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.

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.

We know that our pets are what they eat; likewise, we are the choices we make as a business. So when we talk about honest, uncompromised goodness, we’re talking about making eco-friendly pet food – caring for our planet as well as our furry pals. We’re talking about everything from the provenance of our ingredients to the size of our carbon footprint. 

To mark Earth Day 2021, we thought we’d share how we put our commitment to making planet-friendly pet food into practice. 

Working with the good guys 

We’re big believers in supporting our community – locally and beyond. Teaming up with Ecologi is great, as we can see the direct impact of our funding across the globe. This fantastic organisation plants trees and invests in the best solutions for the environmental crises we face – now and in the future. Since joining, we’ve offset 72.89 tonnes of carbon emissions – equivalent to 180,840 miles driven in a car – and that figure will only climb. 

We’ve contributed to a range of Ecologi’s environmental projects, from preserving the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor in Guatemala to funding solar power in Maharashtra, India and onshore wind energy generation in Taiwan. For every new Hug customer, we plant a tree through Ecologi. We’re currently at a total of 1,218 trees, including Mangroves in Madagascar and Adansonia digitata in Mozambique.

An ingredients list that stands up to scrutiny

We’ve hand-selected the ingredients in our eco-friendly pet food with environmental impact at front of mind. In addition to being high welfare and free range, free run, or outdoor reared, all of our meat is sourced from suppliers committed to green farming methods. 

Our vegetables come from growers who manage their crops sustainably, and our salmon is supplied by select Norwegian suppliers who share our dedication to responsible farming and animal welfare. 

QRILL Pet, the only fishery to have earned an ‘A’ ranking from the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, supplies our krill. This incredible fishery pioneered a new technique that taps into just 1% of the krill biomass, leaving plenty behind for natural predators – ‘eco-harvesting’. Using unique technology, the trawl net remains beneath the water throughout the continuous harvesting operation; a conveyer hose is attached to the net, and a steady stream of water flows through the hose, bringing live fresh krill on board the ship for immediate processing. This technology also prevents the catch of other species.

To further reduce our impact on the planet, we’ve created a premium cold pressed vegetarian dog food, which is Vegetarian Society Approved. To achieve this trademark, the food has to meet various criteria:

• Only include free range eggs
• Be GMO-free
• Not contain any meat or fish – or get cross-contaminated during production

It delivers everything pooches need for optimal nutrition – you can make meat-free Mondays a fixture for them too!

Packaging we’re proud of

Eco-friendly pet food should mean eco-friendly packaging, and we’re really proud of ours. Aside from looking lovely, it’s designed with the planet in mind – and we’ll continue assessing it as even greener options become available. 

We’re not content to just say ‘recycle ready’ and be done with it. You’ll find recycling instructions with all of our products, covering every element from our paper insulation to our frozen food containers. 

Here are the basics:

• Ice packs – compostable
• Cardboard packing boxes – easily recycled 
• Film lids on our raw food pots – returnable to us (we’ll cover the postage and recycle them for you)
• Handles – easily recycled

Truly eco-friendly pet food

Whether you read one of our blog posts, catch an episode of our podcast, or pop into our store, you’ll know: we’re a straight-talkin’ bunch. We’re deeply committed to helping pets get healthier and happier while looking after our planet. 

Honest, uncompromised goodness means holding ourselves accountable every step of the way. If you have any questions or suggestions about our food or practices, please get in touch with our friendly team – we’re just a phone call away!

In other words, raw feeding cats is feeding them as nature intended – it’s better for their long-term physical and mental health. 

The catch? You need to persuade your resident feline to make the change. Lovable but often aloof, foodies but often fussy, cats can be reluctant to adopt new diets. Think of it as a bit like trying to convince a teenager to pick a lovely salad over a takeaway.

Here’s your guide to making the move. 

Raw feeding kittens

In our experience, you’ll have more success raw feeding cats if you serve raw meals from day one. 

When transitioning an adult cat to raw, the hurdle comes in the form of suspicion ‘why is my pet parent suddenly feeding me different food?’ To us, this makes little sense: why be concerned about being offered a better quality diet? But felines are what we call neophobic, which means they’re fearful of anything new! 

