Education

At Laila and Me, we’re extremely passionate about doggy health and well-being. If you’ve read our story you’ll find out some commons questions like 'Can my dog eat sugar?' and 'what can't my dog eat'. We’re on a mission to educate pet-parents about the dangers of some common dog-treats, the chemicals, additives and preservatives in dog-treats, and teach you why our all-natural product is the best option for your pupperino. 

A number of big-name brands (which we won’t mention) sell dog-treats which contain high levels of salt, sugar and ‘filler’ carbohydrates, such as cereals and hard-to-digest grains. They also advertise a particular meat, but often the ingredients list shows that there are several kinds of meat that are possibly, maybe in there. How much meat is in the product? We’ll never know.

There are also unspecified colours, preservatives and flavours. There has been a multitude of research into artificial colours, preservatives and flavours with regard to the health and behavioural problems they can cause in humans and dogs – it’s no wonder these companies don’t want to give specifics, but this should be a massive, Saint Bernard-sized red flag – DO NOT GIVE THESE TREATS TO YOUR DOGGO!!

Here are some ingredients you want to avoid:
• Corn syrup
• Artificial colours
• Xylitol or any other sugar alcohols
• Excessive salt
• Propylene glycol
• Brewer's rice
• Nitrates or nitrites
• Vegetable oil

Another ingredient you don’t want in your doggo’s treats – it can be listed under a whole range of sneaky aliases: fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose, maltose or sucrose.

At Laila and Me we only use high-quality Australian produce, unless explicitly stated – for example, the New Zealand Sweet Lip Mussels. Our single-protein products are brilliant for puppers who may have allergies or sensitivities to particular meat-proteins. All of our products containing animal protein have the ten essential amino acids dogs need (as they aren’t naturally produced in the body), as well as other highly beneficial vitamins and minerals.

Here’s a snapshot of some of our common beneficial ingredients:

• Whitebait: source of calcium, protein and iodine, low levels of mercury.
• Pilchards/Sardines: high quality protein, essential Omega 3 fatty acids, low levels of mercury, source of B vitamins, calcium, selenium, iodine, phosphorus, iron and vitamin A. Pilchards also contain vitamin D.
• Venison: lean high-protein meat, low in saturated fat, high levels of L-carnitine, high levels of CoQ10, B vitamins, zinc, iron, phosphorus and selenium.
• Kangaroo: super-lean – only 2% fat (much of that being good unsaturated fat), high-quality protein, source of iron, zinc, B vitamins, L-carnitive and Omega 3 fatty acids.
• Chicken: low-fat, high quality protein, source of vitamin B3 and B6, low in sodium, source of selenium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, magnesium and iron. The bone content of chicken necks is also an excellent source of calcium.

Now that all sounds great right, but what do those amino acids, vitamins and minerals actually do?

• Protein: builds muscle and helps repair muscle tissue.
• Calcium: vital for healthy bones and teeth.
• Iodine: essential for thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolic processes such as growth and energy expenditure.
• Omega 3 Fatty Acids: vital for the immune system and healthy skin, fur and brain.
• B Vitamins: important for releasing energy from food, and producing red blood cells, brain health.
• Selenium: important for the immune system.
• Phosphorus: vital for bone health.
• Iron: important for transporting oxygen around the body, and immune system health.
• Vitamin A: responsible for growth, foetal development, immune function, and cell function
• Vitamin D: essential for healthy bones and teeth. Dogs do not absorb Vitamin D from sunlight, like we do.
• L-Carnitine: helps metabolise energy – great for weight control.
• CoQ10: powerful anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant.
• Zinc: supports immune system function and thyroid function.
• Magnesium: supports energy production at a cellular level.
• Copper: helps metabolise iron, aids in formation of the skeletal system, facilitates enzymatic function.

And now last, but certainly not least…an item so important it needs a whole section to itself…
RAWHIDE.
Did your dog get Rawhide for a Christmas treat? Or have you seen it in pet shops and just grabbed it as a cheap treat? Well grab a glass of wine, because you’re about to feel super guilty once you read the nasty truth about rawhide.

RAWHIDE - THE NASTY TRUTH
• Hides are stripped from the cow and soaked in chemicals to ensure it ‘preserves’ the product during transport to help prevent it going rancid or rotten enroute to the tannery!
• At the tannery, it’s time for another chemical bath of ash-lye solution or a highly toxic recipe of sodium sulphide liming. This toxic solution disintegrates any hair or fat that may be left on the hide.
• Next up, it’s time to make that hide shine! To make it more visually appealing to the dog owner, hides are bleached and whitened using a solution of hydrogen peroxide and bleach; this removes the smell of the rotten or putrid leather.

Independent testing shows rawhides have been known to contain lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium salts, formaldehyde and other toxic chemicals, making them COMPLETELY unsuitable as a dog treat.

Do your dog a favour and take the pledge, to say NO to rawhide!

Once you take the pledge well issue you with a $10 voucher to use at Laila and Me, where you can treat your dog to a healthy natural alternatives in our dental chews.

What is the pledge? You can find it here.

I promise to join the #mydogsaysnotorawhide movement and raise awareness on why this treat is dangerous and needs to be banned in Australia.
I promise to do this by saving and sharing the below image on my social media platforms as well as the hashtag #mydogsaysnotorawhide and pledge to NEVER give my dog a rawhide treat and opt for a more healthy and nutritional treat.
#MYDOGSAYSNOTORAWHIDE

Take the pledge by clicking here.