Billy + Margot Review

Billy + Margot Complete Wet Dog Food

 

'Nutritional human-grade complete wet dog food, full of fresh veg, fruit and meat for Mans best friend.' - @NellieJRT

Hello my anipals and pet humans, I have a nommy review today – which you know I wuff to do! The terrier-ific people at Billy & Margot sent me some nommy noms to review and are giving you the chance to win some of their NEW complete wet dog food! Yup, pin back your lugs pals – NEW! You know me, only the best… and this is so far off the scale I have decided to rate it as ‘the bestestestests’. It’s official – ‘cos I said so! This great company is offering FIVE lucky readers a £10 voucher to spend each on their online shop! So keep your eyes peeled pals, read thouroughly and answer the question in the comments section :)

My Review ( Da Impawtant One!)

OMD! Wet food paw us all - not just Derby! My tail was wagging at 250 wags per min - I think I may enter the paw-olympics with record speeds like this. Humum is a fussy lady and always grumbles on about how the majority of wet foods aren't nutritious  (Yup - check me out the pup swallowed the dictionary! Not really, I just chewed the cover BOL) and how they are full of 'fillers' which do us pooches no favours. I normally get fed my dry biscuits and then some meat - and Derby gets the posh cooked meats and veggies off mum as he is getting on and biscuits can hurt his little teeth. I have told mum to get him some doggy dentures like de advert however, but my human has selective hearing I think.

So imagine my amazement when the human plods in the kitchen, and shouts of us all in. I panicked. "Nellie Ellen". Uh oh, my full Sunday name?! What have I done this time - has she figured the just planted flowers and now re-arranged (I am multi-talented y'know - perhaps a gardening blog may be in order!), has she realised my Giggle Ball has smashed the beak off the puffin ornaments she collects - or is it worse.... surely not bath time!? I looked at Tootsie, she at me.. and we gently shoved Derby in first - after all he is the oldest - although not very macho I must admit.

There we stood in amazement, astonished by what we saw. Humum was standing their with two tins! I've never had anything out of a tin before (except that one time I helped myself to baked beans on granddads plate but we won't go into that!) - although have watched numerous adverts. I scratched my noggin' with my paw in confusion - what's in the tin? Surely it's got to be mushy for Derby?! Oh how wrong I was! I WAS ALLOWED WET DOG FOOD!

I must express the term 'dog food' doesn't really cover this - it was more a culinary masterpiece that Billy + Margot had created. No brown thick imitation gravy to cover it up - but visible chunks of  REAL meat, fruit and veggies. I was slightly surprised when human dished it out into our dishes - this was surely a crime?! No fancy plates to reflect the masterpiece that was dished up. Hey ho - don't worry pals. This food is divine. As you know - I have high standards as does humum. She says that we should only be fed ingredients which are good enough for human consumption. This most definitely is. It's unlike any wet food we az saw bepaw. As you all know I'm not an expert on wet food - so here's a few words from Derby. (His Sunday name is Derbald BOL! Don't tell him I told you all!)

What do you mean I have to share?

" I'm no spring chicken *Drools* mmm Chicken. So over the years as you can imagine I have sampled many foods. For the past few years Humum has tried me on many wet foods - yet none have been suitable. I suffer from digestion issues as have a sensitive stomach due to swallowing objects I shouldn't have out of desperation, when I was starved as a pup, before I found my fur-ever home. Humum always worries about what I eat, and with joint issues too I can't exercise as much as I used to. Lots of the wet food I've tried in the past is simply 'mush without a purpose'.. full of ingredients which don't benefit me in anyway shape or form. Now I can safely say - this needs to be making a regular appearance in my food bowl! I actually ate blueberries... and green beans...and carrots....and apples in this delightful meal! Mum says you have to eat your veggies and fruit to grow up big and strong - Nellie may need a lot of this then as she is only a mini Jack Russell Bol! "

I think humum needs stronger glasses as she referred to us all as the three little pigs 'cos we all had clean bowls! (Maybe that's why we didn't get posh plates - Derby probably would of licked the pattern off!). One, we are dogs and two, well Derby isn't exactly 'little' *sniggers behind paw*.

I can't thank Billy + Margot enough for sending this out - it's changed humum's mind completely about wet food - and I think this means I get to keep nomming on it as part of a varied diet!  Mum made granddad giggle - it is recommended that you use a tin within 48 hours of opening - this won't last ten minutes with contents as good at this! Normally Derby turns his nose up at wet food as he finds it bland and we don't blame him - so end up throwing endless tins away. Not this time.

I have included the information of the product we have sampled below

Product Description

Made in Britain – Grain free complete food for dogs
A nutritious complete wet food for dogs made with 60% British fresh chicken, pure vegetables and fruits, milled flaxseed, seaweed, Omega 3 rich salmon oil, herbs, plus all the essential vitamins and minerals your pet needs for a truly healthy and nutritious diet.
As with all our treats we only use pure ingredients: no rendered animal parts, carcass or derivatives, no GM, no artificial preservatives, no colourants, no taste enhancers or sweeteners. No grains (not even rice!).
We only use wholesome fruits and vegetables – the proof…. you can see the carrots, green beans and blueberries. The result is a delicious and nutritious meal for your dog.
Suitable for Puppies 4 months+.

