Freshen up

THE BENEFITS OF ADDING EXTRAS INTO YOUR DOG’S DIET

TEXT: SARAH WANLESS

You don't need to be a raw food fan to add fresh foods into your dog's diet. In fact, there are undeniable benefits to adding fresh ingredients to your pet's kibble. Not only do the added ingredients break the monotony of kibble, but they also can add extra 'supplements' to the diet that can improve your dog's health.

As with any new addition to your dog's diet, we recommend starting slowly, with small amounts and building up from there. If you notice any adverse effects of the additive, stop immediately and contact your vet if necessary. Good kibble is already nutritionally balanced, so remember that these additions are extras, and we don’t want to feed too much and risk overloading calories.

Here we look at just four additives that your dog may enjoy and benefit from. We recommend rotating the foods listed below to keep feed times interesting for your pooch.

BONE BROTH

Bone broth is a delicious and nutritious addition to your canine's kibble. It has been hailed as a superfood for humans and dogs alike. Bone broth has multiple benefits for dogs, particularly supplying bioavailable glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid that are vital for joint health. Bone broth is also a rich source of other essential vitamins and minerals.

Bone broth is super easy to make yourself, and if you are interested in doing this, we would recommend the recipe provided in the book 'The Forever Dog'. Alternatively, there are other ready-made options available, but just be sure to check that all the ingredients are canine appropriate.

EGGS

Eggs are the epitome of the adage ‘dynamite comes in small packages’. They are convenient, naturally packaged and jammed full of nutrients. Eggs are the perfect combination of high protein and healthy fats combined with a wide variety of vitamins and minerals and are a nice, inexpensive addition to your dog's kibble. As most dogs have no trouble digesting the bacteria in eggs (dogs have a high gut pH of approximately 7.3), eggs can be fed raw or cooked.

We advise adding egg to your dog's meal every other day. A whole egg is around 70 calories and is suitable for bigger dogs, while we recommend giving smaller dogs half an egg.

FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Just as fruits and vegetables have amazing health benefits for humans, the same is true for your dogs. Fresh fruits and raw veggies are packed full of phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals that help fight cancer, are full of antioxidants, are anti-inflammatory, and are anti-ageing, to name just a few of the benefits. It is recommended that you puree all fruits and veggies for your pup to assist in the digestive process and allow them to get the most benefit from them. We recommend additions such as spinach, pumpkin, blueberries, apples (no pips), green beans, carrot and raspberries. Follow Dr Karen Becker on Facebook and Instagram for more ideas on how to incorporate fresh fruit and veggies into your dog's diet. NOTE: Always check before indiscriminately adding fruit and veg to your dog's meal as some can be toxic to dogs.

SARDINES

Fresh, frozen sardines or canned sardines packed in water are one of the most concentrated sources of Omega3 fatty acids that you can get. Omega 3s are beneficial for your dog's heart, brain, and skin. They are also an excellent source of taurine, which is needed for healthy eyes and heart health.

NOTE

It is advisable to discuss any changes to your dog's diet with your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

Play around and see which of these additives your dog most enjoys. We'd love to hear from you about any additional elements you put into your dog's diet and what benefits you have noticed.