Dog Food on the Go with The Honest Kitchen

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by The Honest Kitchen. I received product in exchange for a review. But don’t worry, I only share products I think you and your pets will love, not to mention it’s a healthy food I eat myself on a daily basis.

Honest Kitchen Cups

If you’ve been following my adventures for a while now, then you probably know that I’m a big fan of the dehydrated raw pet food company, The Honest Kitchen. I’ve been eating their recipes for years now, and it still totally gets my tail wagging.

Honest Kitchen Cups

So when they came out with a new product I couldn’t wait to test it out! Their new single serve cups are exactly what I needed for my busy lifestyle.

Honest Kitchen Cups

These cups come in several bestselling recipes Force, Love and Embark and make 12oz of food, the same as a can of dog food would!

Honest Kitchen Cups

All you have to do is add water to the cup and then serve to your dog. One cup can be served per 20lbs of body weight.

Honest Kitchen Cups

Mom loves these to-go cups because she no longer has to measure out my food in the morning into a tavel bag in the event we won’t be home for dinner (which happens a lot). Instead she just grabs one of The Honest Kitchen’s cups and we’re out the door.

Honest Kitchen Cups

So when I find myself on the farm for a late night dinner – mom’s always prepared with my favorite foods. Since I tend to not need as much food as most companies recommend for a dog my size – I only eat 1/2 a cup at each meal.

Honest Kitchen Cups

And even when mom inevitably forgets my dog bowl too, the cup doubles as one as well!

Honest Kitchen Cups

These cups are sold in select stores only, find out if your local store carries them.

And if you’d like to give The Honest Kitchen Food a try for your dog, you can snag a FREE SAMPLE BUNDLE (discount applied at checkout)Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

How to Get Your Dog to Eat their Vegetables

As dogs, we’re designed to be meat eaters, but did you know that adding vegetables to your dog’s diet can help them in many ways?

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

My mom’s favorite pet nutritionist, Rodney Habib, has lots of great information on why it’s important to add fresh vegetables to your dog’s daily diet. With the simple addition of veggies to your pet’s food, you could help prevent cancer! Now that’s pretty cool.

Lucky for me, I’m actually a vegetable lover, but many dogs out there hate them.

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Not to worry, today I’m going to share with you one of my mom’s favorite recipes for getting picky dogs (like my pal Trooper) to eat their vegetables.

*this is not a sponsored post, but does contain some affiliate links

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Here’s what you’ll need:

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Add a small amount of The Honest Kitchen to a bowl and add water as per the specifications on the package. The sample packs are great for making about 3 – 4 stuffed toys.

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Add some fresh vegetables to the bowl, broccoli is great diced up into smaller pieces.

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Then stuff a few mini carrots into your toys. These are great at making it harder for your dog to get the treats out quickly.

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Fill the rest of the toy with your vegetable mixture until nearly full.

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Finish off with a dab of peanut butter to really get your dog interested.

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

You can then either feed these veggie treats immediately to your dog, or even stick them in the freezer to give to them later (no need to thaw first).

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Every night when my parent’s eat dinner I get my own special vegetable treat inside my crate. My parents are happy knowing I’m getting a healthy dose of veggies, and I’m happy because it tastes oh-so-good!

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Not sure what vegetables to feed your dog? Check out this handy list for some ideas.

Do you feed your pet fresh vegetables on a daily basis?Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

A Warm Broth Your Dog Will Love

Disclaimer: this post is brought to you by The Honest Kitchen and does contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own, and I only share products I think you and your dog will love.

The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth - a warm treat for your dog

My friends over at The Honest Kitchen recently came out with a warm broth for dogs that’s just the thing to heat up your pup this winter season!

Their Bone Broth can be mixed with warm water to make a nourishing, and irresistibly mouthwatering drink, that’s got a few health-promoting properties, too. It’s like a warm treat for your pet with lots of added health benefits too.

The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth - a warm treat for your dog

The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth is also made with Turmeric. Turmeric has been studied for its antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties and is great for both dogs and cats.

One of my mom’s favorite pet nutrition bloggers, Rodney Habib, has some great information on how Turmeric can be beneficial to your pets. Not only will it help prevent your pet from getting cancer, but it will also aid in the following:

Anti-Inflammatory
Detoxifier
Treatment of epilepsy
Relieves allergies
Prevents the formation of cataracts
Treats depression
Kills parasites
Heals stomach ailments, aids in digestive disorders, and reduces gas and bloating
Fat metabolism and weight management
High in fiber and rich in vitamins and minerals

The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth - a warm treat for your dog

So I don’t know about you, but I’m all for helping to prevent Cancer (among other ailments), and if it tastes as good as The Honest Kitchen’s Bone Broth, then count me in!

