There are some brands that Phoebe and Frank will always repeat purchase, and one of those brands is Pooch and Mutt, who we’ve used with the Scamps since way before launching the blog.
We’ve often used their mini bone treats to refill our treat tins, and earlier this year reviewed their wet meat variety pack, too, and we always love their festive selection at Christmas. We’re currently trialling their salmon oil with breakfast and have ordered some joint supplements – but today I want to tell you about their probiotic meaty treats!
The range was launched in January 2021, and aims to target specific areas of canine health, while offering a number of benefits. Some are formulated to help with skin and coat, others with dental hygiene and another created to aid mental wellbeing, all while preventing problems from developing in the first place with probiotics.
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I ordered the meaty treats taster pack, which features one of each flavour for £8.49, which works out cheaper than paying £3.49 per pack, saving shoppers £1.98 on their shop. What’s more is that you can get a discount code by signing up to the Pooch and Mutt newsletter, or get £10 off a £15 spend with my referral link.
The hypoallergenic and puppy-friendly treats are available in calming, dental and skin & coat varieties, each with specially formulated recipes with targeted ingredients with every benefit broken down into simple, easy to understand sections on the Pooch and Mutt website.
The brand said: “We know that a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body, but should that thinking be limited to humans? At Pooch & Mutt we’ve created an enhanced range of natural meals, treats and supplements that does good and tastes good, to give your pet the optimal ingredients needed to boost their mood and behaviour paw in paw with their physical health, so you have peace of mind that you’re doing the right thing for your pet.”
Calming Probiotic Treats
The calming probiotic meaty treats are an adorable flower shape, and have quickly made their way into our nightly routine. We’ve popped them in our The Doghouse Sleepy Snacks tin alongside some Lily’s Kitchen Bedtime Biscuits, and use them as a marker for Phoebe and Frank that it’s time to go to sleep after their last wee.
The grain free treats contain 26 per cent turkey protein, which is a lean and highly digestible protein source that can help dogs build muscle. They’ve been designed with anxious dogs in mind, with Pooch and Mutt adding ‘even the most laid-back dog can suffer with their nerves from time to time’.
These calming treats are a great way to help our dogs relax and unwind, using hemp to naturally maintain low stress levels. Another great ingredient we love is valerian root, which we’ve used previously as a compound from Dorwest. The herbal ingredient is particularly effective in dogs who have noise phobias, like thunderstorms or fireworks.
But there are also other ways these treats keep your pet content, such as the essential amino acid, L-Tryptophan, which helps the body create brain-signalling chemicals, such as Serotonin, and probiotics which help balance the gut, which can in turn affect their mood. Pooch and Mutt explained: “The benefits of probiotics are vast reaching and are especially useful for anxious dogs. The gut-brain axis is the link between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain, and with a healthy gut microbiome affecting mood, it needs to be well supported to ensure a calm and happy dog.”
These treats – like the whole range – are formulated with no added artificial flavours, colours or preservatives, with no grain, cereal, gluten, beef, soy, dairy and non-genetically modified produce.
Skin and Coat Probiotic Treats
Next up is the Skin and Coat probiotic meaty treat use a rather unusual shrimp and coconut combo, which is ideal for dogs that are prone to dry or itchy skin or who may need a little bit of help developing their glossy coat.
Shrimp is an antioxidant rich protein source that is low in calories and saturated fat, as well as being a source of Omega 3, which is beneficial for a healthy skin, coat and bones. Meanwhile, coconut contains healthy fats which provides energy and aids the treatment of skin conditions thanks to its antimicrobial properties.
These little diamond shaped treats contain probiotics which can help keep allergies at bay, which in turn keeps healthy skin and coat, with help from vitamins C and E.
Dental Probiotic Treats
The final pack in this meaty trio is the duck and rosemary Dental probiotic meaty treats, which are adorably shaped like little teeth. They contain 26 per cent duck, which is an excellent protein source that is easy to digest for most dogs.
Rosemary is the superstar ingredient here though, offering antimicrobial properties useful in treating mouth infections, with some experts suggesting the common garden herb (and gin garnish) can also help prevent serious illness such as heart disease and cancer – though this evidence is only anecdotal.However it can improve digestion, memory and mood, so it’s great to incorporate into their diet, anyway.
Other standout ingredients include sage known for being an remedy to mouth ulcers, as well as those on the skin or in the digestive tract, as well as sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) which Pooch and Mutt say ‘binds the calcium found in dental plaque so it can be easily removed via dogs saliva’. In short, it helps prevent tartar and calculus build up, and can minimise the risk of periodontal disease in dogs, which is one of the leading causes of dog breath and early tooth loss.
There was a good amount of treats in each of the 120g bags, though there are more in some than others as, for example, the calming ones are more dense. The treats are really handy for training with and it’s great that they’re specifically targeted to wellbeing, doing good while rewarding our pets, making them feel much less like ‘empty’ calories. However Pooch and Mutt do remind owners that treats should only make up around 10 per cent of your dogs calorie intake for the day.
I love the unique flavour combinations and the reasons behind each one being fully explained, making them fully functional and tasty. Plus mixing them together in a training pouch makes them a real lottery so your dog never knows which will come next. What’s not to love?