Puptables
When Ashley Hutson’s family realized that they’d be forced to permanently close the doors of their restaurant, they were faced with some big decisions. After running the famed Ortanique on the Mile in Coral Gables for more than twenty years, the pandemic took the ultimate toll on the beloved business.
As many have been forced to do these past six months, Ashley had to re-evaluate her life – and livelihood - and figure out her next chapter.
As the former General Manager and Chef, she did some soul searching and ultimately decided to make an official business out of what had been a long-time hobby - making home cooked meals for dogs.
“As much as I love being a chef, the hours were really starting to get to me. I felt like I didn’t have a life at all. This (Corona-induced) closure gave me the avenue to find something that I really love.”
- Ashley Hutson (Photo by Carly Terenzio)
And so, Puptables was born. Using her well-honed culinary skills, she began making healthy, balanced meals for dogs from the same high-quality ingredients she used to source for the restaurant. “These are the exact same purveyors and products used at Ortanique.”
Offering three different blends to satisfy all taste buds and health needs - multi-vitamin, weight management and skin & coat - Puptables is a supplemental food to mix in to your favorite kibble or other dog food. If you would like to transition your dog off kibble entirely, they also offer complete meals with either a chicken, pork or beef base.
Ashley’s boyfriend, Dennis, a professional baker, is also now adding dog treats and specialty cakes to their menu. A turmeric paste is in the works next.
Need a cake for your pup? You can now order cakes and desserts like this to celebrate a birthday, adoption, or any other milestone.
As with many passion pivots, there was a personal angle. “I’m really passionate about changing the views on bully breeds. I have three pit bulls.”
Bullet, who is now the face of the brand (and pictured above) was headed to a kill shelter when Ashley intervened. “My cousin called me and asked me to help with this dog. I was not ready. But, once I saw those eyes, I was done.” Now, Bullet has a sister Freya and the latest addition to the household, a new puppy named Floki. (Freya is from Paw Patrol Animal Rescue and Floki is from Bullies-N- Beyond, both South Florida-based rescues).
“I don’t see myself going back to cooking for people in a human kitchen. I’m a dog chef now.”
Photo by Carly Terenzio
“Opening a business and starting something from scratch is terrifying. It’s even more terrifying with all that‘s going on – not only in our state, but our country and the world.
(But), At the the end of the day…. any part I can have to make animals healthier is a passion project for me.”
Puptables is based in Miami, FL and they offer delivery options to the surrounding area. Learn more about their meal plans and place your orders here.
Bonus tip! When you subscribe to our newsletter, you’ll receive a Puptables discount code!
The Snout Diet
You’ve probably heard about the growing popularity of human-grade food for pets. As more and more pet owners realize the negative impact feeding low-quality kibble can have on their pets’ long term health and wellness, they’re seeking alternatives to the standard dry and wet food options that have populated big box store shelves for decades.
There are several large, commercial companies who have gotten into the better-food-for-your-dog game with successful results. However, there is also a growing crop of smaller, mom-and-pop shops that are actually home cooking meals for dogs - made with quality ingredients (balanced for optimal nutrition) and tasty flavors that are proven winners with most pups.
As a rep for a traditional dog food company - and mom to three of her own dogs - Samantha Manuel, owner of The Snout Diet, started to realize that maybe kibble wasn’t necessarily the only (or best) option for canine family members.
“I was feeding my dogs homemade food way before I started this company. I started with a simple sweet potato. From there, it’s been a journey of me feeding my dogs and learning what’s good for them.”
She officially launched The Snout Diet in July 2020 (in the midst of the pandemic no less), in an effort to bring homemade food and treats to dog owners in her community.
With an option called Just the Basics (chicken, brown rice, sweet potato and egg) for dogs who might have more sensitive stomachs), to a salmon based option called Under the Sea, and snacks like Bacon Chips and Snout Balls, there are options for every dog. Each package contains seven meals and the snacks come in boxes or bags. “One of my goals was to bring this to people in an affordable way….this is only $4 for a meal per dog.”
Before officially launching, Samantha put the word out via social media asking people if they’d be willing to try some free samples (full disclosure: that’s how we met) and the response has been great. “I’m so elated that people are loving it as much as I do. I’ve gotten so many good responses; I‘m just really excited.”
Samantha was kind enough to drop off to us a (compostable and biodegradable) package of Snout Balls - oven baked treats made from oatmeal, pumpkin puree, egg, peanut butter and cinammon. The K&D boys gobbled them right up! (I shared that video on Facebook).
“My dogs are my babies, I want them to have the longest life possible.”
Samantha’s three dogs: Penny, Princess and Gracie
Based in Coconut Creek, FL Samantha currently delivers every morning to areas around Broward County, with her sights set on being to able to deliver to Miami and Palm Beach counties in the near future. Follow The Snout Diet on Facebook and Instagram @thesnoutdiet. Happy feeding!
“This is the food that our dogs should be eating. It’s not dog food, it’s food for our dogs.”
