Did you just get a new pet dog? Are you confused about what is the best food for it? The first thing you need to know is that a nourishing, balanced diet is crucial for keeping your dog healthy and active.
Food isn’t something to be taken lightly, even when you have to choose for yourself or your pets. Your pet’s good health is usually associated with exercise and mental balance, but on the contrary, your pet’s health is directly dependent on what you are feeding them.
A healthy diet is the biggest provider of well-being. A dog’s eating behaviour can either make them have a long and healthy life or feed them to failure.
There is no concept of one food suiting all the ages of mutts, the feeds for different ages are varying based on their nutritional values and requirements, be mindful that you don’t feed a puppy raw meats. Consult a vet for what you can and can not feed your pets based on their age.
Instead what you can do yourself is keep their feed balanced and healthy, below are some mentioned pointers to consider before choosing a feed for your furry friends.
• Take the dog-food label test
If your pet is allergic to some chemicals and edibles, make sure you are first going through the ingredient list on the backside of each kibble pack.
Kibble is normally made to suit the canines and is separate for different age groups but no rule says if the food suited one dog then it will suit the other too.
Kibble has its benefits, with the feed being dry neither does it smell nor does it spoil quickly. Making it ideal to leave behind for your pets to eat when you’re at work.
• Don’t feed your dog canned food as their chief diet
The thing about commercial feed is that it has been on the store shelves for months, it is neither fresh nor does it provide the properties and qualities organic feed can offer.
Industrial cooking procedure dries out any nutrients in the food if you are opting to feed your dog packaged feed then be mindful of which brand you can trust and which are just over-marketed.
Treats, canned food, and kibble may be used as an occasional option especially during long travel but avoid feeding them as the main diet.
• Feed your dog fresh whole foods
A fresh whole feed with fruits and vegetables is a great source of enzymes and will boost their health. They are also complete with fiber, which supports their digestion process and improves overall health.
If your pet is picky about their vegetables, puree them and add them to the food of their choice. It maximizes their nutrient intake, or you can feed them whole vegetables as an alternative to bones for the maintenance of their teeth and gum.
• Make sure the food has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties
The processed kibble can cause inflammation if the right brand is not used, which can result in your pet getting sick. Inflammation can lead to premature aging in dogs.
It is because of this reason that you should be informed regarding the ingredients and the manufacturing procedure that is involved while making the kibble.
• Don’t feed your dog cooked meat
Cooking food can lead to it losing its beneficent nutrients. While some whole feed items can release more nutrients after they are cooked, it is still better to avoid cooking the meat as much as possible.
According to an MD Michael Greger states that cooking food releases certain chemicals, that can create cancer-causing agents.
• Add organic fruits and vegetables to your dog’s diet
Adding fruits and vegetables to your furry friend’s diet can keep them healthy and give them the energy to play and run around the whole day. They also make sure they have a fighting chance against illnesses and diseases.
• Use gluten-free dog foods
Dry pet foods can have gluten in them, it is added to prevent it from spoiling and to increase its lifespan. This can cause the liver and kidneys to strain.
• Opt to use MCT oil
If you do prefer to give your pet cooked meats and want to still make sure it is a healthy option to feed them then you can lightly sear the meat using MCT oil.
• Don’t overfeed your dog
Limit the treats you normally give to your pet, they can easily become a reason for them getting overweight. If they need to lose that extra fat then keep their feed intake to a minimum, but don’t starve them either. Monitor their weight to make sure you’re not starving or overfeeding the pets.
To get a better understanding of the body-weight type for your furry friend, have a look at the details at the end.
• Increase the dog’s intake of water
Water is the basic requirement of all body types including animals. Make sure your pets are drinking enough water to stay hydrated and healthy.
Conclusion
Whether be it any breed the only way to groom a healthy dog is through giving him a good diet. A healthy diet not only makes a dog more mature but also calms during stressful situations. Improving diet might also help him to be calm in front of strangers and not bark and go against them ferociously. If somehow you get injured by a dog, you can always look out for wattelandyork.com as your personal injury lawyer.