I’ve been doing a lot of nutrition science lately and haven’t spent enough time on recipes and hacks. But this one is so simple that I just had to make time!

A bit of background: one of my dogs has suffered from stiffness in her hips, which vets have routinely dismissed for years. Happily, the situation changed when I contacted a vet/canine physiotherapist who specialises in treatments to restore mobility and improve joint function. During our first session last week, I learned stretching exercises for the dog to do at home as part of her ongoing treatment. That means getting the dog to sit and stretch her back in a straight line; an exercise that would normally entail a degree of persuasion with tasty rewards. But as we have to do this quite regularly, especially during the learning phase, the rewards could become a problem. Home-made treats, however functional, will still pile on the weight – especially if the dog is not as active as normal.

My mind went to lick mats as a known way of slowing down food intake, but how to work with a flat mat? That could have got very messy indeed. Then … I remembered I had just found laundry balls on sale in the supermarket. With “slow-down” studs! And hey presto! I’d invented my own version of a handheld lick ball, especially for these exercises.

Next thing – what to use as a tempting morsel? Chicken thighs are poaching in the slow cooker but won’t be ready for a while, and I’m impatient when I get an idea. So: to the pantry for sardines and the fridge for goat’s yoghurt. A quick blitz and the texture is ideal, the laundry – “lick” – ball takes up the mixture well. (I’ll try it with chicken later but I think any sort of kefir/yoghurt mix with fish or meat would work).

Whichever we use, we have a quick and healthy hack.

Here’s the recipe, such as it is:

Take a tin of sardines (these are in sunflower oil) and use an equal amount of goat’s yoghurt.

Blitz until thoroughly mixed.

This is the sort of consistency I wanted. Soft enough to be lickable but not too runny as to drip everywhere!

Introduce it to the dog. And let the stretching begin!

We might still have to perfect the posture, but we have a system now.

Important Considerations:

  • Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
  • If you are feeding commercial food, check the label for ingredients before giving more. Excessive intake of any foods can have adverse effects.
  • Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
  • Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
  • I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
  • Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.
  • I am not a professional canine nutritionist but supporting research is cited.
  • The recipes shared were created by me and tested in my kitchen – and tasted and approved by our doggy friends!