The Kong. For many pet parents it is almost a lifesaver at times. For many pups it is their best (non-human) friend. Aside from being a tough, bouncy toy lots of dogs love, a Kong is also one of the best ways to offer your pup a tasty treat that will last and will provide a much-needed mental challenge as they figure out just how to get every last drop of yummy stuff out.
However, when they make use of them for the first time lots of pet parents wonder just what to put in the Kong that will please their pup, keep them happily occupied for a while and will not irritate a sensitive pup tummy.
With this in mind, here's a look at delicious Kong recipes that will delight even sensitive stomached dogs and are easy for pet parents to make, along with some more information about just what a Kong is, why dogs love them, and how you can tell if your pup has a sensitive stomach in the first place.
How Do You Know If Your Dog Has a Sensitive Stomach?
Often, we think of dogs as furry creatures who will - given the chance - eat almost anything. And for some dogs that is quite true, and they tolerate most of the food they eat very well.
There are other pups however who have more sensitive stomachs, and some foods that other dogs digest fine seem to upset their tummy, even if they like them.
It can be hard to tell if your pup has a sensitive stomach or is just a fussy eater.
There are, however, some telltale signs that pet parents should keep an eye out for, including any or all the following:
- Diarrhea
- Frequent loose stool
- Blood in their stool
- Excessive gas
- Licking their lips, a lot after eating
- A reluctance to exercise after eating
- Excessive swallowing after eating
As some of these symptoms can be signs of other health problems too, if they happen often you should have your pup checked out by their vet before you assume, they just have a sensitive stomach.
If they are otherwise healthy though it is likely that it is something in their diet that is causing the problem.
What Causes a Dog to Have a Sensitive Stomach?
Like humans, the cause of a pup's sensitive stomach problems is not always truly clear. Some vets believe that it may be like a canine version of the IBS - irritable bowel syndrome - that thousands of humans suffer from with no real apparent cause.
There may also be something in certain foods that irritates your pup's stomach. Many dogs, for example, have problems with grain, while others do not tolerate chicken very well.
What is a Kong?
The Kong Company make a number of tough dog toys, but usually when pet parents talk about a Kong, they mean a cylindrical shaped rubber toy that has a hole at either end that can be filled with a treat of some kind for pups to lick out.
They are a great puzzle toy for dogs who need extra mental stimulation and lots of pet parents use them to help keep a pup who suffers from a degree of separation anxiety calm and occupied while they are away.
Can I Give My Dog a Kong Every Day?
Provided you choose a treat that is healthy for them and will not irritate their digestive system if they have a sensitive stomach, most vets and dog experts say that it is fine to give a pup their treat filled Kong every day, especially if they will be alone for a while.
What to Put in a Kong for a Puppy?
Puppies are not only still growing but they are just discovering all kinds of foods, and it is likely that you (and they) may not even know yet is they are sensitive to any of them.
That is why if you are going to give a young puppy a Kong you stick to something bland and simple, like ice, mashed potato (without milk, butter, or salt) or a small amount of organic smooth peanut butter.
Once your pup is older you can start getting more creative with the treats you add to their Kong in order to make the experience of using one even more fun for them and to supplement their diet in a healthy way.
Treats should be a part of almost any pup's diet, but they should not cause them stomach discomfort or add excess calories that will lead to unwanted weight gain.
With this in mind, here's a look at some great Kong recipes you should be able to 'cook up' in your own kitchen without too much difficulty.
First up, here's how you should fill a Kong with treats if this is your first-time doing it.
Easy Frozen Kong Recipes
Kongs make excellent frozen dog toys. Freezing a treat in his Kong will help keep your pup engaged and interested in his toy - and the task at hand longer.
This can be great for a pup that really does not like to be alone, but work commitments or simply the need to leave the house to run errands means that you will need to be away from them for a while!
Adding a frozen treat to a Kong can also be excellent for teething puppies, as they want to chew on something to relieve the pain, but their usual biscuits or bones may be too hard to be palatable to their sore gums. The cold is very soothing to those irritated gums too!
You could, of course, simply just freeze plain water in a Kong and some pups will enjoy that. This is actually a great idea for hot days at the park or beach, when it is crucial that your pup stays hydrated.
Ice is pretty boring though (would you eat it?) So, what else can you freeze in a Kong that will delight a dog and not irritate a sensitive stomach?
Healthy Dog Ice-Cream
A number of Redditors came up with their own twists on doggie ice-cream to fill their pup’s Kong. Several mentioned combining good for their pup ingredients, and so here is our take on their idea:
What You'll Need
- A can of pureed pumpkin (with no added sugar)
- A cup of peanut butter
- Mashed banana
- An ice cube tray
- Plain Greek yogurt
How It's Done
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mash together into a smooth paste.
Next, divide the mixture into the ‘compartments’ of a standard ice cube tray.
Freeze for at least 3-4 hours, or even better overnight. When you are ready to stuff the Kong, add the ice cubes one by one into the Kong for your pup to root out!
Frozen Candy Corn
Just like their human pet parents, most dogs are fond of the occasional sweet treat. Cakes and cookies are not something that should be in their daily diet, but you can add healthy sweetness to their menu in lots of different ways.
One way is to do this via their Kong as this clever 'Candy Corn' recipe that is featured on the Kong Company webpage itself.
