“Did you know that there are over 300 words for love in canine” Gabriel Zevin
You might not know these 300 words in canine, but you can always shower your love and affection on your pup by providing yummy and tasty meals. As a pet parent, you’re not just responsible for cuddles and playtime; your fur baby’s health, nutrition, and grooming also depend on you. When it comes to nutrition, no parent would ever want to compromise. Yet, the abundance of processed dog foods in the market might leave you wondering if they’re truly the best option.
Feeding your dog fresh, natural foods can seem daunting—questions about safety, nutritional balance, convenience, and cost might arise. You might worry if these fresh foods meet your dog’s dietary needs or if they might cause digestive issues. This article addresses these concerns by highlighting ten safe, nutritious, and easy-to-incorporate foods that can enhance your dog’s diet without breaking the bank or complicating your routine.
Whether you’re curious about adding a few healthy treats to your dog’s meals or considering a more significant shift towards fresh food, you’ll find practical advice and reassurances here. Read on to discover how you can provide your beloved pooch with delicious, wholesome foods that support their health and happiness.
Why should you feed your pup fresh food?
There are plenty of dog meals available in market which claim to fulfill your dog’s nutritional requirements but these foods are highly processed and at times they can be harmful for dog’s health. You can’t be very cautious about the processed food so it is good to feed your dog with natural, whole and human grade ingredients. In this article we will be discussing some grain free food for dogs.
1. Pumpkin
Halloween king pumpkin can be a superfood for your canine friend, pumpkin is loaded with a number of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Pumpkin helps in maintaining the urinary tract health of your dog. It also aids in digestion. Pumpkins contain cucurbatin which helps in getting rid of several digestive tract parasites and the good thing is dogs find pumpkin tasty.
2. Carrots
Carrots are an excellent choice when it comes to dog health. It along with their nutritional properties help in keeping your dog’s mouth clean and hygienic as chewing carrots help them remove plaque from their teeth. Fiber loaded carrots also help in digestion and prevent runny stool, the vitamin A present in carrots is excellent for boosting the immune system of your pooch. The low level of calories and fats in carrot make it an excellent food for maintaining a healthy weight.
3. Yogurt
Yogurt is rich in probiotics and calcium hence along with aiding in digestion it also promotes bone and teeth health of the dog. In summers some frozen yogurt can keep your pup cool. It is advisable to ignore flavored and sweetened yogurt as it can be harmful for the dog health. The plain yogurt coupled with some rice can be an excellent Homemade food for dogs.
4. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a great wellness food for dogs, peanut butter is extremely rich in vitamin E which is great for immune system. While vitamin B ensures healthy coat and skin of the dog, the proteins and fats found in peanut butter are the necessary ones as they do not pose any threat to your fur baby’s health. The amount of peanut butter however should be regulated and the peanut butter must not contain sugar, sodium and Xylitol as it can adversely affect the dog’s health.
5. Coconut
Coconut is a quite popular staple in human diet but it has some amazing benefits for the dogs too. The lauric acid present is coconut is an excellent source of energy and is easily digestible too. It also helps in fighting the infections and boosts the immune system. Coconut oil improves the skin and coat of the dog and it also provides them hydration.
6. Pineapple
Pineapple is a great raw fresh food for dogs, the essential vitamins and minerals present in pineapple make it an ideal food for your pet baby. The Vitamin B1 present in pineapple is great for dog’s bodily functions, it helps in breaking down the carbs and the metals present in it help in iron absorption. The sweet pineapple will be loved by your dog but make sure you are not feeding them the outer skin or hard kernel.
7. Potatoes/ Sweet Potatoes
Potatoes are rich source of potassium which is essential for energy production, regulation of muscles and neurons. The vitamins found in potatoes are great for eyesight, immune system and healthy fur of your dog. Make sure the potatoes given to dogs are boiled and baked apart from that they must be given in moderation as excess can lead to extra calories. Sweet Potatoes are a healthier option of potatoes so you can offer also offer sweet potatoes to your pet.
8. Eggs
The good cholesterol present in eggs is beneficial for both humans and dogs, the amino acids present in eggs are great for a growing dog as they help in muscle building, protein production and tissue repair, they also contribute to a healthy fur. The calcium present in eggs is good for bones and teeth of your pet partner, grinded eggshells can be given to your pet for calcium nutrition. The raw eggs can inhibit digestion hence you should give your dog a combination of raw and cooked eggs.
9. Chia Seeds
Chia seeds have very much in store for both dogs and humans, they are rich in fiber, omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, antioxidants and even protein, hence they can be regarded as a superfood for dog. They also help in hydration of the body, you can sprinkle some chia seeds in dog meals to enhance its nutritional value.
10. Apples
Apples are good sources of vitamin A and c and the fibers present in them can aid your pup in digestion, apples being low in protein and fat serve as a perfect snack. However it is important to remove seed and core, it can be harmful for the dog’s health. The act of chewing apple can also help in cleaning the teeth of your pet buddy.
Bottom Line
Having a dog is the most precious possession of a human, the love dogs shower on us is unconditional and being a pet parent of a sweet fur baby is a matter of pride, but when it comes to nutrition of dogs, parents must be extra cautious. Instead of feeding limitlessly must regulate amount and nutritional value of the food for dogs offered because a healthy dog is all we want and for that good food is the most crucial thing.
Mrs. Richa Khurana has completed her MBA in Marketing from IBS, Pune, Post Graduate Diploma in Business Journalism & Corporate Communication from Delhi University, and her BBA from IP University. Beyond her Read more
