I get asked a lot for new and fun Kong toy recipes! Well here are some of Rhea’s favorites-
MEAT-NANA
Ingredients: A portion of your dog’s normal kibble, a spoonful of meat paste, and a chunk of banana
Method: Fill the Kong half-full of kibble, add the meat paste. Using a spoon to mix the meat paste into the kibble. Add the remaining kibble and pack it tightly. Plug the large opening with the banana piece.
Food Fact: Banana is a ‘prebiotic’ food—which serves as a valuable nutritional base to feed your dog’s beneficial bacteria (in his tummy) which will promote good digestive health.
CALMING CHEESE
Ingredients: A portion of your dog’s normal kibble, a spoonful of cottage cheese, and a chunk of banana
Method: Fill the Kong half full with kibble, add about 3/4 of the cottage cheese, and shake the Kong to coat the kibble with the cottage cheese. Add the remaining kibble, packing it well, then fill with the rest of the cottage cheese before plugging the opening with the banana piece.
Food Fact: Cottage cheese contains ‘casein’ protein amino acids, which the body converts into natural opioids that can cause a calming effect for your canine friend. This is particularly useful to help dogs with separation anxiety feel more relaxed alone.
SWEET & NUTTY
Ingredients: Cooked rice, mashed sweet potatoes, and a spoonful of peanut butter
Method: Mix all of the ingredients together. Fill the Kong with the tasty blend and it is ready to serve. Alternatively, you can freeze the Kong to use for later—this is a great way to keep your dog occupied and busy because it will last much longer.
Food Fact: Sweet potato is an excellent source of beta-carotene. In the body, beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A and serves as a powerful antioxidant that helps in supporting your dog’s immune system.
FRUITY FREEZE
Ingredients: Yogurt (Plain or Greek), a handful of blueberries, and a whole banana
Method: Mash the blueberries, banana, and yogurt together in a bowl. Spoon the blended mix into the kong and freeze it before serving.
Food Fact: Blueberries can help support cardiovascular and urinary tract health due to its high antioxidants and vitamin C levels.
TUM-E-EASE
Ingredients: Cooked rice, Yogurt (Plain or Greek) or Kefir
Method: Mix the yogurt and rice together and stuff it into the Kong. It can be served immediately or frozen for later use.
Food Fact: This is similar to the well-known boiled chicken and rice recipe. The blandness of the white coupled with the beneficial bacteria in the yogurt is an excellent recipe to help ease dogs with sensitive tummies.
HONEY NUT JOY
Ingredients: Yogurt (Greek or Plain), a whole banana, a spoonful of peanut butter, and a dash of honey.
Method: Mash the banana and blend together with the yogurt, peanut butter, and honey. Fill the Kong with the concoction, serve immediately or freeze for use later.
Food Fact: Besides its antibacterial properties which can help with GI issues (overgrowth of harmful bacteria, gastritis, IBD, colitis, etc.); honey can also help desensitize your dog’s body against seasonal allergies due to the minute amount of local pollen that it contains.
PUMPKIN BUTTER
Ingredients: Pureed (canned) pumpkin, tahini paste (or peanut butter)
Method: Mix the pureed pumpkin and tahini paste together and fill it into the Kong. Serve immediately or freeze for use later.
Food Fact: Tahini, sesame seed paste, is a great source of calcium and zinc—minerals essential for healthy bones.
SWEET PUMPKIN
Ingredients: Yogurt (Greek or Plain), a spoonful of peanut butter, a scoop of pureed (canned) pumpkin, and mashed whole banana.
Method: Blend all of the ingredients together and fill the Kong. It can be served immediately or frozen for later use.
Food Fact: Besides being an outstanding solution for two common canine ailments (diarrhea and constipation); pumpkin contains more potassium content than a comparable volume of banana—this electrolyte is essential for healthy muscle contraction and recovery from physical activity. In addition, pumpkin is also rich in vitamin C, a valuable source of carotenoids, and high in omega-3 fatty acids.