Juice Pulp Dog Treats
Recently, I've started to be more diligent about juicing. Like so many people, when I bought my juicer a few years ago, I was intent on being a juicing queen. And, then….. life happens! After a few attempts, I put it in the kitchen cabinet and promptly forgot about it. That is, until I see an article or someone’s IG with a gorgeous looking green juice, and am I’m reminded of how I’m slacking in my wellness efforts. So, while we can make up excuses all day long about how we don’t have the time, the ingredients (or the will to clean that thing afterwards), I decided to “just do it,” and create a new habit.
(Who are we kidding, we have loads of time now)
A few days ago, I lugged out the 'ol juicer and emptied out my produce bins in order to make an immune-boosting morning treat. It was honestly super easy - and rewarding. I included fruits and veggies that are well-known immune boosters and carry anti-viral properties since these supplements are so critical for everyone right now.
After a few rounds of this (juicing and cleaning), it occurred to me that I might be wasting something precious here. All that pulp! I don’t have a compost bin, but I didn’t want to toss perfectly good ingredients, either. Suddently, I had an idea - could I give this pulp to muy pups?
So, I googled it and I found out that yes, I most certainly can. :)
I found this adorable baked treat recipe that uses fruit pulp as main ingredient. I’m going to give these a try and I’ll share the results with you. Have any of you ever given your dog the raw pulp, or used it in a recipe like this? Let me know in the comments!
Beleaf in You
Natural skincare for pets
Rhonda Taassa’s Golden Retriever, Rocco, had been suffering from chronic skin issues since he was a puppy. For years they went to different vets and tried different solutions, only to be disappointed in the results each time.
Rhonda and Rocco. All Beleaf’s products are paraban and cruelty-free and vegan.
“We tried steroids and steroid shots. We went to holistic vets, you name it, nothing worked. For four years we went around and around.”
Rhonda decided to experiment with Moringa oil after hearing about how it had helped humans suffering from chronic skin problems like excema and psoriasis. To her delight, the oil seemed to calm the flare ups, and eventually, eliminated Rocco’s problem altogether. It’s been almost one year, and he is totally allergy-free.
Rhonda began researching how and where to source the highest quality oils (it turns out, Sri Lanka) and formulated a shampoo and conditioner first, working with a chemist.
“I’ve seen it clear up spider and insect bites, as well as have an amazing effect on their coats.”
The company stands by it’s product’s true label claim of having the highest quality available - cold-pressed, cultivated and produced without pesticides or radiation, and using a carrier oil (CBD) of similar distinction.
The team is currently working on developing a balm for the paws and nose, which will be availabe soon. In them meantime, you can find the products online, at Belaf in You, or - for those local to South Florida - at Greenlands market in DelRey Beach, FL, DelRey Shore Pharmacy, and Salon Bark. Additionally, they will soon be expanding and working with a co-op in Brooklyn.
Exploring the Alternatives: Eastern Medicine
Last year, we were hit with an unexpected flea infestation. In our nearly 16 years of owning our oldest dog, Finnigan, we’d never dealt with any flea problems before. My husband and I had just moved our family of three humans and two dogs from a 3,000 square foot home in the middle of the woods in northern Maine to a 1,000 square foot space in a Minneapolis suburb, seven minutes from the Mall of America. Somewhere between ME and MN, our dogs got fleas.
Our two terrier mixes were covered in them, and I had red bites all over my legs. My husband started looking for the best prices on flea shampoos, flea collars, and what needed to be sprayed where in order to nip the apartment infestation in the bud, and more importantly, keep it from happening again. I told him to wait… maybe we could try the homeopathic route? He side-eyed me, pointedly looked at my flea-bitten legs, and then reminded me that we had already tried the homeopathic/natural/holistic/Eastern route and that’s why we were in this mess.
I hated to admit it, but he was right. (Do not tell him I said that!) I had been relying on essential oils to prevent and repel fleas on Finnigan and Nibbler, spraying the couches and dogs with diluted homemade flea sprays, and was even using a homemade shampoo for their baths. The holistic and natural route has worked for us and our boys in certain respects - we give them charcoal bones or plain, pureed pumpkin for upset stomachs, plain low-fat yogurt for healthy skin and coats, and stick to grain-free, gluten-free dog foods for optimum health benefits. And at nearly 16, Finnigan is still jumping on and off our bed on his own, enjoys multiple daily walks, and our veterinarian and groomer marvel at how he’s still doing so well, so obviously, we’re doing something right. But this sudden flea infestation meant that natural wasn’t going to cut it.
“Buy what works,” I told him, and he did.
After a run to the stores, my husband arrived home with shampoo, collars, and a flea and tick prevention topical that works for three months for every application. It took two sets of three baths, a week apart, for our boys to be flea-free again. To rid the apartment of the infestation, we called our vet and used products she recommended. Essential oils, she said, might work for certain things, but homeopathy isn’t the answer for everything.
