KONG Stuffing: Lite

kong - By Staff Writer on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 - 15:32

If your pup has a few pounds too many and you need to keep her entertained, there is still a way to use a KONG.  KONGs can still be a great way to engage your dog without putting on the pounds.  Below are a few ways to substitute ingredients to make the KONG a more healthy treat.  You can use the same stuffing techniques used in the Easy Stuffing, Moderate Stuffing and Difficult Stuffing just change what you use.

Apples And Carrots Not Treats
Of your dog will eat apples and carrots use them as a substitute for more fattening items.  Both apples and carrots will wedge well into the treat but may not have the same tasty allure that treats have so be sure to smear a little peanut butter in there to get your dog going.

Low Fat Cheese
You can substitute regular cheese for low fat versions when melting KONGs in the microwave.  The cheese will still have the same property as full fat versions and will keep your pups waste trim.

Jerky Treats
Use meat jerky as treats instead of cookies.  The jerky will be high in protein and will drive your dog nuts with the tasty smell.  The lack of carbs will help your dog keep off the pounds but the tast will keep the game interesting.  You can use dog specific jerky treats or make your own at home.

Frozen Bananas
When freezing KONGs you can substitute frozen bananas for more fattening items like yogurt or peanut butter.  If you use just a taste of peanut butter and use mashed up bananas it will keep the treat light.

There are other low fat options out there but the biggest suggestion we have is to make sure you are counting their KONG as food in their diet. The most common way dogs gain weight is over treating and not counting the calories in treats.  Keep an eye on how many KONGs you give your dog and remove some food from her diet to account for the extra calories.