Summer Coat Rinse

A soothing, cooling coat rinse for hot summer days or a spritz to ease any itchiness at this time of year.

You`ll need:

A large measuring jug

Spray/Mist bottle

Organic Cider Vinegar - 2 tablespoons

1 teabag Nettle tea & 1 teabag Chamomile tea

Optional 1 teaspoon of calendula or lavender petals

One mug of hot water and One mug of boiled - cooled water

Place the tea bags & optional calendula petals into the mug of hot water and leave to steep for 5 minutes. Lift out the tea bags & petals and add to the boiled-cooled water. Stir in the cider vinegar.

Either use as a coat rinse when it is tepid in temperature or place into a water mist or spritzer bottle.
It can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.

Skin Care Essentials

Caring for our animals in Summer & Winter brings many challenges, not least trying to maintain a healthy skin, avoiding sores and cuts and effectively dealing with skin abrasions that can occur.

There are four products that I wouldn`t be without at any time of the year but they really are an essential in the colder and wetter months in order to quickly deal with any issues and prevent infection taking hold.

GREEN CLAY has excellent drawing properties so can be used for drying up wet eczema and hot spots and helping control infection in wounds and abscesses. Green Clay is so versatile and can be used for dogs, cats, horses, sheep and other livestock. It forms a protective layer over injuries and also naturally repels insects. I have found when treating horses and livestock which are troubled by flies, a drop of tea tree or lavender essential oil into the wet clay can further aid in repelling flies away from the treated area.

Used dry, it has a calming and soothing effect on a dog’s itchy or traumatised skin, breaking the itch, scratch cycle and is completely safe should your dog accidentally lick or consume it. The clays perfect partner in dealing with wounds, sores and fragile skin is Leucillin, they compliment each other beautifully.

Green clay can be made into a thick paste with a little water and spread onto the effected area. This acts as a protective barrier for sore or fragile wounds and as the clay dries, moisture is drawn away from any wet areas of skin. It is now available in two sizes (250g & 650g bags) on the shop https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/green-clay

Leucillin Is an extraordinary product that I have to hand at all times. It works wonders on so many skin issues, wounds, cuts and scrapes as well as an effective and kind skin cleanser, with the added bonus that it doesn`t sting on application. It also makes a brilliant hand sanitiser!

It is available in four sizes from the small dropper bottle which is ideal for use to cleanse eyes, for tiny animals or those that are very scared by the sound of sprays, to the large 500ml spray which is great value for larger animals such as horses or livestock or a multi dog household.

Leucillin contains the active ingredient Hypochlorous, this is a naturally occurring chemical in the body produced by white blood cells. Hypochlorous is one of the most effective and efficient biocides known to man. Whilst being totally safe, it is 300 times more effective than bleach and is almost instant in its effect. Hypochlorous is a natural chemical already existing in the body, so animals that have shown a sensitivity with other products in the past, will not suffer any adverse reactions to Leucillin. It`s 100% safe to use on sensitive areas such as, cuts and open minor wounds and is completely harmless should it be licked off the treated area. https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/leucillin-antiseptic-spray

Healing Balm A versatile healing balm that can be used on minor cuts, scrapes, sores or dry skin. Perfect as a paw balm for dry and cracked pads or for crusty noses, mud fever and general winter skin woes.

Ideal to use as a protective barrier and the perfect partnership with Green Clay & Leucillin

A beautiful blend of Sweet Almond, Coconut oil, Beeswax and a selection of herbs including Calendula for its anti-inflammatory & moisturising properties, Plantain to promote healing, Comfrey for its well known soothing & healing abilities, Yarrow as a wound healer and Rosemary for its anti-bacterial property. https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/comfort-balm-horse-hound

The Photizo Vetcare is a valuable tool for health professionals and owners alike. Photizo has a powerful combination of pre-programed 31 second doses of pulsating red and infra red LED Phototherapy.

It is widely known for helping with arthritic and muscular conditions but it is also excellent for accelerating the healing of wounds, injuries and skin complaints. This is really important in the Winter months as even the smallest cut or wound can become infected due to wet, muddy and gritty conditions underfoot.

