Gelatine Treats

Gelatine is a colourless, flavourless, gelatinous substance derived from collagen, which is a protein found in great abundance in the body.

Gelatine is often used to additionally support arthritic conditions and to ease intestinal complaints. Glycine is an amino acid which occurs in gelatine and helps strengthen the gut lining and reduce inflammation and is believed to assist in the healing of leaky gut.

When using gelatine avoid coloured, flavoured, or sweetened varieties and instead go for the plain, grass fed versions. I used Great Lakes beef collagen but there are other brands available.

You will need:

One 12g sachet of gelatine granules or use 2 heaped tablespoons of loose powder.

550ml Water (you can also use coconut water or bone broth)

7 Tablespoons of hot water

2 measuring jugs

Flexible silicone mould of choice

One level teaspoon of your chosen Hedgerow Hounds blend. Here I used Golden Years in one batch and Greens, Seeds & Superfoods in another.

How to make:

Into a measuring jug add 7 tablespoons of hot water, tip in the gelatine, whisking with a fork until the granules dissolve, then pour on the remaining water and stir well.

*Always add the gelatine to the liquid and not the other way round*

Add your chosen herbs and pour into the silicon moulds.

Chill in the fridge for 3-4 hours and when set, gently remove from the moulds.

These treats can easily be cut to a size which is suitable for your dog and are soft enough for elderly dogs with dental problems to enjoy.

They will keep for up to 7 days in the fridge.

Fresh Breath Treats

You will need:

250g Buckwheat or Spelt Flour

Half a tablespoon of softened coconut oil

Parsley - fresh or dried, approximately 2 tablespoons

Mint -    fresh or dried, approximately 2 tablespoons

Free range egg- beaten

Half a small, grated apple

Quarter teaspoon of fennel seeds

50ml water

Baking tray

Rolling pin

 How to:

Pre-heat your oven to 180c/ Fan 160c or Gas 4

Place the flour, seeds and herbs into a large bowl and stir together. Add the softened coconut oil, egg and grated apple and stir while slowly adding the water until the mixture forms a dough. Knead for 2 minutes, then place the dough on a lightly floured surface.

Roll out to an even thickness, around quarter of an inch thick. Then cut out with your chosen shaped cutter and put onto a baking tray, which is either lined with baking parchment or lightly oiled.

Place onto the middle shelf of a preheated oven and bake for around 20 minutes or until golden. Lift out and leave to cool on a wire rack.

The treats must be completely cold before storing in an airtight container for 2-3 weeks or freeze and use within 4 months.

 Caroline Hearn - Hedgerow Hounds

Eggs are great for our Dogs !

Either fed raw or lightly cooked, eggs are a valuable addition to our dogs diet.

Eggs provide a high quality, complete source of amino acids which are the building blocks of protein.

A good source of vitamin A, B12, Riboflavin, Iron, Folate, Zinc, Selenium, Fatty acids, Choline, Fat soluble vitamin E,D and K and provide the ideal ratio of calcium and phosphorous, if the shell is also fed.

Just one egg will provide 13 essential vitamins and minerals, including lutein which is essential for eye health. Egg whites contain a substance called avidin which affects the uptake of biotin, but the egg yolk has high levels of biotin. So, unless you are feeding just the egg whites on a regular basis rather than the whole egg there shouldn’t be an issue.

Egg shell can be used as a calcium supplement, and the inner membrane of the egg contains an abundance of nutrients to support joint health. This opaque membrane will provide collagen, elastin, glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid.

Feeding a selection of eggs including chicken, duck, quail and guinea fowl will offer a broader range of nutrients. One thing that is essential, is that the eggs must be free range and preferably organic as these are higher in animal welfare as well as offering higher levels of the anti-inflammatory Omega 3 fatty acids. These free range birds will have benefitted from a natural lifestyle of foraging, had sunlight on their backs and lived a more relaxed life.

The eggs pictured are from a local farm shop where the hens & ducks can be seen roaming free. The eggs are higher in nutrition as the birds have access to a natural lifestyle of foraging and I know that the shells haven`t been sprayed with chemicals unlike many supermarket eggs, which is important if you are going to feed the shells.
Duck eggs have a larger yolk to white ratio and are higher in protein, fat and contain more Omega 3.

Quail eggs although tiny, have large amounts of vitamin B1 and 5 times as much iron and potassium as hens eggs. Their protein value is 13% where as hens eggs are 11%. Quail eggs rarely cause allergies or sensitivities so worth considering if eggs normally cause problems.

Your dog will benefit from eating free range organic eggs 2-3 times a week.

Eggs can be offered whole, either raw or lightly cooked or broken onto your dogs usual food. If you would rather cook them then a scrambled or boiled egg very lightly cooked will be well received.

There are almost 200 different breeds of chickens in the world, and one hen will lay anything between 250 and 300 eggs a year !

www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk