What Should I Add To Dog Food?

Why do I need to add anything?

There are a handful of new studies that show how beneficial it is for dogs (and cats) to eat balanced meals with supplements, fruits, vegetables, and other things that can be easily added to dog food. In 2005 Purdue University conducted research on Scottish Terriers where researchers added fresh vegetables to dry kibble. Those dogs who had vegetables added to their meal were able to reduce and prevent the growth of transitional cell carcinoma, or bladder cancer. Not only is a balanced meal full of benefits but it also makes mealtime more exciting! Can you imagine eating the same exact thing for every meal, for your whole entire life?! You can and should add to dog food with a couple of different and easy toppers.

Healthy foods to add to dog food

Raw Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are a great source of phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals, proteins, fiber, enzymes, and moisture. Phytonutrients are simply nutrients found in plants. These nutrients are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and ant-inflammatory! Even with all those benefits, dogs cannot break down raw chunks of fruits and vegetables. Feeding your dog chunks of raw fruits or vegetables will not hurt them, but it won’t do much help if they cannot break them down. You’ll notice this when they poop, and the veggies almost look the same as they went in!

You can easily blend up vegetables and fruits for your dog and use them as a smoothie topper, or freeze them in a mold and use them as a topper or as a treat! When I do this, I tend to switch up the fruit I use but typically I use blueberries, spinach, strawberries, boiled carrots (helps to blend them when they’ve been boiled), pumpkin puree, and broccoli. My dog refuses to eat any of these foods unless they are blended up! He will eat carrots and pumpkin on their own but both are rich in fiber, so I try to space out the amount of times I give him these. When you’re blending you can use water as a blending liquid, bone broth, or goat’s milk. Which brings us to our next easy add on for health benefits.

Bone Broth

Bone broth is full of vitamins, minerals, protein, collagen, glycine, and glucosamine. These nutrients will help your dog’s immune system and gut health! Bone broth is linked to a healthy digestive system because it contains gelatin which bonds to the stomach lining and helps essential nutrients pass through. This add on can help detox the liver because it contains high levels of amino acids which helps the liver to filter toxins from the body. Adding bone broth to your dog’s meal can also help hydrate them! If you mainly feed kibble, your dog requires more liquid in their diet because kibble takes more energy to digest than raw.

Serving suggestion for bone broth is about 1 ounce for every 20lbs. You can add this to your dog’s meal straight in the dish, freeze it in a mold, add it to your blended fruits and veggies, or simply serve it on it’s own!

Eggs

Raw eggs contain many needed vitamins and nutrients such as iron, fatty acids, folate, protein, riboflavin, selenium, vitamin A and B12. Some vets recommend feeding cooked eggs with no oils or butter, while pet parents and nutritionists suggest feeding them completely raw. You should be aware that your dog (and you) are at risk of contracting salmonella. If your dog eats an egg that is contaminated with salmonella, they could contract an infection known as Salmonellosis. The symptoms of this infection include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. It’s important to understand the risks before feeding your dog a new food. Most pet owners recommend getting eggs from a local source like a small farm or a friend with chickens! Large scale chicken farms spray their eggs with chemicals and often do not feed their chickens right – lots and lots of hormones!

You should only feed your dog eggs a few times a week. While they are a great source of nutrients, they should be fed in small increments. A recommended dose we like to work with is always to ease into it. Start off by replacing a small amount of your dog’s meal with an egg. You can work up from here to about 2-3 times a week!

CBD Oil

CBD oil for dogs is a great way to prevent and reduce inflammation, arthritis, anxiety, seizures, cancer cell growth, nausea, and it helps to promote health and wellbeing. It’s beneficial for dogs of all ages as it interacts with the body’s natural systems to bring balance to what may not be working properly.

Arthritis, for example, is a natural condition that requires a natural solution. CBD is a very powerful anti-inflammatory and will reduce the swelling in the joints which reduces pain and improves mobility. CBD works wonders for dogs who need an extra boost when it comes to their health.

We suggest using a formula that is made for your dog’s weight. You can find the proper dosage for your dog using our dosage calculator where we recommend a milligram strength based on weight along with the amount your dog needs for the day.

Kefir

Kefir almost looks like a yogurt, or like a dairy product. And it kind of is! Kefir is a fermented liquid product that is made with cauliflower-like grains. While it’s often made from milk, it can be made with almond milk, water, or coconut milk, even the kefir made from milk is low in lactose. Kefir is full of calcium, vitamin B12, B2, and K, supporting both the metabolism and bone health. The main benefit of serving your dog kefir is its probiotic content. Kefir is full of bacteria and yeast which helps support gut health and protects against infections by preventing the growth of harmful bacteria in the body.

Despite being low in lactose, kefir can cause upset stomach when first introduced. We recommend starting small and working your way up. Start off by giving your dog about ¼ teaspoon of kefir once a day. If your dog tolerates this well, meaning there’s no vomiting or diarrhea, you can increase to 1-2 tablespoons per 16lbs of body weight!

Add to dog food for the benefits!

You can tell there’s a lot of benefits for dogs when you add delicious and balanced foods into their dish. Adding these foods is super simple and easy, and you can even prep their meals for the week and serve them quicker if you don’t have to prep everyday.

Adding toppers isn’t bougee

Remember back when we asked if you wanted to eat the same exact meal everyday for the rest of your life? Yeah, you are not bougee for eating different meals just like you aren’t bougee for feeding your dog the proper nutrients and providing them some overall good food! Adding these options is a super easy way to prevent health concerns and diseases. Your dog will have a higher quality of life and you will have more memories and more time under the sun with your fur baby!