Deciding what to feed your dog is no trivial matter. Next to exercise and mental health, diet is a primary factor for overall canine wellbeing. Suffice it to say that providing the right food is seriously important. The eating habits that you facilitate can set your dog up for a long and healthy life, or leave you dealing with a constant stream of vet bills.
Fortunately, it’s not all that difficult to consistently provide a complete and balanced diet. Moreover, the money you save not having to pay for health issues will outweigh any additional spending on healthier food choices.
Even if what you’re currently feeding seems to suffice, the following suggestions can be added to further improve your dog’s diet and reduce the likelihood of any conditions developing later down the line.
Take the Label Test
No matter how well-presented, marketing material isn’t something you should rely on for nutritional information. The people who make the advertisements aren’t the ones formulating the food. Their job is to attract customers, which sometimes involves making harmful ingredients appear healthy.
That’s why it’s a good idea to carefully examine the label when buying a new dog food. Remember that the ingredients are listed by quantity from largest to smallest. Try looking up the first five and their health implications - what shows up may surprise you.
Avoid Long Expiry Dates
How can it be possible for certain pet foods to have a shelf life of up to two years? These types of products are typically the result of industrial cooking processes that kill off any live enzymes initially present in the food. They’re essentially ‘dead’ and rely on synthetic supplementation to meet industry nutrition standards.
Granted, kibble and other types of processed dog food have their place, such as in your car on a long road trip and in cash-strapped shelters. However, the associated health implications mean that they shouldn’t be fed as a staple diet.
Introduce Real Food
Fresh, whole foods like raw meats, bones, vegetables and select fruits can transform your dog’s health. They contain all the essential live enzymes as well as fibre, which aids in digestion and improves stools. Unlike processed kibble, raw food also contains nutritional cofactors that work together to help your dog’s body absorb and utilise the nutrients.
Natural dog food is infinitely better than anything made in a factory. Keep in mind that certain foods must be avoided, while others have specific parts that are more nutritious. Broccoli, for example, packs a bigger punch in the stem than in the head.
A great way to simplify things and avoid having to do tons of research is to buy prepared raw dog food. Bella and Duke is the leading raw dog food delivery service in the UK. After telling them about your pup, they’ll put together a meal plan and bring the food to your door at no extra charge. Their blog can let you in on the countless benefits of a raw diet.
Stay Away from Starch
Grains, peas, potatoes and other starchy foods are not the best option for our canine companions. This is because they bring on the constant production of insulin, which causes your dog’s body to store more fat. Additionally, starch can contribute to insulin resistance and diabetes.
The biggest reason to avoid it is that it’s high in calories. Dogs don’t need the carbohydrates found in starch; they need fat and protein. Too many carbs will cause disruptions in their digestive tract, which damages the microbes and leads to inflammatory health issues, not to mention allergies and yeast. In a nutshell, stay away from starch.
Fight Inflammation
Almost all major canine health problems are at least partly caused by inflammation. As you’re probably aware, processed foods like kibble are loaded with inflammatory ingredients. Feeding too much commercial food has been linked to issues like pancreatitis and arthritis, which are becoming increasingly common.
Combat the effects by adding more natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant foods into their diet. This includes certain fruits like berries and papaya, as well as leafy greens such as kale and spinach. Pumpkin and bell peppers are also good options. Don’t forget about omega-3 fatty acids, which are most prevalent in fish.
Keep the Meat Raw
It’s safe to assume that no dogs were cooking up pieces of steak before we domesticated them. When we do it, the food becomes more palatable, albeit at the cost of certain nutrients. The same is true for cooking meat for your dogs. Try to avoid it whenever possible and rather serve the meat raw.
Here’s a bonus tip - you can wash produce in apple cider vinegar to scrub off the pesticides. Organic food is the (better) alternative. Don’t forget about exercise, and make sure that your pup is calm and happy at all times.
