Do you have a puppy who's recently left the litter, moved in to a new home, been weaning, growing, training…and meeting other dogs and getting vaccinated?
All of these things can stress out your pup. As well as early training and help especially during 'fear periods', your puppy's immune system can do with a bit of boost and their whole being with calming.
Our research-based, vet-formulated daily health jellies, support your dog’s health, from pup to senior, right from your own kitchen.
Holistic vet, Dr Kathy Cornack, is the vet behind our bestie health jelly formulations, and assessment quiz.
Dr Cornack's work on our bestie health jelly formulations draws on her 35 years in complementary medicine for dogs, cats and other small animals, and a range of peer-reviewed scientific research papers into the effect of functional and nutraceutical supplements for dogs.
Dr Cornack BVSc (hons), MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour), M.Agr. Sc (Animal Nutrition), Cert. Vet. acupuncture (IVAS) is still practising as a registered vet working primarily in clinical small animal practice. These days her work is exclusively with clients choosing natural (integrative) medicine as part of their treatment protocols, as well as in referral behavioural practice. Dr Cornack is a founding member and current President of the Integrated Vets Australia group. (IVA is a special interest group of the Australian Veterinary Association, for vets with a special interest in complementary/ holistic/ natural/ integrative veterinary medicine.)
Dr Cornack has developed this formulation based on her clinical experience and a number of research studies.
Vitamin B
Young, Lauren & Pipingas, Andrew & White, David & Gauci, Sarah & Scholey, Andrew. (2019). A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of B Vitamin Supplementation on Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, and Stress: Effects on Healthy and ‘At-Risk’ Individuals. Nutrients. 11. 2232. 10.3390/nu11092232.
Magnesium
Ando, Izumi & Karasawa, Kaoru & Yokota, Shinichi & Shioya, Takao & Matsuda, Hiroshi & Tanaka, Akane. (2018). Analysis of serum magnesium ions in dogs exposed to external stress: A pilot study. Open Veterinary Journal. 7. 367. 10.4314/ovj.v7i4.13.
Medicinal mushrooms
Guggenheim AG, Wright KM, Zwickey HL. Immune Modulation From Five Major Mushrooms: Application to Integrative Oncology. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2014;13(1):32–44.
Blueberries
Dunlap, Kriya & Reynolds, Arleigh & Duffy, Lawrence. (2006). Total antioxidant power in sled dogs supplemented with blueberries and the comparison of blood parameters associated with exercise. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology. 143. 429-34. 10.1016/j.cbpa.2005.09.007.
Nutritional yeast is an inactive form of yeast that's a also a complete protein - containing the 10 amino acids that dogs need. It's also packed with B-vitamins, including B12 (typically only found in meat), has an abundance of trace minerals and the powerful antioxidants glutathione and selenomethionine. It also contains the carbs beta-glucan and alpha-mannan, that boost the immune system. B vitamins have been shown to lift mood and appetite in people. They’re also water soluble so need replenishing every day.
Magnesium glycinate, is magnesium bound to glycine. In people, it’s been shown to have a calming effect on the brain due to the presence of glycine and help relieve anxiety and promote better sleep (among other things). The levels of magnesium in dogs go up and down with stress and seasonally.
Milk thistle is a flowering plant in the Aster family, used in traditional medicine as a liver tonic. Milk thistle generally supports the immune system through its powerful antioxidant, free-radical scavenging action, its ability to preserve the supply of another important antioxidant, glutathione, as well as direct effects on immune cells. It’s helpful for healing after drug therapy, vaccinations, and infections such as canine parvovirus.
Medicinal mushrooms are reported to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular-protective, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and anticancer properties. It is well-established that mushrooms are adept at immune modulation and affect hematopoietic stem cells, lymphocytes, macrophages, T cells, dendritic cells (DCs), and natural killer (NK) cells. Reishi has been used extensively in cancer treatment in humans and mice.
Fruits, such as blueberries, are good antioxidants because they contain phenolics that preferentially react with free radicals. Oxidative damage from free radicals plays an important role in several diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and heart disease. It’s also been shown that strenuous exercise in people and dogs produces free radicals and that maintaining antioxidant levels by supplementing the diet with blueberries may prevent exercise-induced oxidative damage.
Kale is rightly called a superfood and is rich in betacarotene as well as lutein, and other vitamins and minerals. Dietary lutein has been shown to cause a significantly enhanced cell-mediated and humoral immune response in dogs. It’s also been shown to enhance the antibody response of dogs given routine vaccinations.
We use Australian beef-gelatin as the 'jelly' agent in our health jellies.
Gelatin isn’t just a ‘carrier’; it’s also good for dogs, especially ageing ones. For example, it inhibits inflammation and breakdown of the cartilage matrix. Collagen in the cartilage matrix and gelatin have a similar amino acid composition and there are indications that the amino acids in gelatin stimulate the synthesis of collagen cartilage.
This is one of the factors behind research that demonstrates the improvement in canine osteoarthritis due to gelatin supplementation. A trial of 15 dogs, fed gelatin in addition to their normal diet, found an improvement in activity (vitality), stiffness and lameness.[1]
Plant-based jelly carriers don‘t currently provide the same benefits. Gelatin is also a human-grade ingredient that is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for all species.
[1] P, Jacobs & Grim, H. & Geene, H. & Beynen, Anton & Vlerk, T.. (2010). Oral Administration of Gelatin Hydrolysate Reduces Clinical Signs of Canine Osteoarthritis in a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. 5. 10.3844/ajavsp.2010.102.106.
ons.
Gelatin powder, nutritional yeast, blueberry powder, magnesium glycinate, milk thistle, kale powder, reishi extract
I have just finished feeding a month of The Chill-Pup to my 2 yr old dog. Although he isn’t considered a puppy (even though he still acts like one), this product was recommended to us when we took the assessment quiz. I have to admit I was a little skeptical at first about the described effects of this product. Bestie Kitchen also tempered expectations by explaining the product isn’t like Panadol and results might not be instant. However, ever since my dog started taking the jellies, I have noticed he has found it a lot easier to settle down at night. While taking these jellies, we also went through some pretty heavy rain where we couldn’t go outside for walks. Usually, I would see my dog get fairly restless, but he handled it quite well on these occasions. I could only attribute it to the jellies. Overall, I have noticed a positive effect on my dog while he was taking the jellies and would recommend it anyone who would want to help their pups chill out.
Thanks very much for your thoughtful review - and I'm glad it seems to have made a difference to your young dog.
I have been training(socialising) a new puppy who had obvious anxiety issues from day one of coming home. Chil Pup has made a huge difference to his behaviour. It has been a very obvious change and we have been thrilled about it. Very happy. Thankyou!
Super-thrilled to get this feedback, and delighted it's made a difference. Thank you for trying bestie health jellies!
Ellie loved them straight away, she licked them at first. New texture,but very happy
That's great to hear. It will be interesting to see how she goes over time on them too.
