Just like humans, your pooch should be eating their greens! And their oranges, and yellows – a whole rainbow of foods, herbs and botanicals, actually. There are some really amazing healthy treats on the market today, many of which are hypoallergenic and grain free, so perfect for pups with allergies or sensitivities.
Like us, dogs can reap the benefits of superfoods, which are full of nutrition and antioxidants, with a number of plant-based products being low fat to tackle obesity, offering anti-inflammatory properties and aiding digestion.
Phoebe and Frank love a vegan treat or two, from dedicated plant-powered brands like W’Zis and Soopa, to those offering a meat-free option within their extensive ranges, like Denzel’s and Lily’s Kitchen.
While the Scamps enjoy these plant based treats all year round as part of their balanced diet, we thought January would be the perfect time to share some of our favourites, to coincide with Veganuary.
W’Zis? Lamp Post and Chips
W’ZIS are offering exciting, healthy plant-based treats for pets, that makes rewarding fun for dogs and their owners, while being kinder to the planet. Beautifully branded, their vegan treats come in three comically named flavours: Postman and Roast, Slipper and Biscuit and Lamp Post and Chips.
The brand launched in May 2021 after four miffed dog owners made a pact in the pub against brown bone-shaped dog treats that are stuck in the 70s, and created their own range of healthy but fun vegan dog treats.
Read more: W’ZIS healthy dog treats in fun flavours with handy refill tin
W’ZIS treats come in a refillable tin, and once you have your tin, you can then repurchase the refills in your dogs’ favourite flavour. All of the treats are 100 per cent natural, grain-free and plant-based, with a deliberately firm texture and angular profile to prolong the eating time to promote teeth cleaning. What’s more is that they’re only one calorie per treat, making them ideal for training.
Not only are the tins themselves pocket friendly, ideal for walks, but they’re also easy on the pursestrings too. Once you have your tin, you can buy refills for £10.95, which works out at £1.80 a refill, or 1.8p per treat.
W’ZIS said: “Most dog brands follow the aesthetic of the baby-food aisle, with childish illustrations, infantile language, smelly and beige. Or worse, they’re merely functional products with ugly packaging, and we struggle to believe people purchase them for their beloved pets. We know we can do better.”
Denzel’s Plant Based Soft Bites
The Denzel’s Plant-Based Vegan Bites are the plant based version of their popular soft bites, made with chickpea flour, homemade peanut butter, sweet potato, vegetable glycerine, banana, carrot and kale.
The plant based bites cost £2.90 per pack, with around 110 treats sealed in their plastic-free, biodegradable, home-compostable pouches, which is great value for money and great for the environment. And what’s more is that they’re low cal so perfect for training or on-the-go.
Read more: Fit for a King – Denzel’s Rewards for dogs who are treated like royalty
Ideal for those super picky pooches or doggies with a sensitive tummy, this particular pack is suitable for dogs over the age of 12 weeks.
All of the treats are gently baked treats here in the UK, inspired by co-founder James’ cocker spaniel, Denzel, hence the brand name. The brand is big on sustainability and being environmentally conscious, swapping all of their packaging to a paper-wood pulp blend in 2021.
It’s not just their packaging that Denzel have made eco-friendly, but also their baking process too. Instead of using a fuel-guzzling producer, they create their tasty treats in carbon-neutral woodchip ovens, as well as use wonky fruit from local suppliers that would otherwise go to waste.
Denzel’s said: “We care a lot about our environment and think giving your pooch the odd plant-based treat (as part of a balanced diet) really helps the planet.
Soopa Kale and Apple Healthy Bites
Soopa Healthy Bites are grain free, hypoallergenic, and made from human grade ingredients, coming in five different vegan flavours, including Kale and Apple, Carrot and Pumpkin, Cranberry and Sweet Potato, Banana and Peanut Butter and Coconut and Chia Seed.
The healthy bites are a little flower shaped treat packed with antioxidants, fibre and Vitamin C, as well as being beneficial for dental health and immune support. Low in fat, they are great for dogs who need to lose a little weight, or suffer from allergies.
Read more: Soopa: vegan dental sticks for dogs packed with superfoods
Perfect for dogs over six months, they come in a recyclable cardboard packaging, inside which is a resealable plastic pouch which is the perfect size to take on walks.