As solitary hunters, cats don’t hunt as part of a pack. To survive, they need to be self-preserving, remaining fit and strong with well-honed hunting skills – after all, they depend on themselves and no-one else to bring home the next meal. Being cautious about new foods ensures they don’t make themselves unwell – and therefore vulnerable – by eating rotten meat or poisons. 

Kittens aren’t used to a set diet in the early stages, so they’re far likelier to accept a raw diet. If you have a young kitty, now is the perfect time to kick off raw feeding.

Setting the scene

To ease the transition to raw feeding cats, you need to set the scene a bit. 

Unsurprisingly, cats also like to eat alone, in a quiet, safe place. With this in mind, strategically place their bowl – perhaps on a high surface or in the most peaceful room in the house. 

Felines can be really picky about the bowl, too. Go for a saucer-shaped one to avoid contact with the whiskers, opting for ceramic or melamine for best results. Raw feeding cats little and often is ideal, as felines prefer to eat around 2-15 times a day.

The question of texture

The impact of texture on the feline appetite has been well-researched, so it’s another big factor to consider when raw feeding cats.

Mogs can be turned off by kibble’s shape alone, and texture preferences vary from cat to cat. Some prefer cooked meals, some are happy with minces, while others prefer chunks or ripping the meat from a chicken wing. The latter instinct can be beneficial for swaying these natural hunters towards raw dining. 

Many cats will eat kibble, then happily go out and eat a freshly caught mouse or bird. We need to transfer that psychology to the bowl. Feeding raw cat food at body temperature (37°C) may help tempt your cat – but do serve it as freshly as possible, as any oxidation will put them off. 

Raw feeding cats – it’s a waiting game

When making the change to raw feeding cats, it’s always worth simply offering a raw meal to see how your cat responds, as an avid hunter or kitten may just get stuck in. 

If your cat is on a dry diet, a good first step is to introduce a wet diet as a precursor to raw. There is a considerable change in texture between dry and tinned food, so take it slow. Mix a teaspoon per meal of wet food to their current dry diet, and add an extra teaspoon every 3-5 days if all is going well.

However, more often than not, it’s a waiting game. You need to be invested for the long term, and it’s not unusual for the transition to take many months.

In the early stages of the move, you can expect your feline to sniff the new food. They are then likely to hesitate, take their time, and will not rush to tuck in. Cats also change their minds, maybe touching with their tongue or taking in one or two bites. 

Next, apply the same strategy to the raw cat food, gradually adding it to the wet diet. Add a teaspoon into the regular ration, adding one extra teaspoon every 3-5 days if your cat is eating it without issues. If your friend doesn’t accept the new addition, just place the teaspoon of raw food to the side of their normal ratio – just being next to the new food is enough, to begin with. 

Cooking before you run

Stuck at square one – or worried your cat wouldn’t even sniff at raw? Don’t fret: we have the perfect solution. Get cookin’. 

A great way to ease into raw feeding is to serve meat cooked, mixing it in with your feline’s current meals. After they’ve grown used to cooked meat, gradually decrease the cooking time before each meal, eventually serving it raw, or, if your cat prefers cooked food, just keep on cooking!

It is important to note that you should not cook any raw diet that contains bone. Our completely cookable range gives you the best of both worlds, as it remains a complete diet, whether fed raw or cooked.

You may find it hard getting past a certain level or need to take a step back if there isn’t any success. Remember to keep raw cat food ultra-fresh, only defrosting very small amounts in your fridge and throwing away any that remains after 2 days. 

Please note: 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 your cat is comfortable with is vital, whether it takes weeks or, in some cases, months!

Raw feeding cats – worth it

Yes, the move to raw takes time, effort, and, sometimes, a bit of cunning, but boy, is it worth it. 

The benefits of raw feeding cats (and dogs) fresh whole foods have been demonstrated time and again. If you’re able to persuade them to eat like their pre-domesticated selves, you’ll be doing them a huge favour in the long-run. 

We’re always here to support pet parents, so don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team of experts if you need any guidance. 