The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth - a warm treat for your dog

The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth - a warm treat for your dog

You can combine 1 tablespoon of Bone Broth with 1 cup of warm water to serve to your pet as a healthy treat.

The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth - a warm treat for your dog

Or you can do what my mom did and pour it onto your pet’s food at mealtime. Mom found that for the amount of food I eat, that half that amount seemed to work fine.

The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth - a warm treat for your dog

Since I had some dry dog food I’m using up, it was great to pour on top to add a special treat to my meals. I’d never say no to warm broth on my food, especially as the weather starts to get chilly here.

The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth - a warm treat for your dog

I’m looking forward to using it to re-hydrate my Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw food (Marvel) as well. It’s going to taste so yummy when I come in from playing in the snow this winter!

The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth - a warm treat for your dog

You can fetch your pet some Bone Broth this season from The Honest Kitchen. I noticed because it’s so popular that it’s currently out of stock, but you can pre-order some on Amazon and they’ll deliver it when it’s back in stock! #tryTHK

Grab a FREE SAMPLE BUNDLE + Coupon (A $10 Value) for $1 shipping with code AMBBGKD6100 from the Honest Kitchen!Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Adding Raw to Your Dog’s Diet with #StellaandChewys Meal Mixers + A Giveaway

This post is sponsored by Stella & Chewy’s and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Meal Mixers, but AmmotheDachshund.com only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Stella & Chewy’s is not responsible for the content of this article.

Adding Raw to Your Dog's Diet with Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers + A Giveaway

Have you ever wanted to add some raw to your dog’s diet, but weren’t sure where to start? Well guess what, today I have a great product to share that can make adding raw to your pet’s diet simple and easy. Meet Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers®!

Adding Raw to Your Dog's Diet with Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers + A Giveaway

Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers are raw foods that have been freeze-dried to lock in nutrition and flavor. They are ready to feed right out of the bag. (no waiting around for mom or dad to prep you a bowl of raw food!)

Adding Raw to Your Dog's Diet with Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers + A Giveaway
Simply scoop and serve!

Adding Raw to Your Dog's Diet with Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers + A Giveaway

Now I know if you’re never fed raw pet food it can be a little bit scary, but as an extra food safety measure, Stella & Chewy’s uses a test and hold process. Third party independent lab analysis is conducted on each batch of food before it leaves their own Wisconsin-based manufacturing facility. The results for every batch is posted on the Stella & Chewy’s website for consumers to see. I don’t know about you, but that sounds a whole lot safer than eating raw beef off the grocery store shelf. Plus it’s much less messy!

Adding Raw to Your Dog's Diet with Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers + A Giveaway

When using Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers you don’t have to commit to feeding your dog a completely raw diet either. You can simply scoop the desired amount and mix it with your pet’s dry dog food for an extra boost of raw food nutrition.

Adding Raw to Your Dog's Diet with Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers + A Giveaway

Adding Raw to Your Dog's Diet with Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers + A GiveawayStella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers includes premium ingredients:

  • Packed with 95% nutrient-rich meat, organs and bone
  • Complemented by organic fruits and vegetables and added probiotics & antioxidants
  • All of Stella & Chewy’s products are made WITHOUT grains, glutens, fillers, artificial preservatives or colorings

Plus they are made in the USA!

Adding Raw to Your Dog's Diet with Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers + A Giveaway

They are available in 4 protein options Stella’s Super Beef, Chewy’s Chicken, Tantalizing Turkey, and Savory Salmon & Cod and come in 3 sizes (3.5 oz, 9 oz, 18 oz). I got to test out Stella’s Super Beef option.

Adding Raw to Your Dog's Diet with Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers + A Giveaway

I also found that Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers were very convenient to travel with as you don’t need to refrigerate it, and it doesn’t require any special meal prep.

Adding Raw to Your Dog's Diet with Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers + A Giveaway

Adding Raw to Your Dog's Diet with Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers + A Giveaway

I’m always eating on the go whether it be at home, on the farm, or at work – and sometimes out and about during my many adventures. So having a food that can travel easily is always important to me.

Adding Raw to Your Dog's Diet with Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers + A Giveaway

So if you’d like to add a little raw to your dog’s diet you can fetch these Meal Mixers from Stella & Chewy in a store near you!

And now for the best part…

Adding Raw to Your Dog's Diet with Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers + A Giveaway

ENTER TO WIN A STELLA & CHEWY PRIZE PACK!

25 Winners who each receive a Stella & Chewy’s product Assortment valued at $75. The Giveaway will open September 10th and run through October 2nd.

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Have you ever tried feeding raw to your dog? Tell me your experience in the comments below!

Never want to miss any of the adventures (or giveaways) on my blog? Make sure you sign-up for e-mail updates! 
Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

 

How to Choose the Right Food for your Dog

Choosing the right dog food for your dog can be an overwhelming process. There are so many choices these days, from grain free, to de-hydrated, to raw – how the heck are you supposed to pick one?

