Packaged meals from a good provider might keep your pooch satiated for the most part, but dogs can certainly benefit by receiving at least a portion of their daily nutrients from unprocessed food sources. Now, this is easier said than done because very few of us have a complete understanding of canine physiology.
For example, for a long time we did not even know that chocolate can make dogs sick. Even when it became common knowledge, a surprisingly high number of dog owners fail to realize how serious theobromine (found in chocolate) toxicity can be for their pets. Therefore, if you are cautious about feeding your dogs, that’s actually the best approach to have.
You should never feed anything to your pet that you have not confirmed as being safe for them. This sound piece of advice holds true for all pets in general, irrespective of whether it’s a dog, a hamster, or an iguana! With that in mind, we are about to share a select few food items with you which are both natural and safe for canines.
Bone Broth
Bone broth for dogs acts as a nutritious and natural food source, but there is more to it. It can help in both deterring and treating leaky gut syndrome. Leaky gut is a common health issue among older dogs. It’s a condition characterized by enlarged intestinal holes which compromises the blood-gut barrier. These abnormally large holes allow microorganisms (bacteria, parasites, etc.) and food particles to leave the dog’s gut and enter their bloodstream. Depending on how severe a dog’s condition is, this effect can lead to anything from frequent food allergies and asthma to even lethal blood infections.
If it’s bone broth for dogs, then it will be rich in natural gelatin from animal bones. Gelatin, aka hydrolyzed collagen directly helps in regenerating the canine stomach lining, which in turn, shrinks down the “leaks” in a dog’s digestive system significantly over time. Bone broth can also prevent leaky gut syndrome from ever developing or getting too bad in the first place because of those same regenerative effects.
That’s just one of the several positive health impacts which bone broth can have on your pooch and we have not even discussed the anti-inflammatory properties it has. Visit Native Pet to read the whole list of benefits and find the best bone broth for dogs that’s rich in gelatin, vitamins, and minerals. Native Pets is not just an online source of natural health supplements and food for pets, but it’s also a very reliable resource of crucial knowledge which can help pets and their owners in simple but lifechanging ways.
Eggs
Very few natural food items can be compared to eggs in terms of their food value. Eggs were largely believed to be among the most nutritious natural foods in existence once, but now you won’t find them on popular lists unfortunately. Note that it’s unfortunate because nothing about the egg’s nutritional value has changed, but people have been misled into thinking that it raises cholesterol at an alarmingly high rate for everyone. Rest assured that unless you or your dog has been medically diagnosed as being at high risk of developing coronary heart disease, both of you can only benefit from eggs.
That being said, dogs should not be served any egg preparation which contains salt, oil, butter, cheese, seasonings, etc. Check the list of harmful ingredients that no dog should be allowed to eat near the end of this post for better guidance on what to avoid. It’s best to feed unsalted, boiled eggs to canines for them to get the most out of eggs. Below, you will find a list of beneficial nutrients that each egg can deliver to a pet’s system:
- A compendium of essential and beneficial proteins
- Vitamins A, D, E, K, all eight B vitamins, and choline
- The antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin
- Calcium, selenium, and zinc
Remember that although eggs are small, every nutrient in a boiled egg is highly bioavailable. It means that nutrients from eggs are absorbed better and faster than when the same nutrients are received from most other food sources.
Meat
Despite what you may read on the internet, dogs are not omnivores but only have the capacity to digest selective vegetarian foods, if they must. In scientific terms, dogs are classified as facultative carnivores. What that means is they are still primarily carnivores, but due to their proximity to humans for thousands of years, canine digestive systems have adapted enough to be capable of breaking down select plant-based foods. It also means that they do not need to eat vegetables, seeds, grains, fruits, and the like to stay healthy or fulfill their nutritional requirements, but they absolutely must consume animal-derived nutrients directly or indirectly on a regular basis to stay healthy.
As a pet owner, what you should gather from that insight is that your pooch would thrive better on meat than on veggies because that’s how canine digestive systems work. Carrots, peas, broccoli, celery, and cucumber are among the best digested sources of plant-based foods for dogs, but they should neither be made a part of a dog’s regular diet, nor can these be considered sufficient to provide any canine with all the nutrients they need.
You can exclude all safe vegetables from your dog’s diet, as long as he/she is provided with boiled or cooked (no salt or seasonings) meat on a regular basis. They may still benefit from additional supplementation but even that cannot be supplied by plant-based foods unfortunately. Be sure to consult with your vet to know exactly how much meat from which animal your dog needs to eat per day. It varies in accordance with their age, species, weight, medical conditions (when applicable), etc.
Know What isn’t Safe for Your Pooch
There are several food items and ingredients that we as humans can consume and digest, but dogs can’t. To make sure that your pup does not fall sick by consuming anything that’s bad for their health, it’s imperative that you go through the following list, as made public by the FDA.
- Alcohol in any form or dilution, including wine cooked dishes
- Dark chocolate and milk chocolate
- Caffeine in any form, including but not limited to tea, coffee, soft drinks/soda, and energy drinks
- Grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, and avocado
- Kale, leeks, scallions, mushrooms, and potatoes are classified as potentially harmful/toxic and definitely toxic/harmful in large quantities
- Curd, yoghurt, kombucha, pickle, sour cream, vinegar, miso, and any other fermented food or ingredient is not recommended for dogs
- Onions, garlic, and salt
- Artificial sweeteners like xylitol
- Most dairy products and oily, spicy dishes
While buying dog food or when you are preparing a meal for your furry friend, ensure that none of the above make their way onto your dog’s food bowl.
What If Your Dog has a Medical Condition?
All items mentioned as safe here have been confirmed as being so for most pet dogs. In case your dog has a medical condition that requires constant monitoring and treatment, it is best to consult with the veterinarian first. In fact, a veterinarian can also guide you on how to prepare natural meals that won’t aggravate your dog’s preexisting medical condition.
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