Week 1 is all about settling in – snuggles, play, toilet training, and sleep. But once your pup’s feeling at home, you can start thinking about introducing their new diet.

We know it’s nerve-wracking: your little friend is just beginning to calm down, so you don’t want to risk an upset or empty tum. Good thing we’re puppy experts here at Hug.

In this piece, we’ll give you step-by-step guidance on transitioning puppies to a different diet, whether you’re opting to feed raw puppy food, cooked meals, or a dry alternative.

Going from one dry puppy food to another…

If you’re switching from one dry puppy food to another, the changeover is straightforward.

Simply introduce their new food slowly into the bowl over ten days, gradually increasing the new to old food ratio until you’re only feeding the new food. Even if this is the same kind of food you were feeding previously, do check feed quantities as recipes differ in calorie and fat content.

Switching to raw puppy food

What about moving from kibble to raw puppy food? 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. Raw mince formulated with puppies in mind is a great starting point, as it will typically have finer bone content and will be easier on smaller breeds’ digestive systems. The best raw puppy food is also complete and balanced, designed to stimulate healthy growth and development.

There are 2 ways to move your pup onto a raw diet:

A straight swap 

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

A gentle transition

Want to take things more slowly? Our 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.

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 switching to a fresh, whole food diet, your puppy’s poop should become firmer, and there will be less of it. If your pup’s a little more sensitive to change and they pass 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 our traditional raw with bone or stay on our cookable raw puppy food.

DIY raw puppy food

Making your own raw puppy food requires specialist knowledge, especially for those with large or tiny breeds. Rather than going DIY, we recommend consulting a nutritionist or professional for a plan, as things can easily go wrong.

The focus needs to be on delivering a bone content of approximately 10%, in addition to ensuring meals are calorie-dense enough to meet energy and growth requirements. 

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.

You can see in the feeding chart below how we calculate portions during that vital first year:

(Calculator here)

Many commercial kibble brands manipulate the calorie density of puppy food. Not so with our raw and cold pressed puppy ranges, which only contain premium, bioavailable ingredients that deliver optimal nutrition as nature intended.

A balanced lifestyle

There are also plenty of ways to work healthy snacks into your pup’s day – just remember to factor them into the daily ration.

Freezing raw food in a kong can keep curious young’uns occupied and complements their natural urge to chew the day away.

You can also feed our cold pressed recipes in tandem with Hug raw puppy food. Our tasty cold pressed puppy food makes for excellent training treats and scent work – you can also feed it as one (or both) of your pup’s meals. Packed with top notch protein, veggies, and prebiotics, it’s rich in omega-3, critical for robust joint and brain development.

Help, Hug-style

Whether or not you choose to feed Hug puppy food, we’re here to help ensure your pup’s nutritional needs are properly met. If you’re looking for reliable advice, get in touch with our friendly team of experts. We’ve got this. 

But where do you begin? Whether you’ve got a new pup and are looking for sporting puppy food, or you feel your canine isn’t on the right working dog food, Hug’s here to help. 

Life as a canine athlete

Olympic medallists don’t eat like the average person. Instead, they follow strict diets typically structured by sports nutritionists: these are designed to help them reach their full potential – and win – while protecting their mental and physical health. 

Likewise, a sporting or working dog needs a diet that’s formulated with their lifestyle in mind. High-intensity workouts are part of a canine athlete’s routine, and, if they’re not supported by excellent nutrition, this can take its toll on both performance and long-term health. 

Sporting & working dog food: the prey model diet

The best sporting and working dog food closely mirrors the prey model diet they evolved to thrive on. 

Pre-domestication, dogs would have lived on whole foods found in their natural environment: raw animal proteins and vegetation, along with diverse species of good bacteria that, to this day, form the foundation for a thriving microbiome – the route to great immune health. 

Prey model diets are deemed species-appropriate as they provide dogs with optimal nutrition in the most bioavailable form – the way nature intended. They are complete, balanced, and easily digested.

