Product FAQs

Name: Lilys Kitchen Shepherds Pie with Lamb Potatoes and Parsley Dry Dog Food 7kg
Brand: Lily's Kitchen
Price: 65.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Question 1

What does "grain-free" actually mean, and is it always better?

Accepted Answer

Grain-free means the food contains no wheat, maize, rice, oats, or barley. Grains are replaced with vegetables and pulses such as sweet potato, peas, or lentils. For dogs with grain sensitivities — itchy skin, recurring ear infections, loose stools — grain-free can make a meaningful difference. For dogs without those sensitivities, grain-free isn't automatically better, but high-quality grain-free foods tend to also be higher in meat content, which is the more important factor.

Question 2

How much meat should be in a good dog food?

Accepted Answer

The minimum standard for a genuinely natural dog food is around 30% meat content, but the better foods sit between 50% and 80%. Eden's 80/20 range contains 80% meat and is one of the highest on the market. Aflora is 60–65%. Canagan is around 50%. Anything below 30% is more accurately described as a cereal-based food with meat flavouring. Always look for the percentage stated on the bag, and check that it refers to fresh meat rather than meat meal.

Question 3

What's the difference between cold-pressed and extruded dog food?

Accepted Answer

Extruded food is cooked at high temperatures and pressures, which is the standard kibble manufacturing method. It's efficient but can destroy nutrients and creates kibble that swells in the stomach when wet. Cold-pressed food is cooked at much lower temperatures, preserving more of the original nutrient content and producing a kibble that breaks down slowly without expanding. Cold-pressed is gentler on sensitive stomachs and dogs prone to bloat. Both can be excellent — the right choice depends on your dog.

Question 4

How do I switch my dog to a new food without upsetting their stomach?

Accepted Answer

Always transition gradually over 7–10 days. Start with 25% new food mixed with 75% old food for two days, then 50/50 for two days, then 75/25, then fully on the new food by day 7 or 8. If your dog has a particularly sensitive stomach, extend each stage to 3–4 days. Sudden food changes are the most common cause of digestive upset in dogs — slow transitions almost always solve the problem before it starts.

Question 5

What are "meat derivatives" and why should I avoid them?

Accepted Answer

"Meat derivatives" or "animal by-products" are catch-all terms used when the manufacturer doesn't want to specify what animal the meat came from or which parts were used. They can legally include feet, beaks, hooves, and tissues that contribute very little nutrition. A reputable natural dog food names its protein source clearly: "freshly prepared chicken", "deboned salmon", "lamb meal". If you can't identify the animal, you're paying for filler, not nutrition.

Question 6

Is hypoallergenic dog food the same as grain-free?

Accepted Answer

Not quite. Grain-free means no grains. Hypoallergenic means the food avoids ingredients commonly known to trigger allergic reactions in dogs — typically wheat, soy, beef, dairy, and sometimes chicken. A grain-free food may not be hypoallergenic if it still contains other common allergens. A truly hypoallergenic food uses limited, novel proteins (lamb, duck, fish) and avoids the most common triggers. If your dog has confirmed sensitivities, look specifically for "hypoallergenic" or "limited ingredient" descriptions, not just "grain-free".

Question 7

How do I know if a dog food is actually working for my dog

Accepted Answer

Give any new food at least 6–8 weeks before judging it. Look for: shinier coat, firmer stools, more stable weight, calmer digestion, more consistent energy. The signs of a food not working are usually obvious within a few weeks: itchy skin, ear infections returning, loose or inconsistent stools, weight gain or loss without portion changes, lethargy, or fussy eating. If your dog has been on a food for two months and shows ongoing issues, the food probably isn't right for them — even if the label looks perfect.

Question 8

What is natural dry dog food?

Accepted Answer

Natural dry dog food — also called kibble — is a complete dry diet made without artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives, using ingredients you can identify from the label. What separates a genuinely natural dry food from a conventionally processed one is the quality of those ingredients: a named meat source at the top of the list, a declared meat inclusion percentage, and a short additive section where anything added serves a nutritional function rather than an aesthetic one. The format is convenient, shelf-stable, and — when the formulation is right — nutritionally complete for daily feeding.

Question 9

What should I look for in a natural dry dog food?

Accepted Answer

Four things, in order of importance. First: a named protein at the top of the ingredient list — chicken, salmon, lamb, duck, not "poultry meal" or "meat and animal derivatives." Second: a declared meat inclusion percentage — any food that won't tell you how much meat is in it is worth questioning. Third: the carbohydrate source — sweet potato, peas, and oats are preferable to wheat, corn, or soy, which are cheap fillers with poor nutritional return for dogs. Fourth: the guaranteed analysis — crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, and moisture — which lets you compare foods on actual nutritional content rather than marketing. Our Decode Your Label tool scores any ingredient list against these criteria if you want to check a specific product.

Question 10

Is grain-free dry dog food better than regular kibble?

Accepted Answer

For most dogs, yes — but the quality of the food matters more than whether it contains grain. A well-formulated grain-free kibble with high named-meat content will outperform a poor-quality grain-free food with high legume inclusion and low meat percentage. Grains like wheat and corn are used in conventional kibble primarily as cheap carbohydrate binders rather than for nutritional value — dogs have no dietary requirement for grain. Grain-free formulations typically replace these with sweet potato, peas, or potato, which sit better with dogs that have grain sensitivities or digestive issues. The relevant question isn't grain-free versus grain-inclusive — it's what the food is actually made of.