THE EXPERTS WEIGH IN
Dr. Alex Kintz Konneger, graduate of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria and owner of the K. Vet Animal Care practice in Greensburg, PA, agrees. As pet owners, she says, it is in our dogs’ best interests for us to avoid getting stuck in all-or-nothing thinking. Our dogs are healthiest, Konneger says, when we incorporate both Western and Eastern philosophies into canine veterinary care.
Dr. Alex Konneger
“At K. Vet Animal Care we practice integrative veterinary medicine, which means we offer Western and Eastern medicine, chiropractic care, and physical therapy,” Konneger, 42, says. “This gives us more "tools in our toolbox" and the opportunity to select the optimal treatment choices for our patients. Both Eastern and Western medicine have their limitations, yet compliment each other harmoniously when applied correctly.” The most significant difference between Eastern and Western medicine (homeopathic or holistic and traditional, respectively) says Konneger, lies in the philosophies of each approach.
“Western medicine excels at the linear connections between cause and effect. If there is an infection - take your antibiotics. If there is a tumor - cut it out. It offers the opportunity to prevent diseases with vaccinations and certain medications (flea/tick/heartworm preventatives).” Konneger explains. “Yet, we define health basically as the absence of symptoms in Western medicine: "Your diagnostic tests are all normal, there is nothing wrong with you, you must be well."
But that, she adds, isn’t always the case.
“I would not want to practice a day without antibiotics or steroids or the option to perform surgery to save a patient's life,” Konneger says. “Still sometimes in Western medicine we seem to hit a wall and find ourselves without further valid options to improve the patient's quality of life. In Eastern medicine…We are not chasing a diagnosis of disease, we are analyzing patterns leading to the disease.”
Konneger and her staff believe that their integrative approach means choosing the best of both worlds of Eastern and Western Medicine, also incorporating into their core philosophy what is known as The Five Element Theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This theory holds that life force, or Qi, must flow freely between all five elements (organ systems). If there is a deficiency - or not enough Qi in one element, the patient will experience imbalance, disease, and potentially pain.
SENIOR SATISFACTION
Julie Katz Baker, the Adoption Coordinator for Shepherd Help & Rescue Effort in Boca Raton, Florida, also is a believer of integrative medicine. Her dogs, a 10-and a-half-year-old golden retriever named Kelsey, and a five-and-a-half-year-old German Shepherd named Journey, have both benefitted from utilizing traditional and holistic treatments.
Franzie receiving an acupuncture treatment at his vet
Kesley, says Katz Baker, has had positive results from acupuncture. Her old Golden Retriever, Buttons, Katz Baker adds, had Reiki treatments to treat her arthritis.
“Alternative treatments work” says Katz Baker. “Acupuncture seemed to help release the immediate pain.”
Pam S. of San Fernando Valley, CA, also owns German Shepherds. The 64-year-old says she loves veterinarians, but sometimes it’s necessary to use both Eastern and Western medicine. She also is a believer in the benefits of CBD oil.
“Timber is my shy, timid senior who, when we go to regular vets shakes all over, has to be coerced to go into a room but when we go to the holistic vet for treadmill underwater therapy or massage, laser, or chiropractic she doesn’t shake & she seems to relax,” Pam S. says. “My Franzie, who passed in April, was on all kinds of pain meds in addition to his holistic treatment, but I do believe he would have never lasted two-and-a-half-years after he became disabled if I hadn’t combined both services.”
“Eastern Medicine can help reduce the amount of medications commonly prescribed (like anti-inflammatories) long term, can be practiced with lesser side effects and is certainly less invasive in its approach. Same holds true for chiropractic care and physical therapy - enable the body to heal itself quicker.”
Dr. Konneger notes that it’s important to discuss options with your integrative practitioner whenever in doubt about how to proceed.
“All natural is not always the best or safest approach to any given situation.” Konneger adds that the excessive use of non-diluted essential oils is one example.
Essental oils can have a wide variety of applications for both humans and dogs, including nausea, digestive issues, anxiety, and parasite control.
“When applied topically at full-strength, these highly potent herbal extracts enter the blood stream, where they are metabolized by the liver, potentially resulting in liver stress or elevated liver function enzymes.” Konneger says, also adding that she strongly advises for year-round, regular flea, tick and heartworm preventatives.
“I get to teach at the Chi Institute for TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) in Florida several times a year and I am excited to see hundreds of veterinarians studying to become certified in acupuncture and herbal medicine,” Konneger says. “This makes my heart sing, as our pets are clearly going to benefit from us humans expanding our knowledge. In the long run this will hopefully lead to Eastern medicine not being a last chance hail Mary, but part of an integrative approach to both preventative medicine and disease treatment.”
Editor's note: Kibble & Dribble will be exploring this topic further in the future, as we believe alternative therapies will become an increasingly popular choice for pet owners, when feasible. If you have had a personal experience with trying homeopathic or natural remedies on your pet, please let us know in the comments (or send us an email!) and we might feature your story!