Tips for a Healthy Dog Diet

When it comes to providing a healthy dog diet, there can be a lot of important decisions to be made. What to feed? How much to give? How often should you be feeding?

Proper nutrition is one of the most important needs of your dog and the key to giving your pup a happier and healthier life. It is also one that relies completely on what you give your furbaby.

Here are some healthy dog diet tips we’ve come up with and how they’ll benefit your dog’s nutrition.

Healthy dog diet tips

Introduce whole foods

Introducing your furbaby to fresh and whole foods like fruits and vegetables will bring about healthy changes in your dog’s health. Whole foods are jam-packed with fiber that helps with proper digestion, betters absorption of nutrients, and prevention of constipation and GI upset.

The nutrients in commercial dog foods are destroyed during intensive processed and many synthetic vitamins and nutrients are added back to make it appear healthier.

But remember that you should also be doing good research. Just because something is a fruit or a vegetable doesn’t mean it is already okay for your dog to consume. Some fruits and vegetables can be harmful to your furbaby like grapes, avocados, mushrooms, and unripe tomatoes. Some of the whole foods you can consider giving your furbaby are sweet potatoes, carrots, bananas, and strawberries.

Stay away from gluten

Have you ever wondered why your dog's poop and farts smell funny and sometimes awful? This is because of the gluten in your dry dog food. Gluten is a family of proteins found in grains and corn. It is being added to most pet food to keep unstable fats from becoming rancid and tasting unpleasant.

It can be a very controversial ingredient in many dog foods as it can cause problems like skin allergies, ear infections, and GI upset.

Do not overfeed

As a pet parent, we know you only want what’s best for your dog. And sometimes you may overlook your dog’s health as you give in to those adorable, begging puppy eyes for a full and happy tummy.

In feeding, you have to provide your dog with a diet on whether your pup needs to gain or lose weight. Even if they need to gain weight, overfeeding is a big no-no. Overfeeding can lead to obesity and to health consequences like arthritis, diabetes, heart & kidney diseases, and a shorter lifespan.

If your dog is overweight, feed your pup on early schedules and on longer intervals so they have enough time to burn calories. If your dog needs to gain weight, feed them several times a day, especially before sleeping time.

Don’t forget teeth and gum health

What you feed your dog also greatly affects their teeth and gum health. A poor and unhealthy diet will cause gum disease also known as periodontal disease.

This is mainly caused by bacteria found in your furbaby's gums that will turn into plaque, and then into tartar. Tartar builds under the gums and your dog’s gums will begin to swell and become irritated. If not managed immediately, it will result in teeth falling out, bone loss, and to more serious health problems.

To avoid this, choose foods that are not only good for your dog’s bodily nutrition but are also good for their teeth. According to Animal Wellness Magazine, many of the special substances found in cranberries may not only inhibit the enzymes associated with the formation of dental plaque but can also stop the bacteria from sticking to surfaces. These compounds also prevent acid formation and reduce the acid tolerance of the bacteria that cause decay.

You should also be providing chews, particularly premium antler chews like Pet Parents® Gnawtlers®. These make a delicious and nutritious treat, as they have calcium, phosphorus, maganese and zinc inside the bone marrow. These will help clean your pup’s teeth without the calories, digestive issues, and safety issues associated with other options.

Tailor your dog’s nutritional needs

A healthy dog diet will differ from one dog to another and will depend on their specific needs.

Puppies must be given two or more meals a day to compensate for high energy and metabolism, while senior dogs must be given low-calorie and special diets if ever diagnosed with certain health conditions. As stated by The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®), adult dogs require sufficient nutrients to meet energy needs and to maintain and repair body tissues. The amount you feed your adult dog should be based on his or her size and energy output.

The even better thing about the Pet Parents® 5-in-1 Dog Multivitamins? It is a valuable source of essential vitamins and minerals that are appropriate for your dog’s overall wellness. Formulated with Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil, Biotin & also has coenzymes that act as an antioxidant to help reduce cell damage because of oxidation from free radicals.