TLC PET SUPPLIES
All the answers you need are below. Please email us at supplies@tlcdogwalking.co.uk if you have any further questions that are not answered below.
THE ANSWERS YOU NEED
Abut our natural treats
With any dried or dehydrated food, dogs will need more water than normal, so ensure there is a constant supply of fresh drinking water available for your dogs. Studies have proven that dogs who have a very fresh supply of water can live longer than those who have a constant supply of old water.
Treats should not be the staple of your dogs’ diet, but a pleasurable supplement of no more than 10% their daily calories. Never feed treats without expecting something in return. Your dog should earn their treats, even if it is just making them sit nicely while they wait for it.
Natural treats are likely to smell more than their manufactured alternatives as the preservative and artificial additives that make manufactured treats so bad for your dog, also help to make them smell less.
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Not all treats are suitable for puppies, discuss with your veterinarian when your puppy is ready for treats of any sort.
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Some treats are more health than others, not all natural treats are suitable for all dogs, pigs ears for example should be fed sparingly, but sprats could be fed daily
Promote bone and joint health in dogs.
High in protein and niacin
Help with digestion.
A great dental aid
Bones provide a fibre alternative
100% natural
Free from artificial aromas, colours, flavouring or preservative
Free from grains
Chicken feet are highly nutritious for dogs and taking into consideration the size of your dog, should have between 5 and 14 feet spread over a week. They have two main health draws to them; they help manage joint conditions, and they help maintain dental hygiene. Dogs can eat raw, puffed or dehydrated chicken feet, but MUST NOT eat cooked chicken feet as these become brittle and splinter.
Chicken feet contain high concentrations of glucosamine and chondroitin, which are commonly found in canine joint supplements. These provide the building blocks for joint cartilage, and therefore help improve overall joint health for arthritic dogs, or dogs with joint conditions such as hip dysplasia. So, if you are looking for a natural alternative to joint supplements, it’s worth giving chicken feet a go! It has been suggested that each foot is packed with approximately 450mg of glucosamine. In comparison to an average joint supplement, that is a daily dose for a medium-sized dog!
Another major health benefit is the wonders they do for your dog’s teeth. While chicken feet might leave your dog’s breath smelling a little funny for a short time after eating, the crunching action through the feet helps to clean the teeth. This is due to the mild abrasion it creates on the outer enamel that scrapes away built-up left-over food and plaque. It’s important to note that no treat outweighs the benefit of actually brushing your dog’s teeth daily, but if you struggle for time, or are not great at remembering to brush, giving your dog a chicken foot will help you feel a little less guilty about it.
But surely treats aren’t nutritionally healthy? Well, not chicken feet. They are mainly composed of skin, tendons, cartilage and tiny bones, which provide very little calories compared to processed commercial or meaty treats. On average, they have a 45-50% protein content and a 20-25% fat content.
Remember though, even healthy treats count as food going into your dog, so if you give them a treat, remove a little food from their daily meals to account for it. A small dog can have one a day, and a larger dog can have two. Do not expect them to hang around long though. While it might take a smaller dog up to 15 minutes to crunch their way through it, a larger dog is likely to finish it rather quickly.
Can puppies have Chicken Feet?
Puppies can have chicken feet from around 4 months old.
Sprats have some amazing health benefits for dogs
Boosting and maintaining heart function.
Improving the glossiness of the coat.
Decreasing itchiness and dryness of the skin.
Decrease inflammatory processes such as allergies.
Improve joint health and provide arthritic pain relief.
100% natural
Free from artificial aromas, colours, flavouring or preservative
Free from grains
Sprats can be somewhat unpleasant to have in the house, ensure they are in a tightly sealed container as they have a strong fishy smell and are oily due to the high omega-3 content. Also, it can be a little off-putting having a whole fish still containing the eyes, staring at you.
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The good news is, most dogs go crazy for sprats, so they won’t be in your house for long! Do not feed them just before you sit down for a cuddle or you will be avoiding the fish breath.
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Can puppies have sprats?
