A famous mantra, “you are what you eat,” applies not only to humans, but puppies as well. A good and healthy diet helps your dog stay energetic and live longer.
The quality and quantity of food matter a lot. A dog that eats fewer calories stays more active. Similarly, certain foods are more nutrients rich for dogs.
Processed food, excess sugar, and high sodium are all discouraged.
If you want to take additional measures and start feeding your dog like a champion, check out JustForFoodDogs.com.
There, you’ll find some of the healthiest food on the market for dogs of all types. You can even create a custom diet just for your dog! Let’s jump into the most nutritious food options for your dog.
Contents
Top 3 Healthiest Diets
1: Bone Broth
One diet that is among the most nutritious and fulfilling one’s is bone broth, which has a reputation for healing.
Bone broth is a product of bones being simmered for several days with vinegar and apple cider.
By this process, the nutrients are broken down from the bones and readily available to ingest easily. It’s proven that it improves digestion and overall health of the digestive tract.
As most diseases start with the gut, every dog needs to have a healthy digestive tract. The gelatin in bones repairs and soothes the mucosal lining of the stomach.
It additionally assists in the breakdown of fats and proteins from other food. In addition to all this, bone broth assists in detoxifying the liver.
All the harmful chemicals, waste, and hormones are flushed out of the body, keeping it clean and healthy. Bone broth also boosts the immune system.
2: Omega-3 Oils
A good diet doesn’t mean only having a proper and healthy meal once in a while. A healthy diet is a lifestyle, so your dog should be consuming essential nutrients every day.
The recommendation is to feed a small number of omega-3-oils to keep your pup physically healthy. There are several benefits of omega-3-oils.
They have good anti-inflammatory properties and are known to be the brain’s food. They also improve kidney function and are key to a healthy heart.
One good source of omega-3-oils is small fish, like sardines and anchovies. These fish are cleaner and don’t build up toxins like larger fish.
For smaller dogs, start with ½ a sardine per day and increase as needed. Another rich source of omega-3-oils is krill oil, along with cod liver and calamari oil.
Calamari oil has the highest concentration of DHA and EPA with the least adverse effects. Similarly, cod liver oil comes from the liver of the fish. It is rich in vitamin A and D.
3: Organ Meat
No matter what you feed your dog(s), whether it be raw food, home-cooked, or commercially available, organ meat is an essential part of a dog’s diet.
There is a general rule of 80-10-10, which means 80 percent muscle meat, 10 percent organ meat, and 10 percent bone.
Organs like kidneys, liver, brain, heart, and pancreases are nutrient-rich. In traditional Chinese medicine, organ meat is called blood tonic, as it helps in building strength.
The liver has vitamin A, zinc, amino acids, and folate. The brain offers omega-3, zinc, and vitamin B12. The heart has collagen and CoA10.
The research shows that all of these organs are necessary for building endurance in your dog’s body.
For this reason, try to add more organ meat to your dog’s food if you haven’t already to keep him fit and healthy.
How To Switch Your Dog to a New Diet
1: Go Slow
Whether it’s a new daily routine or meal plan, switching to something new is never easy. The key is to transition your dog from one foot to the other gradually.
This approach will help the dog develop new tastes and get comfortable with them. Furthermore, tummy trouble and indigestion can be avoided.
For example, puppies become adult dogs when they turn 12 months old. They have to transition to adult food. While attempting to wean your dog off of unhealthy food, it’s best to go slowly.
This process takes time. Forcing your dog to adapt to new food too quickly could make your dog hate the food more, having the opposite effect you want.
Similarly, when a dog reaches seven years of age, their food should be transitioned to mature dogs’ food to fulfill their nutrient requirements.
For best results, start moving towards the new plan a few months in advance.
2: Mix Current Food with old Food
The ideal way is to first introduce a small amount of new food to your dog and observe his reaction. Add a small amount of new food into his current food.
If the dog eats it with no issue, then start increasing the amount of new food and decrease the quantity of current food. It necessitates roughly seven to ten days to make the transition.
After ten days, only give new food to your dog. However, keep monitoring the process and look for any signs and symptoms of indigestion.
Remember that for whatever reason you’re switching for, the transition needs to be as smooth and painless as possible.
Always consult a veterinarian for proper guidance and try to adhere to their feeding guidelines.
You can also follow the instructions on the package. Never introduce new food without transitioning first.
3: Check For Indigestion
Whenever your dog eats something different, it is evident from its feces. The color, texture, and smell of wastes can be an excellent observational source.
When planning to switch the diet of your dog or dogs, monitor the quality of stool. If your dog is unable to digest the food, it will probably vomit it out.
If the food is not refluxed back from the stomach, it may be excreted out in diarrhea. If the stool color and consistency are normal, there’s probably nothing to worry about.
But drastic changes can be indicative of something that should be addressed immediately. A great way to evaluate a dog’s stool is by using the Fecal scoring chart.
Lower numbers may indicate dehydration or constipation, and the higher numbers indicate possible tummy upset. The ideal score is 3-4.
It’s recommended to consult a veterinarian for your dog’s digestive health.
Takeaway
A good meal plan is key to the healthy life of your dog. Organ meat, bone broth, and omega-3-oils should all be part of any dog’s daily meal plan.
They are rich in nutrients required for a healthy digestive tract, active immune system, and strong bones.
During the transition from one food to another, be very careful and gradual about it.
Investing your time and money in providing great food to your dog will help you put less money in the vet’s pocket.