In comparison, standard dog food diets are non-species-specific. They contain high levels of carbs, artificial preservatives, and low-grade protein, all of which obstruct the absorption of vital nutrients. Just as a poor diet factors into many human health conditions, a non-species-specific diet has been linked to various nutritional diseases in dogs.

Cultivating a strong performer

Day-to-day, long-distance endurance is required of the working and sporting dog: this has a knock-on effect on their musculature, joints, and cognitive function. To stay at the height of their game, they need the perfect balance of protein, nourishing fats, fibre, the right carbs, and good bacteria.

The superior source of energy for dogs is animal fats: while carbohydrates have a limit on the energy they can supply for distance running or working, animal fats are the ideal fuel for endurance. 

What else does a sporty hound require? Plenty of hydration (dogs lose a lot of fluid during long-distance runs). Hydration is the single most important aspect of nutrition, as it promotes optimal cell functioning and helps combat certain health conditions. Active dogs also need plenty of rest, which is critical for replenishing amino acids and electrolytes, as well as combatting oxidative pressure on the body.  

We based our traditional raw working dog food on the prey model diet. In other words, we designed recipes that make for maximum energy, performance, and long-term health in canine athletes. 

You’ll only find fresh whole foods that are species-appropriate in our working dog food: premium cuts of ethically sourced muscle meat, bone, offal, herbs, krill, and veggies. 

What else…

• It’s naturally rich in the correct ratio of goodies such as omega-3, choline, glucosamine, and antioxidants 
• It’s around 70% water, so it’s ultra hydrating and excellent for healthy cell functioning
• Its high protein percentage helps form strong muscles, boosting strength and stamina while decreasing downtime
• It has anti-inflammatory properties thanks to ingredients such as krill, herbs, and botanicals, promoting good joint health 
• Powerhouse krill provides superb cognitive support, helping to shield the nervous system and improve brain health

Sporting & working dog food advice

Perhaps you want advice on the suitability of your canine’s current working dog food. Perhaps you’re getting ready to choose sporting puppy food for your new star. Perhaps you simply want to switch to Hug. Either way, our lovely team can offer expert guidance, so get in touch. 

No idea what your pet’s microbiome is? No worries. In this piece, we break down the basics and explain why a robust microbiome is essential for your pet’s health and wellbeing.

Your pet’s microbiome defined 

Just like us, our pets’ bodies are home to colonies of bacteria. While they predominantly dwell in the gut, you’ll find them pretty much everywhere – the skin, the eyes, the respiratory system, and so on. This incredible network of bacteria is known as the microbiome. 

Within your pet’s microbiome, you’ll find a diverse mix of micro-organisms. Some are known as ‘good bacteria’: they co-exist with your pet quite happily and help fortify the immune system. Others are opportunistic and capable of causing various health issues. 

Good microbiomes vs poor microbiomes

In a healthy digestive system, you’ll find a robust microbiome guarding the walls with a barrier of good bacteria.

Given that around 70% of the immune system resides in the gut, this barrier is critical to your pet’s health. It works to stop toxins, pathogens, and inappropriate food particles from entering the bloodstream – and when it’s in good nick, it does a great job.

When your pet’s microbiome is weak, this wall of bacteria becomes permeable, allowing unwanted invaders to enter the bloodstream. This forces the immune system to go on the attack. From here, problems can develop – for example, itchy skin, food intolerances, and digestive issues – with the potential for a long-term negative impact on health. 

We all know that ‘butterflies’ feeling we get when we’re anxious. The gut and brain communicate with one another, so it’s no surprise that recent research has suggested that your pet’s microbiome can affect their mental health, too. 

Now we know what the microbiome is, let’s explore what helps cultivate a harmonious one.

Back in the wilderness days…

To understand the makings of a good (or bad) microbiome, you need to look back on the diets pets subsisted on pre-domestication.

A healthy canine or feline digestive system starts cultivating itself from birth, as the foetus passes through the birth canal. From here, a wild dog or cat would have lived on a diet of fibre and meat covered in soil based microbes (no kibble in sight), which also would have added to a growing colony of diverse gut bacteria.