I have had excellent results treating a horse with severe mud fever that meant he was unable to be turned out in a paddock. The area was cleaned with Leucillin and a twice daily treatment with the Photizo meant that the healing time was greatly reduced. When the skin was healed enough to allow turn out, a thick paste of clay was applied to the area for added protection.

https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/photizo-vetcare

Caroline Hearn MICHT, Dip ICAT. MIIAT - Human, Canine & Equine Sports Therapist

www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk

Green Dog Pesto - Spring

Full of fresh green goodness, this smoothie recipe for your dog, has a little twist in the form of added nuts and seeds.

Almonds are rich in vitamin E and Magnesium and Pumpkin seeds are a good source of zinc and selenium. As an alternative to almonds, a brazil nut can be added, but avoid using macadamia or any salted nuts.

At this time of year there is no shortage of seasonal greens, but the following are favourites of mine. Choose a few leaves from the following or add one or two to your dogs usual veggie blend.  

Parsley, Basil, Little Gem or Coz lettuce, Wild Garlic, Dandelion leaves, Watercress, Cleavers, Spinach, Chard, Spring Greens, Asparagus stalks.

Many of these are easy to grow at home or can be foraged for and when freshly picked are even more nutritious.

You will need

A selection of Summer greens (approximately 2 cups full)

2 whole, un-blanched Almonds

5 Pumpkin seeds

Splash of water or make a tea from a Hedgerow Hounds herbal blend, Greens, Seeds & Superfoods or Natures Bounty as an example.

How to Make:

Place your selected leaves and any veggies into a smoothie maker or blender and add enough water or your herb tea to blend into a thick puree consistency.

Keep in the fridge and use within 2 days or freeze in individual moulds for later use

If your dog is new to eating vegetables, then start off with small amounts and gradually increase over a week or two. Steamed or pulped, (low GI and low starch) vegetables can make up around 10%-15% of your dogs meals and are a nice addition to any diet.

Caroline Hearn – Hedgerow Hounds

Joint Supplements for Dogs

Choosing a Joint supplement for our dog can be overwhelming. Andrew the founder of Jointly365, explains why researching the ingredients of a product is so important and ensures your dog gets the best joint support possible.

Here we consider the following:

What ingredients and why?

What to look for when choosing a joint supplement?

Introduction

We all know that as dogs progress from middle to old age they tend to decrease their levels of activity to some degree. This can be due to many reasons, but ageing and stiff joints are one of the most commonly seen. 

Stiff joints are caused by the degeneration of the normal joint structure which leads to the aches and pains that become worse as they get older – which some of us may have experienced ourselves…..

There are many approaches we can take to this progressive condition - such as exercise and weight management, complementary therapies, or prescription medication - and though they will not be discussed here today, it is important to remember a holistic and multi-pronged approach to stiff joints is always the best way forward.

Today we will be discussing joint supplements - one of the most commonly used methods to help dogs with stiff joints.

But with so many out there to choose from, how do you choose one that is best for your dog?

My simple approach to this is there are only two things you can do with a supplement: soothe the stiff joints themselves, and provide the necessary structural ingredients that a joint requires to function as well as it can.

If you can successfully achieve both, you are on the right track. Only achieving one or the other, is a sub-optimal and unnecessary situation.

The provision of structural ingredients is a more simple topic, and will be looked at shortly, but soothing joints and working with the bodies own natural anti-inflammatory system is a more complex area.

One of the most studied and effective methods of achieving soothing joints is by using marine sourced omega 3 oils. These are a type of essential fatty acid – EFA (that has to be eaten as it can’t be made by the body – hence ‘essential’), which moderate the bodies inflammatory response, so helping aching joints. These are hard to provide at high levels in normal food due to rancidity problems during storage.

Even though only a few EFAs such as EPA or DHA are ever discussed, there are dozens of them that contribute to the overall effect in different ways. So the quality and balance of those is critical in achieving the results we want. Some fish oils and mussel powders are of poor quality for what we are trying to do in a joint supplement. And this is where the big issue lies for choosing products – it is hard to know which is which.