Question 11

Is grain-free dry dog food safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for the vast majority of healthy dogs. The concern about grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) stems from a 2018 FDA investigation. After six years, no causal link between grain-free diets and DCM was established, and the FDA closed the inquiry in 2024. The dogs affected were predominantly eating foods with very high legume inclusion — large quantities of peas and lentils used as the primary protein and carbohydrate source — rather than quality grain-free diets with high named-meat content. A grain-free kibble with genuine high meat inclusion and moderate legume content poses no documented health risk to healthy dogs. If your dog has a diagnosed cardiac condition, speak to your vet before making any dietary change.

Question 12

What is the best natural dry dog food for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

Accepted Answer

A single-protein, limited-ingredient grain-free kibble is the most reliable starting point for dogs with digestive sensitivity. One named meat source removes the guesswork about which protein is causing the issue. Grain-free removes wheat and corn, which are common irritants. Limited ingredients mean fewer variables if a reaction occurs. If your dog has chronic loose stools, excessive wind, or unpredictable digestion on their current food, a switch to a high-meat single-protein kibble resolves the issue in the majority of cases within two to four weeks — assuming the transition is done gradually over seven to ten days. If symptoms persist after a proper dietary trial, speak to your vet about whether an underlying condition requires investigation.

Question 13

What is the best natural dry dog food for dogs with allergies?

Accepted Answer

For dogs with a confirmed food allergy, a novel protein kibble — a protein your dog has never eaten before — is the standard dietary management approach. Common novel proteins include duck, venison, kangaroo, and fish, chosen because a dog can't be allergic to a protein they've never encountered. The food should have a single named protein source, no mixed proteins, and ideally be manufactured on dedicated lines to avoid cross-contamination. Hydrolysed protein prescription diets exist for severe cases and require veterinary direction. For suspected rather than confirmed allergies, an elimination diet using a novel protein single-ingredient kibble for eight to twelve weeks is the diagnostic standard.

Question 14

How much natural dry dog food should I feed my dog?

Accepted Answer

Feeding guidelines on packaging are a starting point, not a prescription. They're calculated for an average dog at an average activity level and are often set slightly high — meaning most dogs do well on slightly less than the guideline amount. The right quantity for your dog depends on their age, breed, current weight, ideal weight, activity level, and whether they receive treats or toppers alongside their main meal. Weigh the food rather than using a cup measure — volume measurements are inaccurate because kibble density varies between brands. Adjust based on body condition: you should be able to feel your dog's ribs easily without pressing, and see a visible waist from above.

Question 15

What is the difference between cold-pressed and extruded dry dog food?

Accepted Answer

Most kibble is extruded — ingredients are mixed, cooked at high temperature and pressure, and pushed through a die to create the pellet shape. Cold-pressed kibble is made at much lower temperatures, which preserves more of the natural nutrients in the ingredients and avoids the Maillard reaction that causes browning and nutrient degradation at high heat. Cold-pressed foods tend to have shorter shelf lives, digest faster, and require smaller feeding quantities because the nutritional density is higher. They also behave differently in the stomach — they break down more quickly, which some dogs with digestive sensitivity handle better than standard extruded kibble.

Question 16

What is a natural pet shop?

Accepted Answer

A natural pet shop is an independent retailer that stocks pet food, treats, chews and accessories selected against a nutritional and ingredient standard rather than a commercial one. In practice that means prioritising high meat-content foods, named protein sources, minimal processing, and transparent labelling — and not stocking products that don't clear that bar regardless of brand recognition or margin. The Pets Larder is an independent natural pet shop based in Hayle, Cornwall. We're also an award-winning one — Independent Pet Shop of the Year 2021 — but the award matters less than what it reflects: a consistent stocking philosophy applied since we opened, not a marketing position adopted later.

Question 17

How long has The Pets Larder been in the pet industry?

Accepted Answer

The Pets Larder was founded in 2018, but the professional animal care background behind it goes back further. Our founder Katy spent a decade running an award-winning dog daycare in Cornwall before opening the shop — which means the nutritional knowledge, the behaviour understanding, and the relationships with dog owners came first, and the retail operation was built on top of them. That's an unusual foundation for a pet shop. Most retailers learn about pet nutrition through supplier training. We came to it through fifteen years of watching what different diets did to dogs in our care every day.

Question 18

Do you work with vets and pet health professionals?

Accepted Answer

We work alongside veterinary professionals and take referrals from vets whose clients are looking for dietary support that sits outside a standard clinical prescription diet. We're not vets and we don't diagnose — but we do have a working knowledge of how diet intersects with common conditions: digestive issues, skin and coat problems, joint health, urinary health, and weight management. When a vet recommends a dietary change for a dog and the owner wants help finding the right food, we're a useful next step. If you've been given dietary guidance by your vet and want help translating it into practical food choices, contact us directly.

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Lilys Kitchen Shepherds Pie with Lamb Potatoes and Parsley Dry Dog Food 7kg

Shipping & Return

Lilys Kitchen Shepherds Pie with Lamb Potatoes and Parsley Dry Dog Food 7kg

Trying to work out what's upsetting your dog?

30-Days Free Returns

Free UK Delivery

Secure Payment

Every product we source is chosen by pet care experts who value your pets’ wellbeing as much as their own.

Why shop with the Pets Larder Natural Pet Shop?

Sustainably Sourced, Thoughtfully Delivered

Cornish, Independent, and Female-Led

Backed by Know-How, Driven by Care

Rooted in Community, Walking Together

An Independent Retailer

Natural

Sustainable

Family-Owned

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Lilys Kitchen Shepherds Pie with Lamb Potatoes and Parsley Dry Dog Food 7kg

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