When cats and dogs are fed non-species-specific diets, their microbiomes suffer. Sadly, standard pet food is rarely as nature intended. Manufacturers opt for cheap carbs like maize to bulk out meals, along with artificial preservatives to extend shelf life. Pets end up consuming diets that don’t mirror those they evolved to thrive on in the wild.

A study in America compared the microbiomes of dogs suffering from chronic disease with those of healthy dogs. The healthy dogs’ microbiomes didn’t just contain a larger number of microbes in the digestive system: they included a much more diverse range of species, too.

Deprived of fresh whole foods, pets’ chances of developing a dynamic colony of bacteria are limited, leading to a weakened microbiome – we see the same effect with long-term antibiotic use.  

Whole food diets for thriving microbiomes

Research has demonstrated that the quality and composition of a pet’s diet affects their microbiome’s condition, with links made between a raw food plan and a happy gut. Changing your cat or dog’s meals to those that are natural and species-appropriate can be a significant step towards rebuilding a robust protective barrier in the digestive system. 

Hug’s whole food diets are designed to deliver optimal nutrition to your pet. They’re packed with high-quality protein, fibre, and prebiotics such as chicory root – ideal for a strong microbiome. You can also add soil-based probiotics to further cultivate and restore good bacteria. 

Still have questions about your pet’s microbiome? We’re always here to help. 

But what are they? How do they differ? And what can they do for your pet? We explain. 

Probiotics for dogs and cats

Like any natural ecosystem, your canine or feline’s body has vast numbers of micro-creatures living on and inside it. This incredible colony of bacteria is called the microbiome, and some of the micro-creatures inhabiting it are referred to as ‘good’ bacteria.

Good bacteria guard walls of the digestive system. Here, they protect against the entry of ‘bad’ bacteria, pathogens, and inappropriate food particles into the bloodstream, and aid in the absorption of immune-boosting nutrients. In other words, they’re essential for strong, happy pets.

Probiotics are live good bacteria that are typically fed as supplements. A good probiotic contains a diverse range of beneficial bacteria species.

Does my pet need probiotics?

In some cases, a pet’s bacteria colony isn’t as robust as it should be, resulting in a poor microbiome: research has linked this to factors such as a highly processed, poor-quality diet and the long-term use of antibiotics.

A damaged microbiome leads to a debilitated digestive system that cannot effectively absorb critical nutrients, leaving your pet’s body malnourished. From here, a number of issues can arise – itchy skin, digestive problems, and food intolerances (to name a few) – with the potential to cause a long-term impact on health.

If your pet is suffering from a condition linked to a weak microbiome, probiotics for dogs or cats may be recommended. 

Introducing probiotics to your pet’s diet

Feeding probiotics is the first step to rebuilding healthy, immune-boosting gut flora. 

We recommend the Body Biotics range for dogs as it contains a diverse range of soil based probiotics, rather than just one species of bacteria. Soil based bacteria would have been ingested by canines in the wild, pre-domestication, making them an ideal means of restoring the natural balance your pal’s microbiome needs.

One of the species Body Biotics contains is Bacillus: these micro-creatures are resistant to stomach acid and many antibiotics; they’re also immune-stimulating, producing anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial substances. Another species you’ll find in Body Biotics is Lactobacilli; these micro-creatures help cultivate an infant’s digestive system from birth onwards.

For cats, we suggest Animotics, a bespoke probiotic paste. This high-strength product delivers 22 billion colony forming units that belong to four different strains of probiotic bacteria. Pretty mighty!

Once introduced to your pet’s system, probiotics will begin to kill off opportunistic (bad) bacteria. Subsequently, toxins may be released that temporarily result in symptoms becoming worse, rather than better. This is why we start off feeding a small portion of probiotics, gradually increasing until we reach a therapeutic level, suited to the individual’s needs.

What are prebiotics?

Whereas probiotics for dogs and cats are supplementary good bacteria, prebiotics are components in food that support the growth of good bacteria and cultivate a strong microbiome from the get-go.

The first prebiotic your dog or cat ever encounters is found in their mother’s milk: the oligosaccharides it contains are known to boost the beneficial bacteria population and strengthen the immune system. 