Open Farm Ethically Raised Dog Food Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

While my mom claims to be no pet food nutrition expert, she thought it would be helpful if we gave you some handy tips as to how she chooses pet foods for me.

March Breakfast Barkbox // Ammo the Dachshund $5 off with code AMMO5

For starters I’ve been on a rotational diet since I was just a wee pup. What this means is that each time I get to the end of a bag of dog food, mom switches me to a different brand of food. Who wants to eat the same food every day of their life? Not me! Plus mom believes that different foods have different nutritional benefits, so rotating foods makes sure I get the best of all of them (at least thats the theory). This rotational diet may not work for all dogs, especially ones that may have sensitivities to certain things, or are on special dietary restrictions due to health reasons. So it’s best to know what might work for your own dog and your own situation.

Tips for Keeping your Pet Trim // Ammo the Dachshund

Now while many people might defer to their veterinarian for feeding recommendations, I’ve found that while vets are schooled in medical issues, most of them are not trained in pet nutrition. Many of them just recommend what’s suggested within their industry, and while that’s not to say it’s always a bad suggestion, my mom feels that doing her own research will provide me with the best choice in food.

March Breakfast Barkbox // Ammo the Dachshund $5 off with code AMMO5

So before I dive into what my mom looks for in a pet food, lets talk about the different types of dog foods:

Dry: The “kibble” most people are familiar with. It travels and stores well, but is considered a more processed food because the ingredients aren’t fresh.

Wet: What many people might call “canned food”, this food is kept moist and easy for most dogs to ingest. It is much more perishable because of this.

De-Hydrated: This is essentially raw foods that have been dehydrated to lock in the nutrients. It’s less processed than dry food, but can take time to prepare as it typically needs water to “plump up”.

Raw: Fresh whole foods in their purest form. Typically you have to buy meats frequently to maintain freshness, and ingredients have to be handled properly to prevent illnesses to your dog.

Homemade: Fresh ingredients that are selected by the owner, and made to their own specifications. You have to have a thorough knowledge of what your dog can eat and may need, and it does take a good bit of dedication to make.

Sleepypod Yummy Travel Bowl Product Review & Giveaway via Ammo the Dachshund

I have never eaten Raw or Homemade dog food, mostly because mom doesn’t know a ton about feeding these types, and more importantly because of my lifestyle. I sometimes eat dinner at home, other times on the farm, and frequently at work – so these types would not travel well or keep as fresh in these situations.

I’ve tried Wet food before (when I was a puppy), but I wasn’t a super big fan of it, not to mention it also doesn’t travel well either. My pal Trooper eats a scoop of it everyday in all his meals and loves it, so it may depend on your own dog.

What I do eat is Dry (which is what I have eaten since I was a puppy), and more recently I am testing out De-Hydrated food as well. In the coming weeks I will be reviewing some of my picks for both types of food, so stay tuned for that!

JClay Pottery Dog Bowl Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

So since I’m most familiar with Dry & De-Hydrated Pet Foods, lets talk about what my mom looks for when choosing a brand for me to eat.

Dog Food Ingredients

What to look for when choosing a pet food:

  • Small Breed Size: When possible I try to eat a small breed formula because as a small dog I need more calories to fuel my fast metabolism. Most small breed foods are formulated for this, and they also come in a smaller size which makes it easier for small dogs to chew.
  • Adult Food: Since I’m only 6, I like to pick a food that is formulated for adult dogs (if I were a puppy or senior dog I would look for something formulated for this). Different life stages require different formulas, and these types take that into consideration. When I turn double digits I may start looking into a senior formula.
  • Meat: As far as ingredients are concerned I always look to make sure the first ingredient in a pet food is always meat. Specifically avoiding any foods that list “meat-meal” or just “meat” (not specifying the type) and “by-product”. Whole meats are always my top choice in a food, but many dry foods that I have seen still contain products such as “chicken meal” or “fish meal”. Dry Foods are still processed so I think it would likely be pretty hard to avoid any type of meat meal if you’re feeding this.
  • Origin: I would never feed anything made in China due to all the issues we have been hearing about in the news lately associated with dog deaths and health issues. I prefer my food to be made in the USA and Canada.
  • Un-Healthy Ingredients: There are certain things that should not be in a dog food. See the chart above for some examples of what I wouldn’t want in a pet food.
  • Healthy Ingredients: There are many ingredients that are healthy and great for a dog to be eating (see chart above for examples).
  • Grain-Free: Grain Free foods simply means that the food does not contain any unhealthy fillers such as wheat, corn, soy, and barely. Some alternatives that are healthier for your dog would be a food that contains: white potatoes, green peas, sweet potatoes, carrots, and chickpeas. Research has showed that grains were never really part of the diet that our wild dog ancestors may have eaten. Many dogs have sensitivities to grains in their foods, but even if they don’t eating grain free may still improve their digestion and skin & coat health.
  • Protein: A high protein food can help with easier digestion and nutritional absorption. It can also mean better bathroom visits for your pet. So I look for a food that has a higher protein percentage.
  • Reviews & Recalls: I always check to see if a brand has any recent recalls, and I search the web to see what types of company reviews they have. Steer clear of any brands that might have a history of a lot of recalls, and bad customer reviews.