Those who are more sure of their product will have conducted a clinical trial and published it, so owners and vets can scrutinise the methodology and results. And you should be looking for high levels of cold water marine sourced Omega 3’s – enough to carry a regulated claim that it can “XYZ”.

The second part of the equation is providing all the structural elements the joint requires, which is critical as this is a long term condition. Depending on the food that you feed your dog, these will be supplied in higher or lower quantities, but rarely to the levels that are provided by a quality supplement.

You should be looking for ingredients that will help the production of the cartilage and joint fluid such as glucosamine, N-Acetyl glucosamine (a special type of glucosamine that is utilised more readily by the body) and hyaluronic acid, that will all help the joint function to the best of its ability.

Additionally, we can help remove free radicals, which speed up the degradation of the joint. High levels of antioxidants such as vitamin E and C are what to look for here.

So if you are using a joint supplement now, remember the condition progresses and you may be able to help your dog more by changing to a more concentrated alternative.

With this in mind, if you feel the supplement you are currently using may not be giving the best response to what is a progressive condition, or just want to start with the better alternatives out there, consider trialling one that contains the ingredients mentioned previously.

And finally, there is also the cost element of the supplement – both financially and environmentally. Generally speaking buying one from your local veterinary practice will be more expensive than elsewhere, due to the profit margins vets operate on, though you will most likely be able to get extra advice at the same time.

And nowadays you don’t need to settle for using blister packs that aren’t recycled or even plastic pots anymore, when there are technically brilliant plastic free packaging materials around. No-one want s to use more plastic than we need to, and with around 12 million dogs in the UK now, we all need to do our bit to help the environment we love to get out into with our dogs.

However using a trusted supplier with a clinical study, the regulatory claim on the pack, who is also able to give advice, usually provides the most value.

 Jointly365 has been developed by Andrew Little BVetMed. Andrew worked in practice for many years before gaining 15 years of product development experience in major animal health companies, including with market leading joint supplements products in UK and abroad. He has combined this experience to focus on dog joints, producing a natural, sustainable, plastic free joint supplement, with both soothing and structural ingredients carefully chosen and tailored to provide the very best for your dog - that is roughly half the price of veterinary alternatives to ensure as many owners as possible can access quality care for their dogs.

 www.jointly365.com

Snack Bars for Dogs

 If you are out all day with your dog, have a strenuous training session planned or a busy day at a show, these snack bars are ideal for active dogs and those that need a pick me up.

 You will need:

A baking tray lined with baking parchment

250g Gluten free Rolled oats or Oatmeal

A generous pinch of Pumpkin seeds

1 small ripe mashed banana

Optional half teaspoon of almond nut butter (must be palm oil & xylitol free) Pip & Nut make a good one.

4 blueberries, lightly crushed with a fork or dried unsweetened cranberries.

1 teaspoon of local honey (not for pups under 12 months) or blackstrap molasses

1 tablespoon of melted coconut oil

1 teaspoon of your favourite Hedgerow Hounds herbal blend. The Crowning Glory blend would look great in this bar!

Optional quarter teaspoon of cinnamon or turmeric, if your dog likes the taste.

Place the oats, seeds, berries and banana into a saucepan over a low heat. When the contents are starting to get warm add the coconut oil, honey and cinnamon, stirring and crushing with the back of a fork if necessary, until the ingredients are combined. 

Spoon evenly onto the baking tray, levelling out and pressing down firmly with the back of a wooden spoon.

Place on the middle shelf of a pre-heated oven at 180c for approximately 20-25 minutes until a light golden brown.  

Remove the tray from the oven and while still warm gently cut the size of rectangles you require with a knife. Leave to cool completely in the tin before lifting the energy bars out.

Make sure the bars are cold before storing in an airtight container for up to a week or alternatively wrap the bars individually and freeze. 

 www.Hedgerow Hounds.co.uk

Crowning Glory - The Coronation Blend

A beautiful, colourful blend of herbs, berries and petals to celebrate the Crowning of King Charles III.

