Best Diet For Your Dog – You are what you eat is not just a mantra for people. It also applies to pooches. After all, quality nutrition is the key to your dog’s longer and healthier life. Here are the facts you should know about choosing the best food for your dog, along with storage and serving tips.
While some dogs do well on a plant-based diet, others do not. The same applies to meat-based diets. “The more decades I’ve spent in veterinary medicine with a focus on nutrition, the more I’ve become convinced that dog nutrition is very individual and you have to pay attention to how your dog is doing with nutrition,” says Ernie Wa, DVM in San Francisco and founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. If it doesn’t work, switch, you’ll know when you see these telltale signs that your pup isn’t feeling right.
Best Diet For Your Dog
Your personal nutritional philosophy will most likely dictate what you feed your dog. While some people think that a meat-based diet is best for their dog, others may think that a plant-based diet is. And that’s fine, as long as you follow this rule: “Make sure the diet you choose is nutritionally appropriate,” says Dr. Wa adds that there are very few commercial diets in the United States that he objects to. The only exception? Raw food, which he says can lead to nutritional deficiencies in dogs. If you’re looking to adopt, check out the most loyal dog breeds to take home.
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Dogs (and cats) have a tremendous impact on the environment, so much so that one study found they are responsible for 25 to 30 percent of the environmental impact of meat consumption in this country. With animal husbandry responsible for up to 14.5 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, it makes sense that switching dogs to a plant-based diet could help quell the effect.
Highly processed food is just as bad for puppies as it is for humans. “Processed foods, meaning foods that have been cooked over high heat or subjected to an extrusion process, will never offer the fresh nutrients that you get from eating fresh foods,” says Judy Morgan, DVM, a holistic veterinarian in Clayton, New Jersey. and author of Yin & Yang Nutrition for Dogs. “As in humans, when dogs eat highly processed foods, we see an increase in chronic inflammation, which can manifest as arthritis, chronic elevations in liver enzymes, immune thyroiditis, and inflammatory bowel disease, among others.” In addition to processed foods, these are the 11 other articles, that you should never feed your pet.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) helps ensure minimum nutritional requirements for your pets, and Dr. Wa says their label could be a shortcut to safety. But be aware: AAFCO does not regularly verify or guarantee that the amounts of nutrients listed on the bag are actually in that food. For this reason, Dr. Wa to raise the bar even higher by verifying that nutrient levels meet or exceed European pet food industry guidelines, which have different requirements for specific nutrients. By the way, here are the best natural dog foods for all ages and sizes.
Dry food is what most people serve their pooches because it’s convenient and can be cheaper up front. However, wet food from a can is more suitable. “You get a higher protein and moisture content, so it’s more specific to dogs’ needs,” says Dr. morgan. If you want to see the cutest dog pictures, check out these stunning green eyed dogs.
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Grain-free is a hot diet trend for dogs, but only a small percentage of dogs need to eat grain-free due to allergy issues. Instead, Dr. Wa giving your pooch a low grain diet. “Grains are carbohydrates that contribute calories and can lead to weight gain, so I recommend a reduced-carb diet or, in other cases, lower grain content,” he says. This small amount of carbs provides fiber that improves the health of your dog’s gut microbiome. “Bacteria produced by the gut are important in giving the immune system what it needs,” says Morgan.
If dry food is a more convenient option for you than canned food, no problem, says Dr. Wa. But add fresh vegetables and even fruit to your dog’s diet along with their food. Just don’t feed them onions, citrus fruits, avocados, grapes, or any other food that can be toxic to dogs.
Your dog’s nutritional needs change with age. That’s why you want to make sure you’re buying food for the right stage of life, whether it’s puppyhood, adulthood or the senior years, says Dana Brooks, president and CEO of the Pet Food Institute.
No doubt you’ve heard of frozen cooked meals, many of which ship to your door (like The Farmer’s Dog, Olly, PetPlate, NomNomNow, and ChiDog). But are they worth the price? Yes, especially considering how handy they are, says Dr. morgan. Freeze-dried or rehydrated meals offer similar benefits to frozen fresh meals. Though they require a bit of work, usually mixing the food with water, they’re probably healthier than dry food, says Dr. morgan. “These foods are closer to whole foods, which is always better for dogs.”
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Homemade meals can be an effective way to feed your dog. But there’s one big caveat: “You have to make sure you’re offering balanced meals,” says Dr. morgan. In a University of California-Davis study, researchers evaluated 200 homemade dog food recipes and found that 95 percent lacked necessary amounts of at least one essential nutrient, while over 83 percent had multiple nutrient deficiencies, many of which could lead to serious health problems problems. If you want to go down this route, researchers recommend consulting a boa-certified nutritional veterinarian, or at least your own veterinarian. Don’t miss these wire-haired dogs who will make a great addition to your family.
If you feed kibble, buy a bag of kibble to use within three weeks. “Kibble is sprayed with fats for nutrition and flavor, but these fats quickly oxidize and go rancid, which can lead to pancreatitis and inflammation in your pet,” warns Dr. morgan. If you open the bag and expose it to air and light, it will continue to oxidize and heat can also cause oxidation. To store it properly, store the food inside the pouch in a sealed container and roll it up tightly after each use. As with all foods, you should pay attention to the expiry date.
Dogs have evolved to eat larger meals less frequently. “Your stomach can expand up to five times its volume, which is almost unique in the animal world,” says Dr. Wa. That’s why they don’t have a problem with only eating once or twice a day. Dogs, like humans, can overeat. If this is the case with your pup, follow these tips to help your dog lose weight.
Obesity in pets is an epidemic in this country, and since excess food can add to the weight, you need to distribute treats responsibly. “Treats should make up no more than 10 percent of your pet’s daily calories,” says Brooks. The Healthiest Treats For Dogs? Fruits and vegetables, excluding those that are toxic to dogs, says Dr. morgan. Try berries, apples, carrots, broccoli and green beans, even frozen beans. Of course, food is only part of the equation when it comes to having a healthy puppy. You should also find out how much exercise your dog really needs.
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Karen Asp, M.A., C.P.T., is an award-winning journalist and author specializing in fitness, health, nutrition, pets and travel. She writes for the pet department of and is also a regular contributor to leading publications such as O, Real Simple, Prevention, Eating Well, Forks Over Knives, Better Homes & Gaens, Martha Stewart Living, Happy Paws, VegNews, Woman’s Day, Women’s Health, and many other. She is the author of two books, her latest being Anti-Aging Hacks, and is a certified personal trainer, athlete with multiple noic walking world records, plant-based educator, and vegan mentor for PETA and Vegan Outreach.
We no longer support IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide website experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Your dog’s diet has a huge impact on their health and happiness. The wrong diet can lead to obesity and lifelong health problems. Therefore, it is important to feed them the right foods to maintain a healthy weight and ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need.
Proper nutrition for your dog is very important for its health. Just like us, your dog needs a balanced diet every day to give them all the nutrients they need to stay fit and active.
Diet also plays a big part when it comes to your dog’s weight and with the right exercise, diet can help your dog stay in perfect shape. Being overweight or obese is detrimental to your dog’s wellbeing as it can prevent them from being as active as they should be and can expose them to certain serious health conditions.
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