Feeding your pup a nutritious diet is just one way to show them how much you love them. Healthy canine nutrition should deliver the maximum amount of nutrients with minimum calories and help your dog (and you) fight disease, boost energy, lead to better absorption and digestion and maintain good health in general. Here are some factors you should keep in mind when deciding which diet is best for your furry friend. Oh, and we even have a cool and easy healthy recipe for you.
Provide them with the essential ingredients they need
Dogs are carnivorous, meaning the primary component of their diet should be meat. But they are not obligate carnivores, or in other words, they don’t just eat meat. Even in the pre-domestication wild, dogs survived mainly off of prey animals and some seasonal vegetables (omnivores). That’s why both their tooth structure and intestinal tract have become adapted to an omnivorous diet.
A well-balanced diet must include the six basic nutrients – water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. These essential nutrients are involved in all of the basic functions of the body. The necessary amounts of each vary somewhat with the dog’s age and stage of life.
Customize their nutrition
Walk down any store’s dog food aisle and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the pet food choices available to pet parents these days, each claiming to be the healthiest option for your pooch. And though it may seem like there’s an option for almost every breed, size and dietary need, in reality it is still a one-size-fits-most solution. Not all dogs are the same and what diet might be fine for your neighbor’s dog may be completely inappropriate for your dog. When it comes to a daily diet for your pup, it’s important to consult with your vet in order to ensure your dog’s food is both complete and balanced for its stage of life, and if it has any medical issues.
Add these human foods to their daily diet
There are some human foods that can make great additions to your dog’s diet — whether you feed them packaged dog food or home-cooked meals. Carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, green beans, cooked eggs, bananas, oats and many more. Proteins such as chicken, turkey, duck, lamb, goat, rabbit, pork, beef and fish should also be an integral part of your dog’s meals.
Give them the right amount of food
And if you’re asking what would be the proper amount of food your dog needs, then the answer is “it depends”. On the size, breed and age of your dog, as well as how regularly it exercises. The most important thing is to ensure you don’t overfeed or underfeed your dog. If you’re not sure, ask your vet to assess your pup’s diet and nutrition as well as the condition of its body and overall health.
Keep certain foods out of reach
As a pet parent, you are solely responsible for your dog’s health and wellbeing. This means, along with feeding him a healthy and balanced diet, that you make sure he isn’t eating the wrong things. There are some human foods which are not only unhealthy for your pup, but can also be toxic and make your dog sick. Chocolate, avocado, grapes, onions, garlic, lemons, coffee, yeast dough and cinnamon are just a few. Signs of poisoning or an allergic reaction include vomiting, muscle shakes, fever, intense scratching, weakness in the limbs, diarrhea, breathing problems, and sluggishness. If your dog shows any of these symptoms, get him to the vet immediately.
Right before you go…Here’s a healthy recipe for a homemade woof loaf you can spoil your pup with.
What do you need?
- 1-pound lean ground turkey
- 1/2 cup chopped carrots
- 1/2 cup peas
- 1/2 cup oats
- 2 eggs
- 3 hard-boiled eggs
What to do?
- While your oven preheats to 350ºF, start mixing together in a bowl the lean ground turkey, the chopped carrots and the peas. Then add the oats and eggs and mix until the loaf mixture comes together.
- Lightly grease a loaf pan with olive oil and then add half the mixture to the pan.
- Place the three hard-boiled eggs along the center of the loaf and cover it with the other half of the ground turkey mixture. Pop in the oven and bake for 45 minutes.
- Take out this tasty loaf and cut half-inch slices.
Bon Appetite!