Can you spot which of these foods my mom wouldn’t feed me based on the ingredients?…. (click on the images to view them larger)

Pedigree Pet Food Label

 

Trufood Ingredients List

Without naming names, the second label pictured is a much better choice, and one of the brands I eat myself. You’ll notice with the yellow label the very first ingredient was Corn, followed by “meat and bone meal” (which doesn’t even specify what kind of meat it is), and also included a lot of dyes that weren’t healthy. Definitely a product I would be steering clear of personally.

Following these guidelines for choosing foods, my mom also does the same for any treats or cookies she feeds me.

Happy Thanksgiving // Ammo the Dachshund

While my search for great pet foods never really ends, here’s the current list of foods that I have been rotating through my diet:

Stay tuned for a few reviews coming up soon on my blog with some of these foods, I’ll also be giving away some pet food to some lucky readers too! *contains affiliate links

Tips for Keeping your Pet Trim // Ammo the Dachshund

For recommendations on how to keep your dog looking trim, you might want to check to check out one of my past posts on 5 tips for keeping your pet trim. Which also includes how much food I actually eat on a daily basis!

What brands and type of food do you feed your dog? Any recommendations you suggest and think I will love? Do tell!

Thanks to Reviews.com and the PetsMart Food Center for helping me with some great information for this post! Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Disclaimer: this post is meant to be a general guide for choosing dog foods. Ammo nor his parents are pet nutrition experts, and if you are unsure about what to feed you should always consult a vet or pet nutrition expert first. What works for Ammo may not work for all dogs, and feeding what we feed may not be recommended for all dogs and all situations. We are not responsible for any issues or illnesses that may result from feeding what we feed our own dog.

Never want to miss any of the adventures on my blog? Make sure you sign-up for e-mail updates!

 

Instinct Rawboost Treats Product Review and Giveaway from Chewy.com

Disclaimer: This review and giveaway is brought to you by Chewy.

My pals over at Chewy.com recently offered me the chance to test out some of Nature’s Variety Instinct Rawboost Minis Treats in the chicken flavor. I’ve secretly always wondered what eating raw was like – as it seems to have become a trend within the dog community – and trying out these raw treats seemed like a great way to jump into it.

Instinct Rawboost Treats // Product Review and Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Mom’s a bit too “chicken” to let me eat all my meals raw, but with these Rawboost treats I can have a taste of raw meat without needing to eat my main meals raw. These Rawboost treats offer up real, all natural chicken and pure raw ingredients – in a freeze dried treat form.

Instinct Rawboost Treats // Product Review and Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

These tiny treats boast only 2 calories per treat, perfect for us dogs that like to watch our figure, and they are a great size to use as training treats too.

Instinct Rawboost Treats // Product Review and Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Of course when I smelled that burst of raw chicken flavor I dropped everything and came sprinting over. Cricket better watch out, because when I smell chicken nothing is going to get in my way!

Instinct Rawboost Treats // Product Review and Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Nothing is ever truly free at my house, so mom made me work for my treats, but as you can see from the video below – I’d pretty much to anything for a taste of these scrumptious chicken bites!

Instinct Rawboost Treats // Product Review and Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

You can fetch your own package of Instinct Rawboost Treats HERE.

And now for the best part – you too have a chance to win some goodies from Chewy.com!!

ENTER TO WIN!

Three winners will receive either a $50 gift certificate to Chewy.com, a $25 gift certificate to Chewy.com, or an August Treat Package from Chewy.com. Winners will be chosen by Chewy.com, giveaway ends August 31st.

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Bonus: Faces of Summer Giveaway with Chewy.com

Post a photo of your Cat or Dog enjoying their favorite summertime activity for a chance to win!!  In under 50 words, tell us about your favorite summertime activity with your pet to win a special Chewy prize pack. Tag #teamchewy on Instagram and Twitter, or message us on Facebook to enter!

*By sending a picture of your furry family enjoying the summer months, accompanied by a brief description, you’ll be entered to be a featured pet as well as entered into the raffle for a special Chewy.com Prize package. The contest will run until September 30th and the winner will be contacted the first week of October.

 

Disclosure: I received a box of Rawboost treats from Chewy.com to review. All opinions are entirely my own.Ammo the Dachshund