean water. This homemade dog treat recipe is intended as an occasional treat only. A complementary pet food for dogs. If baking is not your idea of fun, don’t worry – we have our own Laughing Dog Cheesy Bites, which are also naturally oven-baked and formulated free from wheat and wheat gluten. Head to our dog treats range to find out more.
Learn moreHomemade Pumpkin Dog Treats
Treat your four-legged friend to our naturally grain free pumpkin biscuits! A firm favourite from our homemade dog treat collection… A homemade dog treat recipe…with a Winter’s twist! Try baking one of our favourite homemade dog treat recipes! They have certainly been tried and tested enough by our energenic farm dogs… They woof them down! Bake these goodies for your four-legged friends for those cold winter nights… **Always supervise your dog when eating, and ensure your four-legged friend has lots of fresh, clean water on offer. This recipe is a complementary pet food intended as an occassional treat only.
Learn moreTaking Your Dog Out in the Sun
We have teamed with Dr Lousia Graham (“Louisa the Vet”) to deliver top tips for lockdown with your furry-friends. Here is some advice on being safe when taking your dog out in the sun. Dr Louisa Graham’s Top Tips for Taking Your Dog Out in the Sun! A misconception that a lot of people don’t realise is that pets can get sunburn too. Sadly, they can, and this can lead to flaky and damaged skin. When the weather is warm, make sure your dog is hydrated at all times and check the pavement or ground is not too hot by touching the floor with the back of your hand for 5 seconds – if you can’t hold it there, then it’s too hot for any furry paws! “A misconception that a lot of people don’t realise is that pets can get sunburn too. Sadly, they can…” Do not walk or exercise in the heat at all – your dog will keep going and we will push them too far without realising. I always walk in the morning or at night out of the heat of the day. If you do exercise when sunny, do so where there is plenty of shade and take lots of stops if you’re unsure about the heat. If you have access, try and get your dog to cool off in body water – my spaniel Finn loves jumping in streams and shallow lakes to cool off! Don’t cover your pets with wet towels as the towels can actually get warm, which stops them cooling down! For “Louisa the Vet’s” tips on managing a heatwave, click here!
Learn moreOven-baked homemade banana dog treats
Perfected by our very own bakers, this wheat free homemade dog treat is guaranteed to create some tail-wagging (and tongue licking) excitement in the kitchen. Made with banana and sweet potato… Homemade dog treats to go bananas for! Did you know that dogs can eat bananas? In moderation, bananas can make for a tasty and healthy treat for dogs. This well-known superfood is a rich source of potassium, manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C and fibre. Bananas are low in sodium and cholesterol, but due to their sugar content, your four-legged friend should only eat them as an occasional treat, and not as a regular part of their diet. Banana dog treat recipe Our bakers have recently created a new homemade dog treat recipe for you to try at home. Not only does this banana dog treat taste wonderful, it’s aroma will fill your kitchen with all sorts of mouth-watering aromas….! Into the mixing bowl: 1 ½ cups sweet potato flour ¼ cup oatmeal 1 ripe banana 1 large baked sweet potato 1 large egg Making your homemade dog treats: Preheat your oven to 150°C. Into a large mixing bowl add potato, banana, flour, oats and egg. Mix until it comes together. Knead the dough until it’s no longer sticky. Using a cutter cut the biscuits into a shape (we like heart shapes for this one!) Place on a baking tray and bake for 50 minutes or until deliciously golden. Once cool, you and your four-legged friend can enjoy! *Always supervise your dog when eating, and ensure your four-legged friend has lots of fresh, clean water on offer. This recipe is a complementary pet food intended as an occasional treat only. To discover our brand-new tasty Laughing Dog treats (which include strawberry and peanut butter flavour treats!) , browse our dog treat range. Remember, you can share your homemade dog treat photos with our bakers by posting them on our social feeds: Facebook: Laughing Dog FoodTwitter: @LaughingDogFoodInstagram: /www.laughingdogfood To read our privacy policy, please click here.
Learn morePorridge for Dogs
Our bakers have a delicious new porridge recipe guaranteed to make breakfast time wholesome and 100% naturally dog happy… Porridge for dogs – a naturally wholesome & wheat free recipe! We know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not treat your four-legged friend to a bowl of our deliciously tasty and naturally wholesome wheat free porridge? We think it’s the perfect start for all dog happy adventures and best of all, it takes just 4 easy steps! Into the mixing bowl: 160g of Laughing Dog’s Wonderfully Wheat Free Baked Mixer Meal (or any of our mixers – we have grain free if you prefer!) 250ml warm water Method: Place the baked mixer biscuit into a bowl Add the water, a little at a time Stir the biscuit and water together Gently crush the biscuit as it gets softer, doing this until a porridge consistency has formed Ensure the porridge has cooled down before letting your four-legged friend enjoy! *Why not top this with a sweet ingredient to make it really special? We like peanut butter, banana or chopped cranberries. You can of course try this with our grain free mixer meals and our traditional wheatmeal mixer, water quantity will vary. To view our range of baked mixer meals, click here. Remember to not overfeed your dog and always provide fresh drinking water. Feeding guidelines are detailed on all of our packets of food. Mixers are complementory food only. *Our mixer biscuits are a cpmplementary pet food only. Fruit/honey only advised in very small quantities and as an occasional treat only. This recipe is intended as a treat only. Always supervise your dog when eating, and ensure your four-legged friend has lots of fresh, clean water on offer. Intended as an occassional treat only.
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