Barbara launched Soopa after working as a dog groomer and realising how many of our pets were suffering from illnesses related to commercial pet food.
She said: “I was shocked to see so many dogs suffering from commercial pet food related illness such as; obesity, diabetes, chronic itching and skin allergies. I wanted to offer dog owners a super healthy treat they could give to their dog guilt free that was low calorie, nutritious and also delicious.
“I knew dogs loved fresh fruit and vegetables so I got to work and after lots of time spent in the kitchen and many trials and testing the Soopa chew was born.”
Lily’s Kitchen Sweet Potato Jerky with Jackfruit
The Lily’s Kitchen Totally Tropical Mango Jerky and Sweet Potato Jerky with Jackfruit are vet and nutritionist-approved, made only with natural, vegan ingredients. Grain free, the treats are also ideal for dogs with a sensitive stomach. Priced at £3.25 per pack, the fruit and veg based bites are packed with flavour and plant power.
Mango and sweet potato are both fantastic options for your dog, offering a range of health benefits. Mango is high in fibre, as well as vitamin A, B6, C and E, and your dog will love its sweet flavour. Meanwhile, sweet potato is also fibrous, and is low in fat, making it a very healthy option.
Read more: Lily’s Kitchen On The Go bars are perfect for road trips and adventures
Each individual jerky piece is quite big, so we tend to tear them up into smaller pieces. Each treat will easily be cut into four, which is a good size for Phoebe and Frank. They’re suitable for dogs over four months old, with a recommended maximum of five treats per day (which is actually 20 if you chop them!)
They’re a great way to give your dog a little less meat, replacing some traditional treats, while still offering them something delicious and rewarding.
Lily’s Kitchen said: “Our vegan and vegetarian dog food recipes and meat free treats are an ideal way to introduce some exciting variety into your dog’s menu. Perfect for pooches who may be sensitive to meat, or for those joining in with Meat Free Mondays!”
Pawtato Blueberry Sticks
Benevo is an independent pet food company dedicated to ethical vegan pet products, and their products are approved by the UK Vegan Society and Vegetarian Society, as well as PETA approved for not testing on animals.
The Scamps are absolutely obsessed with their Pawtato sticks, especially the blueberry ones. The low fat treat is made from organically grown sweet potato flour, and actually looks a little bit like a hot glue stick, but makes for a wonderful dental chew. In fact, they tend to last a bit longer than some of the dental chews we’ve tried previously, with eight in every pack.
Suitable for puppies over four months old, they’re a great source of fibre, antioxidants and Vitamin C to support the immune system, as well as being grain free and should be given as a treat, reward, or part of a balanced diet.
The Hampshire-based family business launched in 2015 after realising that in vegetarian and vegan households, the only remaining meat was in their dogs’ dinner. The Benevo team said: “Many of those pets were rescue animals and so having rescued one animal, people found themselves with an ethical dilemma as they spooned out a less fortunate animal from a tin. For some, having to buy meat to feed a pet meant they had chosen not to have a pet at all.”
Plant and Paws Blueberry and Apple Chew
Plant and Paws Blueberry & Apple Natural Dog Chews are a low-fat treat made using natural human-grade ingredients that are both delicious and help keep teeth clean, making them ideal for pooches who have a bit of the ol’ doggie breath.
Suitable for dogs over six months old, they’re a 100 per cent plant based, grain free stick with only 27 calories per chew, making them perfect for dogs with weight concerns, as well as conditions like pancreatitis, poor digestion or kidney/liver disease.
Wrapped in 100 per cent recyclable packaging, this 75g pack includes three Blueberry & Apple sticks bursting with vitamins, minerals and health benefits.
Apples are a great source of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium and antioxidants, as well as being full of fibre, which helps dogs maintain a healthy weight while assisting with their digestion. Meanwhile, blueberries contain minerals that help maintain strong bones, as well as vitamin K, improving calcium absorption. The antioxidants in blueberries help protect cells against free radicals and inflammation, which can help prevent cancer.
Plant and Paws said: “Our dogs are family and they deserve the best. We want them to stay happy and healthy for as long as possible and that’s where the idea for Plant & Paws came from.
“Fruits and veggies are a great way to add nutrients into your dog’s diet. Full of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants and phytonutrients with certain disease fighting benefits, they are an easy and essential addition to your everyday routine. Plus, they make a yummy treat!”
