Fur On Treats
A bit dif-FUR-ent...but totally worth it!
Contemplating taking the road to furriness?
When you brought home your four-legged bundle of joy, I can guarantee furry treats were the last thing on your mind (they weren't on my mind, that's for sure!). We often see people walking past our market stall, trying with all their might to keep their gag reflex in check. I’m sure plenty of our customers (who’ve reluctantly been persuaded to give them a go) are often sitting there watching their dog deeply engrossed in chewing their Possum Tail or shredding their Rabbit Skin Roll into a million pieces thinking, “why did I think this was a good idea?”
We totally get it, it’s gross! Even for those accustomed to raw feeding, seeing fur still on an ear or tail can take some getting used to. But hear us out! Feeding a variety of weird and wonderful things to your pet not only keeps their brains stimulated and extends the cognitive exercise that is chewing, but it really does have some pretty awesome health benefits, too!
Why should you be including treats of the furry kind?
Whether you have your pet on a kibble or raw diet, they most likely aren’t getting this kind of “roughage”. They aren’t designed to eat a huge amount of carbohydrates or fibre in their diets, fibrous materials would normally come from things like bones, hooves/feet and you guessed it…FUR!
Because fur doesn’t fully break down in your pet’s stomach, it acts like a broom as it moves through their digestive system, sweeping out food build up and waste from their digestive tract, clearing any potential build-up of yeast and bacteria. The boost of fibrous materials also bulks up their stools, helping to express the anal glands. It’s also thought to assist with preventing worms and parasites. The overall cleansing nature of the fur through their digestive system creates a cleaner overall digestive system, which in turn allows better absorption of nutrients into the body.
Fur also provides some greats nutrients, like manganese. Manganese is a trace mineral that supports the immune system, nervous system and metabolism as well as supporting bone health and blood clotting.
Let’s not forget dental health! Fur is essentially a natural toothbrush. The hair fibres on the treats themselves work as your pet chews; removing surface plaque from gums and teeth, polishing those pearly whites, and squeezing between gaps to remove food debris – just like floss!
Give it a try!
So, while the furry stuff might give you the ick, a treat that helps us to incorporate dental, nutritional and cognitive benefits in to their diets that we couldn't otherwise acheive, while satisfying their natural prey drive, gets a huge tick from us!
Nutrition and enrichment? Win win!!