It offers some of the flavors of one of the country's favorite Halloween goodies as well as some fruity goodness that will help make your pup's Kong time a tasty, but nutritious experience.
What You'll Need
- 1 cup mashed fresh banana
- 1 cup pureed pumpkin
- 1 cup Greek plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 ice cube tray
How It's Done
To get the candy corn effect you will need to add the ingredients into the ice cube tray in layers. Begin by adding a thin layer of banana to each ice cube mold.
Mix the yogurt with the maple syrup and add that next and then finish off with pureed pumpkin.
Freeze the mixture for 2-3 hours and then stuff your pup's Kong with as many ice cubes as you like at treat time.
Kong Recipes for Sensitive Stomachs
The last thing you want to do as a pet parent is give your pup a treat that will upset his sensitive stomach, especially if you are out at work, and he is confined with his Kong to his sleeping area or crate.
There are some good for them Kong recipes that are both fun to eat and gentle on sensitive stomachs though that are also surprisingly quick and easy to make.
KONG Chicken Treat
What You'll Need
- Plain white rice, fully cooked
- 1 tbsp plain cottage cheese
- Lean cooked chicken
How It's Done
As suggested by members of the Misfit Huskies forum, dice the chicken into small, Kong friendly pieces, ensuring that all excess fat is removed.
Plug the smaller hole at the end of the Kong with several chicken pieces and then fill the remainder with a mixture of the white rice and cheese.
You can then freeze the Kong if desired to create a longer lasting treat or serve at room temperature if you are in a hurry!
Simple Kibble Stuffing
If you want to ensure that your pup's sensitive stomach is not upset by a foodstuff you haven't tried out yet, you can make a simple kibble stuffing to fill his Kong, as suggested by the same husky forum members.
To do this simply soak his kibble for a few hours in a plain chicken broth, mash and then use the mixture to fill the Kong completely. This is a gentle, safe way to add a treat to a sensitive pup's Kong and you can freeze the mixture first if you want to create more of a challenge.
Kong Recipes with Yoghurt
Yogurt is a foodstuff that has become increasingly popular with humans thanks to the fact that it contains lots of vitamins and minerals and a measure of probiotics.
If you have not heard of these probiotics are naturally occurring good bacteria that are believed to help with maintaining good digestive health.
What many pet parents do not realize is that, in small doses, plain yogurt can make a great, healthy treat for their pup too.
Just ensure that you make use of no sugar added plain yogurt - Greek is often best as it contains more good bacteria - and that the yogurt you make use of is not past its expiry date! Here are two tasty Kong recipes to get you started.
Fruity Freeze
We've tried this Kong recipe with our own pups, and they loved it!
What You'll Need
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Handful fresh blueberries
- 1 cup of banana
How It's Done
Plug the smaller Kong hole with a dollop of yogurt, and then stuff its inner with mashed banana and blueberries, topping off with another dollop of yogurt.
The mixture can be served as is, at room temperature, or frozen in advance to create a more challenging 'ice pop' treat that should keep your pet happy for quite a while!
Yogurt and Carrot "Cake"
As we mentioned earlier, carrots are a great, vitamin packed addition to a dog's diet. Not all pups however, including ours, are keen to eat raw carrots. You can 'hide' their veggies in this tasty Kong recipe though!
What You'll Need
- Grated carrot
- Greek yogurt
- Ice cube tray
How It's Done
Mix together the yogurt and grated carrot. Fill each compartment with your ice cube tray with the mixture and freeze for at least 2-3 hours or even overnight.
When it's treat time, stuff the Kong with as many ice cubes as you like, and your pup should stay (tastily) occupied for a while!
Non-Messy Kong Recipes
One reason that some pet parents do not like to make use of Kong sometimes is that some of the fillings can get quite messy, even the frozen ones when they melt.
While this is not really a problem when you are on hand to supervise treat time it can lead to a messy crate if your pup is left alone for a while.
There are some tasty Kong recipes you can try out that are far less messy. Here are just two simple ideas.
Frozen Shredded Veggie Chicken
This recipe comes from one of the helpful Redditors from the r/dogtraining subreddit.
What You'll Need
- Cooked lean chicken
- Grated carrot
- Cooked peas
How It's Done
Shred the chicken and ensure any fat is removed. Mix with grated carrot and cooked peas and then stuff the Kong.
Freeze overnight before offering the Kong to your pup.
According to the OP this creates a treat that has no small and that is long gone before it can defrost and get messy!
Peanut Butter and Banana Treat
From the same Reddit forum comes this helpful suggestion for creating a peanut butter treat - usually one of many pups' favorites, that is a lot less messy than simply stuffing his Kong with the sticky peanut butter!
The 'trick' is to cut the banana into small, Kong sized pieces and freeze them.
Once frozen add them one by one to the Kong adding small dollops off peanut butter in between as you go. The frozen banana won't make a mess and the peanut butter will cling to it, creating a far less messy treat!
Hypoallergenic Kong Stuffing
If your pup is allergic to certain foods - and, just like humans some are - experts say you should stick to adding a single, hypoallergenic treat to your pup's Kong to avoid causing gastrointestinal distress or even allergic reactions.
Consider trying out any of the following:
- Cubed sweet potato
- Cooked natural oatmeal
- Cubed or mashed potato
- Fresh or frozen carrot cubes
- Fresh or frozen apple cubes