Chicken complete wet food for dogs ***NEW***

Purchase this product now and earn 2 Points!

£2.15

Composition:

Chicken (60%), Carrots (4%), Apple (1%), Herbs (Rosemary, Parsley, Mint , Marjoram and Oregano) Flaxseed, Green Beans, Seaweed, Blueberries, Salmon Oil, Mannan Oligosaccharides and Minerals.

Nutritional Additives (per kg): Vitamins: Vitamin A 2250 IU ,Vitamin D3 328 IU, Vitamin E 26 mg,. Trace Elements: Zinc sulphate monohydrate 66.7 mg, Iron sulphate monohydrate 41.7mg, Copper sulphate pentahydrate 9.6 mg, Manganese sulphate 6.25 mg, Calcium iodate anhydrous 0.714 mg, Sodium selenite 0.088 mg.

Analytical Constituents:

Crude Protein 10%, Crude Fibres 0.5% Oils & Fats 8.0%, Crude Ash 2.5% Moisture 75%

Directions for use:

Serve at room temperature. If your dog has not been fed this dog food before, introduce it gradually over a few days.

Daily Feeding Guide:

Dog Size               Cans per day without mixer

Toy (up to 5kg)                       1/2

Small (6-10kg)                        1

Medium (11-20kg)                 2

Large (21-30kg)                     3

Giant (31-40kg)                     4

This guide is approximate, an individual dog’s requirements may differ from this guide, adjust the amount given to keep your dog in a lean active condition (lactating bitches may require up to four times as much food as their normal intake). Fresh drinking water should always be available for your dog.

Store unopened in a cool dry place. Once opened, cover, keep cool and use within 48 hours.

Other flavours are available, just click on the image to be taken to the product.


Fish with Vegetables, Fruit and Herbs

Green Tripe & Beef with Vegetable, Fruit and Herbs

Venison with Vegetable, Fruit and Herbs

 Humum Review 

A package arrived in a secure brown box, clearly labelled with the sender and recipients name and address. This was all typed giving a professional look, which met my high expectations upon opening. Inside was a sea of black crate paper wrapping the individual tins which I felt was a great touch, and a change from bubble wrap! All packaging could be recycled which is an added bonus - not only do they care about our pooches, but they do care about our planet, a lesson I wish many companies to follow suit!

Upon opening I found a 395g tin of pure professionalism; a clearly labelled tin containing everything you need to know. The label consists of the company logo in silver on a black background accompanied by a union jack to the left hand side - representing the product has been made in Britain.

Usually when a product is labelled to be made in Britain I generally role my eyes in a pessimistic manor as have often found although the manufacturing of the product to be in the UK the ingredients or materials are sourced elsewhere. This product is genuinely made in Britain and uses British meat! I find this a weight off my mind that I know I am supporting British farmers but most importantly I find it comforting to know where the food my little best friends is sourced from. The company is completely honest about where there meat is sourced from, and informed me that the meat in their Venison wet dog food is sourced from outside of the UK, as the manufacturer can't get enough within our shores. However, this has no impact on the quality of meat - nor the taste! The Venison for Billy+Margot's Venison treats is sourced within the UK.

 All other meats and fish in the tins (Beef,chicken,fish) are indeed all sourced in Britain.

The tin also states the name of the food in white which in this incidence is Chicken with Vegetable, Fruit and Herbs against a red background. This coloured box is a great tool as it enables you to select this product from their range without rummaging through a shelf in an attempt to find a specific flavour among identical tins. It is also a great way to recognise the flavour if you have several dogs at home whom each prefer a different flavour. 
Inside the red box is concise information which I deem vital to any dog owner - British Meat, Pure Fruit and Vegetable, Gluten & Grain Free and No Fillers.

Many complete wet foods aren't complete in my eyes as they don't offer our dogs the nutrition in which they need in their diet. Many offer a low meat content and artificial additives which are simply not something I would wish to feed my pets. This however ticks all of the boxes - all ingredients are what I would eat - and therefore are good enough for my pets.

Ingredients and Composition:

Chicken (60%), Carrots (4%), Apple (1%), Herbs (Rosemary, Parsley, Mint, Marjoram and Oregano) Flaxseed, Green Beans, Seaweed, Blueberries, Salmon Oil, Mannan Oligosaccharides and Minerals.