Puppies can have sprats from 12 weeks old. They are an excellent, high-reward training treat when the dried sprats are broken into small pieces.
As with all treats, they should be given in moderation, and the bulk of your puppy’s diet should consist of a balanced and nutritionally complete puppy food.
The fur provides dietary fibre,
Fur helps to naturally deworm as an aid to your regular wormer
Great source of protein
Help to improve dental hygiene
A natural chew
100% natural
Free from artificial aromas, colours, flavouring or preservative
Free from grains
Rabbit ears have great benefits for dogs and taking into consideration the size of your dog, should have 1 0r 2 rabbit ears spread over a week A great, all-natural chew for dogs with sensitive digestion. Chewing helps to naturally calm dogs down and rabbit ears are a great alternative to pigs or cows’ ears for sensitive tummies. The soluble fibres in the hair help to clean your dog’s intestinal tract and aid in de-worming. Rabbit ears are a fantastic way for your dog to clean its teeth naturally.
They are a great sensitive alternative to pig or cow ears.
Can puppies have rabbit ears with fur?
Puppies over 4 months can have rabbit ears with fur
Help with joint pain
A natural chew, providing all the benefits of chewing
Great transition chew
100% dried beef meat
100% natural
Free from artificial aromas, colours, flavouring or preservative
Free from grains
Beef lung puffed jerky is a long lasting and can keep many dogs busy for hours. They are high in protein and low in fat. Beef Lung is slowly dried to produce a treat which could keep your dog busy for hours. They are a great snack for between meals. They are also odour-free until they are wet, so fine for storing, but one your dog is chewing on them you may want to step back. Can help to keep your dog’s teeth in top shape. Provide a tough chew keeping jaw muscles strong and allowing them to activate natural instincts to gnaw and chew. This Tasty chew is high in both Chondroitin and Glucosamine for dogs of all ages and sizes!
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Can puppies have Beef Lung Puffed Jerky?
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Generally suitable from 6 months old
A natural chew providing all the benefits of chewing
Help with oral hygiene
100% natural
Free from artificial aromas, colours, flavouring or preservative
Free from grains
Cow ears are a natural treat for dogs, they are high-protein, low-fat treats which are full of benefits. Cows ears are a by-product of the meat industry. Since ears are mainly made up of cartilage, they are naturally full of chondroitin. This helps improve the health of joint cartilage, and specifically aids dogs with arthritis, or who are hard-wearing on their joints, such as active, working dogs.
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Cow ears can also help your dog with improving his oral hygiene. Chewing on cow ears helps to remove plaque from the teeth, and reduce the chances of developing periodontal disease.
Cows ears contain less fat than the classic pig ears and therefore are a great alternative for dogs on a diet. Ideal as a reward, they are a 100% natural treat, highly digestible and a great chew for all dogs. Not suitable for dogs with a beef intolerance.
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Are cows ears suitable for puppies?
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​Cows ears are suitable for puppies from 4 months, but puppies must always be supervised when eating. Cows ears are not suitable for puppies with a beef intolerance.
Most dogs adore them
100% natural
Free from artificial aromas, colours, flavouring or preservative
Free from grains
Pig ears are a natural dog treat, humanely harvested as a by-product from the farming industry. This ensures less of the pig goes to waste. Once fully dehydrated, they will be a treat that your dog will not be able to resist. Pig ears are highly nutritious, but they should always be given as a treat rather than as part of a routine diet. This is for two reasons; firstly, they are not balanced in minerals and vitamins like a diet should be. And secondly, they are high in fat. Therefore, if given excessively, they may contribute to obesity. However, some fat is a good thing, as dogs need up to 20% of their diet to be made up of fats.
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In addition to fat, the other nutrient that is found in pig ears is protein (almost 70% of a pig's ear is protein). Protein is made up of chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of all structural parts of the body, such as muscles, enzymes, and antibodies. They are essential for basic functions in life, as well as effective immunity.
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Because of the high fat content, dogs who are struggling with their weight should not be allowed to have pig ears. Obesity is a major welfare problem, and can be linked to diseases such as osteoarthritis, diabetes, and liver failure.
