5 nutritional tips to keep your dog healthy and fit
It can be very overwhelming when it comes to selecting dog food. With so many different forms of dog food available on the market, it becomes overwhelming to make a selection decision based on whether to feed a dog grain-free, canned, or raw. Also remember that every dog is different. The healthiest diet for one dog may not be the best for another. When selecting dog food, it’s important to consider several factors, including the dog’s age, weight, activity level, and breed. While there are other dogs that suffer from allergies or sensitive stomachs. So how would you determine if your dog is eating the right food?
To help you make an informed decision, we have listed some nutritional tips to keep your dog healthy and fit:
Consult your vet about nutrition.
If you’d like some clarity on your dog’s nutrition, the best person to answer your questions is your vet. But the problem is that most vets in our country recommend a standard dry food like Science Diet. This diet is fine, but remember, the Science Diet is a corn-based food that is also made up of animal by-products. So, try to discuss some meat-based alternatives for your furry friend. You can even ask questions related to the dog food brands you have selected and ask specific questions related to them.
Give multivitamins to the dog.
Be sure to consider serving your dog multivitamins. Hopefully, your child could be getting the necessary vitamins from the food he is eating. But just like taking a daily vitamin isn’t bad for us, in the same way extra vitamins can be beneficial for your fur baby.
Switch to a natural dry food
Since you would be considering adding natural dry food to the dog’s diet, it will cost more than a standard dry food. The reason for this is that it does not contain animal by-products, chemical preservatives or corn. But if you can stick to the budget, it’s one of the easiest ways to improve your dog’s nutrition. If you think cost is an issue, try mixing a natural brand with a standard brand.
Feed canned or raw foods weekly
Canned food has been researched and found to be more expensive than dry dog food. But it can add variety to your fur baby’s diet. There is a wide range of natural and organic brands of canned food available. You may even consider feeding him commercial raw dog food. Raw foods are made up of organs, vegetables, bones, and raw meat, all ground into a patty shape. Not all dog owners are comfortable serving raw food to their pet, but it is an option.
Digestive enzyme supplement
Digestive enzymes and probiotics can help maintain a healthy digestive system for your furry friend. These enzymes can be found in fruits, vegetables, and raw meat. But these enzymes are lost during the heating process as food is cooked. Dog owners who are not in favor of serving their pet raw food may want to consider supplementing the diet with digestive enzymes. With the presence of probiotics and enzymes, your dog will be able to properly absorb nutrients.