Dog Food and Toppers

 

 

Choosing the right dog food is crucial for the overall health and well-being of your furry friend. High-quality dog food provides essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals necessary for optimal growth, development, and maintenance of your dog's health. Here's why investing in premium dog food is important:

1. Nutritional Balance: High-quality dog food is formulated to meet the specific nutritional needs of dogs at different life stages. It ensures that your dog receives the right balance of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals to support their overall health.

2. Digestive Health: Premium dog food often contains high-quality ingredients that are easily digestible for dogs, reducing the risk of digestive issues such as upset stomach, diarrhea, or food sensitivities.

3. Healthy Skin and Coat: A diet rich in essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, promotes healthy skin and a shiny coat, reducing the likelihood of skin allergies and irritations.

4. Strong Immune System: Proper nutrition strengthens your dog's immune system, helping them fight off illnesses and infections more effectively.

5. Longevity and Vitality: Providing your dog with high-quality nutrition can contribute to their longevity and overall vitality, keeping them happy, active, and energetic for years to come.

 

While high-quality dog food forms the foundation of your dog's diet, adding toppers can enhance both the nutritional value and palatability of their meals. Here are some safe and healthy food toppers to consider:

1. Cooked Vegetables: Steam or lightly cook vegetables like carrots, green beans, broccoli or sweet potatoes, then chop them into small pieces and mix them into your dog's food. These veggies add fiber, vitamins, and minerals to their diet.

2. Lean Proteins: Add a small portion of cooked lean meats such as chicken, turkey, or beef (without seasoning or bones) to your dog's food. You can also used canned sardines in water with no added salt or seasonings. Protein-rich mix'ins can boost their protein intake and add variety to their meals.

3. Canned Pumpkin: Plain, unsweetened canned pumpkin is a great source of fiber and can help regulate your dog's digestive system. Add a spoonful to their food to promote healthy digestion.

4. Plain Yogurt: Opt for plain, unsweetened yogurt with live active cultures to support your dog's gut health. A dollop of yogurt can serve as a tasty and probiotic-rich mix'in. Kefir is another option to help add probiotics to your dogs diet.

5. Eggs: Cooked eggs (scrambled or hard-boiled) are a nutritious addition to your dog's diet, providing high-quality protein and essential amino acids.

When introducing new foods or toppers to your dog's diet, it's essential to do so gradually and monitor for any adverse reactions. Consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your dog's diet meets their specific nutritional needs and dietary requirements. With the right balance of high-quality dog food and healthy toppers, you can provide your canine companion with a nutritious and delicious mealtime experience.

Products We Use

 

The products linked below are items we currently add to our dogs food. Most products come from the grocery store, these are the ones I end up ordering ahead of time. We feed them twice a day and rotate what we put on top. I will use a freeze dried protein every time along with some sort of fruit or veggie. I also only use one dairy product at a time, so yogurt, kefir or a little cottage cheese. To save some steps at feeding time, I often mix together some of the following and store in the fridge:

 

1. Pumpkin puree with bone broth power mixed in.

2. Kefir with chia seeds and dehydrated beet powder.

3. Plain Greek yogurt with spirulina mixed in.

 

It's fun to experiment and see what the dogs like best! So far full spinach leaves are the only thing they have picked out and left on the floor. I am not a specialist or certified in dog nutrition, so be sure to monitor how anything your dog consumes effects them and consult with a professional if you have any questions. Happy feeding!