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Also, a large amount of fat ingestion can trigger a disease called pancreatitis, in some dogs. The pancreas is an organ which produces enzymes which aid to digest food. When a dog has pancreatitis, the enzymes begin digesting the pancreas itself, leading to vomiting, diarrhoea, and extreme abdominal pain. If a dog has had pancreatitis before, they are at a higher risk of developing it again, and therefore if your dog is a sufferer of pancreatitis, then pig ears will not be for him. Pig ears are also greasy compared to other similar treats on the market, which is because of their high fat content. This is another reason why you may not want your dog chewing them on carpet or furniture.
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Can I feed my puppy pigs ears?
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It is not recommended that puppies are given pig ears. This is because the high fat content may lead to gastrointestinal upsets, such as vomiting, diarrhoea and gut discomfort.
100% natural
Free from artificial aromas, colours, flavouring or preservative
Free from grains
These are natural, dried chews which are made out of bull penis. They provide plenty of chewing time and are great for the teeth. However, unlike cow ears, they are high in calories and therefore are not suitable for dogs who are overweight.
100% natural
Free from artificial colours or preservative
Free from grains
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Lambs ears are smaller than cows and pigs ears and lower in fat than pigs ears, so a great alternative for a small dog
Less than 2% fat
Great for puppies
Suitable as BARF snack
100% Beef
100% natural
Free from artificial aromas, colours, flavouring or preservative
Free from grains
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Beef Bladder Sticks dog chews are perfect for puppies and elderly dogs. The delicious treats are bone and cartilage free, without sharp edges and not too hard. Chewing is a great way to encourage good dental hygiene in a playful way. These all-natural chews are free from all artificial preservatives, colourings, and flavours. They are also sugar and grain-free. Each stick is easy to portion into small chews, and not greasy. These tasty natural chews are suitable for dogs of all ages and sizes.
100% natural
Free from artificial colours or preservative
Free from grains
If you are looking for a low-fat chew which will improve your dog’s dental hygiene, antlers are a wonderful alternative. They are much longer lasting, amazingly effective at scraping off dental plaque and since they are not ingested, do not contribute to your dog’s daily calories. They last longer than any manmade chew I know.
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100% all natural, odour-free, mess-free, deer antlers for dogs. The downside is that they are not meant to be swallowed, so if they are, they can cause problems, dispose of if they get sharp or small enough to swallow.
100% Natural
High protein content
Cleans your dog’s teeth
Perfect for small medium and large breeds
Free From Grains
Free from artificial preservatives
Paddywack is the neck tendon of the cow which provides a very tough long lasting chew. It is high in nutrients and all the good fats dogs need to stay fit and healthy.
This is considered a long lasting chew, they are also a great snack for between meals and a healthy low fat alternative to mass produced chews.
They are also low odour for a natural treat so a great alternative to beef scalp or pizzles for the more sensitive nosed humans
They provide tough chewing keeping jaw muscles strong and allowing your pooch to activate their natural instincts to gnaw and chew.​
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Is Paddywack suitable for puppies?
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Paddywack is suitable for puppies over 4 months old while supervised.
All natural
Gluten free
Vegetarian
Free from any artificial ingredients & GMOs
High in fibre and low in calories & sugars
Prevent build up of tartar & bad breath
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Whimzees are a healthy, all-natural doggie dental chew, containing only 6 natural ingredients. Whimzees stixs have six natural, functional ingredients and no artificial ingredients, colours, flavours, preservatives, GMOs, gluten, or meat. They’re also high in fibre and low in calories and sugars.
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The fun whimsical shapes and characters, which will put a smile both on you and your dogs face! The unique knobbly shapes ensure proper blood flow through the gums, and prevent the build up of tartar and bad breath. Whimzee is where health meets fun!
With the Whimzee toothbrushes now your dog will always want to brush their teeth. Made with all-natural ingredients, the vegetable-based texture will help remove plaque and tartar as they chew.