Category Archives: Recipe

Pumpkin Power

Why Your Dog Needs This Superfood

Pumpkin isn’t just a festive decoration for Halloween—it’s also a fantastic, natural supplement for your dog’s diet. Rich in nutrients and low in calories, pumpkin offers multiple health benefits, especially for dogs with delicate tummies. While tinned pumpkin may not be as readily available in the UK, fresh pumpkins are abundant this time of year. Preparing and pulping them can be a cost-effective way to ensure your furry friend enjoys the benefits of this superfood all year round.

Aids Digestion

Pumpkin is a great source of fibre, which is excellent for your dog’s digestive system. If your dog is suffering from loose stools or constipation, a small amount of pumpkin can help regulate their digestion. The fibre absorbs water, helping to firm up stools and adding bulk to make bowel movements easier for constipated dogs. Just a tablespoon

or two, depending on your dog’s size, can help balance their digestive tract naturally.

For dogs with sensitive stomachs or delicate tummies, pumpkin is gentle and soothing. If your pet is experiencing mild diarrhoea, adding a bit of pumpkin to their food can provide some relief without the need for harsh medications.

Rich in Nutrients

Pumpkin is packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium, and iron. Vitamin A is crucial for maintaining eye health, while Vitamin C boosts the immune system, helping your dog to fight off illnesses. Potassium aids in muscle function and recovery, making it particularly beneficial for active or working dogs. Iron is essential for healthy red blood cells, ensuring your dog’s body is properly oxygenated.

Low in Calories, Great for Weight Management

If you’re looking to help your dog shed a few pounds, pumpkin can be a helpful addition to their diet. It’s low in calories but high in fibre, which means it can help your dog feel fuller for longer. You can replace a small portion of your dog’s regular food with pumpkin to reduce their calorie intake without leaving them feeling hungry.

Natural Source of Antioxidants

Pumpkin contains beta-carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants can help neutralise harmful free radicals in your dog’s body, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and supporting overall health.

Preparing Fresh Pumpkin for Your Dog

Prepare your Pumpkin

In the UK, while tinned pumpkin may be hard to find, fresh pumpkins are in plentiful supply during autumn. Preparing pumpkin for your dog is simple. Start by cutting the pumpkin in half, removing the seeds and stringy parts, and then roasting or steaming the flesh until it’s soft. Once cooked, you can scoop out the flesh and blend it to create a smooth purée.*

Pumpkin purée can be added to your dog’s meals as a supplement or used to make homemade dog treats. Be sure to avoid adding any spices, sugars, or additives—plain pumpkin is best for dogs.

Freezing Pumpkin for Later Use

If you’ve prepared more pumpkin than your dog can eat, freezing is a great way to ensure you have a supply on hand. You can freeze the purée in small portions, such as ice cube trays, making it easy to defrost just the right amount whenever you need it. This way, your dog can enjoy the health benefits of pumpkin long after the autumn season is over.

A Word of Caution

While pumpkin is safe for most dogs, moderation is key. Too much fibre can lead to digestive upset, so start with a small amount and see how your dog responds. Additionally, make sure you’re using plain, unsweetened pumpkin. Canned pumpkin pie filling or products with added sugar, salt, or spices should be avoided.

Conclusion

Freeze Pumpkin for use all year round

Pumpkin is a nutrient-rich, low-calorie addition to your dog’s diet that can aid digestion, support immune health, and help with weight management. With fresh pumpkins being so readily available in the UK during autumn, it’s the perfect time to prepare and store this natural treat. A little bit of pumpkin can go a long way in keeping your dog happy, healthy, and satisfied all year round.

*Raw vs cooked pumpkin for dogs: Both forms have their benefits, but cooked pumpkin is generally more beneficial for dogs. Cooking pumpkin breaks down the fibres, making it easier for dogs to digest and absorb the nutrients. It also increases the water content, which helps with hydration.

Raw pumpkin can still be beneficial, but it might be harder to digest, and it may cause stomach upset for some dogs.

Toby’s Tum Tum Treats

Here’s a recipe for No-Bake Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Dog Treats with oats, honey, turmeric, and kefir:

Toby’s Tum Tum Treats

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (240g) pumpkin purée (unsweetened, plain)
  • 1/2 cup (130g) natural peanut butter (ensure it’s Xylitol-free)
  • 2 cups (160g) rolled oats
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric (optional for added health benefits)
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) kefir

Instructions:

  1. Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin purée, peanut butter, honey, and kefir. Mix until smooth.
  2. Add the dry ingredients: Gradually stir in the rolled oats and turmeric. The mixture should be thick and hold together well.
  3. Form the treats: Scoop out small amounts of the mixture (about 1 tablespoon each) and roll them into balls. You can flatten them slightly if you prefer.
  4. Chill: Place the treats on a lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until they firm up.

Storage:

Storage: Store the treats in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for longer-lasting snacks.

These no-bake treats are easy to make, healthy, and packed with flavour your dog will love! 🎃

Pawprints & Purrs: Season’s Greetings!

Unwrap the Joy for You and Your Furry Crew!

Huge thanks to our incredible customers this Christmas. Your support makes our tails wag!

Here’s to a Christmas filled with happy barks and cheery purrs.

And Happy New Year to you all!

Stay Pawsitive!

Remembering our beautiful Tilly

Woof-Tastic Dog Treats!​

Who doesn’t enjoy a homebake? Your furry friends will go barking mad for these Christmas treat recipes!

 

The big polytunnel challenge

Growing wild

We are the first to admit that we are not really gardeners but over the years we have learnt a bit about growing vegetables.  Most years the polytunnel keeps us supplied throughout the summer months but we are not quite so good at producing over winter.  Every spring we prepare the ground, adding fertilzer from our extensive muck heap but this year we had a little bit of extra inspiration from the programme, The Big Allotment Challenge.  It made us realise what we could produce if we put our minds and more effort into it.

The spuds are all planted and starting to show through the weedproof membrane and we have dozens of seed trays full of all sorts (none of which are labelled so we will be guessing what they are when they emerge).  At the moment the only things edible are lettuce and herbs.

However there is one plant that pops up year after year with no input from us, the wild garlic.  This year it seems to be the trendy ingredient for a lot of recipes.  Not only does it have a fantastic flavour but it looks very pretty too.  It seems to grow just about everywhere so whilst you are out walking your dogs, see if you can spot some.  It’s even being sold at some farmers markets – they’ll be selling stinging nettles next!  Every year we use it in a variety of ways and freeze it for use later in the year.  One of our favourite recipes is wild garlic pesto, simple to make and delicious with pasta.  Though traditionally made with pine nuts and basil, it can be made with just about any nuts or herbs.

Why not give it a try?

Wild Garlic Pesto

Ingredients

  • 80g wild garlic leaves
  • Couple of sprigs of lemon balm (optional)
  • 50g grana pandano (or parmesan) cheese
  • 50g walnuts
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • 50ml sunflower oil
  • 50ml olive oil

Instructions

  1. Wash the wild garlic leaves, lemon balm and dry them carefully
  2. Chop the leaves finely in a food processor or blender
  3. Grate the cheese
  4. Roughly chop the walnuts
  5. Add the cheese, salt and pepper to the wild garlic mix and blend
  6. Add the half of the oil and blend
  7. Add the walnuts and blend
  8. Add the remaining oil and blend
  9. Spoon the mixture into a sterilised jar and top up with olive oil so that the pesto is covered
  10. Store in the fridge until used