Here are some of the ingredients and why they were chosen:

Lemon Balm is uplifting and calming in its nature

Nettle is incredibly nutritious as well as providing comfort for seasonal allergies, ideal as we come into peak allergy season.

Parsley is used to ease intestinal gas and freshen breath as well as offering vitamin C, fibre, calcium, iron and magnesium.

Spearmint A lovely, fragrant herb to lift the spirits, help the respiratory system, ease tummy troubles and bad breath.

Dandelion Leaf Is a natural diuretic, stimulates salivation and improves digestion due to its bitter tasting qualities and makes a great liver tonic in the spring

Calendula The petals have anti-inflammatory properties, are antibacterial and very soothing to all the mucous membranes in the body.

Rosehips & Petals Rosehips are particularly rich in vitamin C and also Biotin which is great for promoting a healthy coat and strong claws. Rose lowers adrenaline levels and helps to balance the hormones. Roses are of course also a symbol of love, commitment and they bring comfort in times of stress, which when you think about it, so do our dogs.

How to use:

You can simply stir a generous pinch (around 1 level teaspoon) into your dogs moist food or if feeding a dry food rehydrate the same amount of herbs with a little warm water, leave for a few minutes , then add to your dogs food.

The “Crowning Glory” blend can be made into a tea using a tea diffuser or natural teabag. Make a brew with a level tablespoon of the herbs, pour on hot water, leave to steep for 5 minutes and then when luke warm, offer to your dog, pour onto their food or use in a treat recipe. You can also use the liquid to blend their vegetables in. The remaining rehydrated herbs can be added to meal times also.

WILD GARLIC SCONES

A treat just for the foragers amongst you - Wild Garlic & Cheese Scones

We have been kindly given this recipe by Kerry Torrens, a nutritionist, member of the Guild of Food writers and author for BBC Good Food and Olive Magazine

Cheese and Wild Garlic Scones

Delicious straight from the oven, these scones are a great way to celebrate the wild garlic season. Don’t forget the flavour of this much-loved foraged herb is robust, so more often than not, less is most definitely more!

You will need:

140g self-raising flour

140g wholemeal spelt flour

1 tsp baking powder

60g soft butter, cut into small cubes

30g parmesan, finely grated, plus extra for topping (or a vegetarian hard cheese)

10g wild garlic, finely chopped

1 egg (medium)

3 tbsp natural yogurt

3 tbsp milk, plus extra to glaze

How to make:

Heat oven to 190C/ fan 170C/ gas mark 5. Cook for 15-20 minutes - Makes 14-16 scones.

Combine the flours, baking powder and a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl.

Add the cubes of butter and rub into the flour with your fingertips, until it resembles breadcrumbs.

Stir in the finely grated parmesan and the chopped wild garlic – make sure they are evenly distributed.

Whisk together the egg, yogurt and milk in a jug, make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the egg mixture. Bring the mix together with a table knife to make a soft dough – you can add a little more milk if the mix is dry but not too much that it becomes sticky

Turn out on a floured work surface and roll to about a 3cm thickness. Using an upturned glass or a cutter (about 5-6cm in diameter) cut out your scones, place them on a greased or lined baking sheet. Repeat the process until all of the dough is used. Lightly glaze the scones with milk or an egg wash and sprinkle on some extra grated parmesan.

Bake for 15 – 20 minutes until golden and hollow sounding when you lightly tap the base. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

Nutrition notes: I’ve used parmesan in my cheese scones, this aged cheese has mineral binding properties that makes it an especially useful source of bone-building nutrients.

Whole-meal spelt is a little richer in protein than wheat flour and contributes more zinc.

While the star ingredient is of course the wild garlic, rich in polyphenols and sulphur compounds that support our detox systems, folklore tells us wild garlic is the perfect food to reset the system after a Winter’s hibernation.

Serving ideas: I like to top these scones with a dollop of ricotta and a spoonful of chilli jam.

Kerry Torrens is a member of the Guild of Food Writers and a contributing author to a number of publications including BBC Good Food and Olive magazine. Find her on Instagram at @kerry_torrens_nutrition_