As prebiotics lay the groundwork for a thriving colony of good bacteria, getting them right early on should lessen your pet’s need for probiotics going forward. That’s why both our raw and cold pressed ranges contain prebiotics.

Our species-appropriate meals are designed to create and sustain a great microbiome, whether you choose to feed them alone or add probiotics for dogs or cats. Alongside top notch protein and fibre, we put to work whole foods that are high in prebiotics, such as seeds and chicory root.

While rebuilding a solid colony of good bacteria takes time, it really is the route to long-term health for your pet – and that’s what we’re all about.

These nourishing pancakes put to work some of the same goodies found in Hug’s cold pressed veggie dog food, from potato and peas to egg, spirulina, kale, and apple. Perfect for a healthy, balanced treat.

Meat-free Mondays never tasted so good!

The ingredients you need

Makes 10-12 pancakes

1 potato

1 apple

2 tbsp peas

20g kale

100g oat flour

1 egg

300ml water 

1/2 tsp spirulina

Making the batter

Peel and cut the potato into small chunks, then boil until soft.

Drain the potatoes and mash until smooth.

Mix in the oat flour and spirulina, blending with the mash until combined, then whisk the egg and stir into the mix.

Slowly pour in the water and whisk until the mixture is smooth in consistency (add more water if it’s still a little thick).

Grate or chop up the apple and kale, and add to the batter along with the peas.

Cooking the veggie pancakes

Warm up your frying pan with 1/2 tsp of coconut oil. When the oil has melted and is hot, add 1 large tbsp of the batter to the pan. 

Cook the first side of your pancake until bubbles form on top, then flip it and cook the other side until it is slightly brown.

Feeling fancy? Top with a selection of kefir, dog-safe fruit, or your pooch’s favourite treats. *Remember to let your pancakes cool before feeding.

Why not have a go and make your own veggie pancakes for dogs? They’re flippin’ great! 

The problem? Most meat-free meals for pooches contain little more than low-grade fibre, fillers, artificial preservatives, and poor-quality supplements. In other words, a bowl full of nothin’.

There’s none of that in our cold pressed veggie dog food, Veggie Veggie Good. We like to think it’s (probably) the best vegetarian option out there.

Truly good ingredients

Maybe you’re considering meat-free Mondays for your pooch. Maybe you want to switch your dog to a 100% vegetarian diet. Either way, feeding veggie dog food doesn’t have to mean nutritional compromise – not with Veggie Veggie Good.

Bursting with bioavailable goodies and gently cold pressed at low temperatures, our natural recipe delivers optimal nutrition to dogs.

Free range egg acts as a potentially novel protein source for hounds with food intolerances. You’ll also find tasty potato (rather than sweet potato shipped from who knows where), peas, spirulina, kale, apple, and pumpkin in the mix.

Prebiotics seaweed, chamomile, and nettle are put to work too, ideal for cultivating a healthy microbiome: the route to settled tums and soothed skin.

In comparison, typical vegetarian dog food is bulked out with cheap carbs such as maize, along with budget supplements – the addition of these supplements helps brands pass the ‘complete pet food’ test.

Ethical veggie dog food

Our veggie dog food isn’t just delicious and nutritious, though.

When we say truly good, we mean it. We’re proud to say Veggie Veggie Good is accredited by the Vegetarian Society.

This means we have passed strict checks to ensure all of our ingredients meet their rigorous welfare standards. For example, we only use free range egg in Veggie Veggie Good (and any other Hug products containing egg), the supplements we include are of plant origin, and we do not allow for any GM ingredients in our recipe.

Although dog food may appear veggie-friendly at first glance, a closer peek at its label might show otherwise. Did you know that some vitamins contain gelatine in their capsules? Also, some fat-soluble vitamins come from an animal source.

It’s always worth looking out for the Vegetarian Society logo, as this lets you know the veggie dog food you’re buying has been properly evaluated.

All of the ingredients in our veggie dog food (and the rest of our range, for that matter) are top-notch, sustainable, and ethically sourced from select suppliers. Better still, it comes in environmentally-friendly packaging.

We reckon your dog will love Veggie Veggie Good. Alfie definitely does…