It also gives me great comfort knowing Billy + Margot use suppliers who hold the same core values as themselves - allowing for great ingredients to be used throughout their products. Billy + Margot are proud of their relationships with renowned companies such as SeaHorse Atlantic, which is used in their popcorn, that they offer information about  their suppliers on their website. Below is an extract from the company's website outlining why they use

SeaHorse Atlantic was developed by Sarah Jane O’ Sullivan who has a passion for the marine environment and animals. Sarah Jane has a degree in environmental science (Zoology), a Masters in Marine Biology and a keen equine & pet background, so you can be assured that oceans of passion and dedication goes into SeaHorse Atlantic produce.SeaHorse Atlantic was one of the successful applicants to be picked to participate on the IGNITE program (2011) run by University College Cork – nurturing entrepreneurship.
All their kelp (seaweed) is sourced from the purest of the Atlantic ocean. The rugged wild waters off the south west coast of Ireland is completely pollutant free and holds high water quality status up to E.U. standards (EU Directive 76/160/EEC).
SeaHorse Atlantic aim to maintain a low carbon footprint and also to avoid any disturbance to the natural habitat.
Kelp Care™ Clinical Veterinary Trial Executive Summary
Kelp Care™ feline and canine, formulated to the nutrient requirements of cats and dogs has just undergone a 60 day subjective clinical veterinary trial with a large veterinary hospital in Cork using 44 clinical dog cases under leading canine vets. The trial focused on key areas of increasing canine diseases:
 Palatability
 Osteoarthritis
 Chronic skin conditions
 Dental health
 Haematology and urinalysis were included in selected cases
Results supported the high palatability of the product (90.5%). There was significant clinical improvement in chronic skin conditions (91%). Clinical response was also noted in osteoarthritis and dental cases.
In selected cases, haematology presented a decrease in white cell count (65% of dogs) and urinalysis showed a decrease of pH in cases suggesting Kelp Care™ can aid in neutralising an acidic pH and promote better health.
Kelp Care™ unique recipe is veterinary recommended as an adjunctive therapy in chronic skin cases and as part of a multimodal management of chronic osteoarthritis in dogs.


When opening the tin it becomes apparent this is no ordinary dog food - this is
a meal, and ingredients are visible! Billy + Margot are proud of their human grade ingredients and don't need to smother it all in a gravy substance to try and hide anything at all. Immediately upon opening, three very intrigued little furry faces appeared in the Kitchen area, all looking intrigued at the tin and then panning across to my face to see who this delectable meal was for. I have never seen three dogs all in unison be so fixated upon a wet food like this. With regular wet foods these three little pooches usually plod off and take no interest - with the exception of Derby who occasionally plods back for a nibble due to his old age and somewhat lack of teeth! But as explained this is no ordinary standard wet dog food -  this is absolutely packed with goodness - including Vitamin A. This vitamin is highly important to ensure our best pals have strong muscles, a great healthy coat, to combat dry skin and to also help with growth. This vitamin is also a great antioxidant which can help protect dogs against certain types of cancer.

I have always been taught that the more colours on my plate the better from an early age and as you probably are aware the majority of wet dog food I have seen in a tin is a thick gravy-like liquid disguising some form of unrecognisable meat which is full of preservatives and 'nasties'. I cannot express how different this is - with blueberries,carrots and green beans visible! This meal has a texture somewhat like a pate, easily breakable yet strong enough to hold shape.

Be rewarded for your purchases
Reap the rewards with Billy + Margot in more than one way! Not only do you know your dog is being fed something which is nutritious and beneficial to them - you get reward points for your purchases!
Billy + Margot offer a Reward point scheme which you can find out more information about below 

Reward points: How does it work?

First you need to create an account using a unique login email address and a password.
Everytime you place an order using your account, you will earn points for your purchases. Each point is worth £0.01.
Before you complete a transaction, you will be asked if you wish to redeem your points. The only time you cannot redeem points is with your first purchase.

Gallery

NomNom, Squishy nose :D

Yummy Yummy Yummy, I got Nutrition in my Tummy ;)

I dressed up for the occasion.

Look - can you see the nommy green beans and carrots?



Greedy Tootsie enjoying the finer things in life!

Paws off!

Derby with his big tongue!

COMPAWTITION

FIVE lucky readers will win a £10 Gift Voucher Code to spend with Billy + Margot in their online shop, to review on my blog at a later date.

Can you correctly answer the following question in the
comments section? 
* Open to UK residents address only. If winner is from another country, they will be asked to nominate a UK address to send it too, or a rescue.
Winner will be asked to fill in a short questionnaire on the product they receive in order to achieve more of a range of reviews.

If you do not have a google account,  feel free to DM me your answer and I'll paste your answer below :) Alternatively, select 'Anonymous' from the drop down menu in the comments section.

What percentage was the  British Chicken in my Billy+Margot Chicken with Vegetables, Fruit and Herbs Complete Wet Dogfood?

A. 33%.

B. 60%

C. 45%.

Please leave either a contact email or your twitter username.
If you do NOT have a Google+ logjn Please select 'Anonymous' and then type your username in :D

Competition closes Friday 9th May 2014. Winner(s) will be contacted shortly after.