Dogs often beg for human food. So why not improve your dog’s diet quality by adding select fresh foods to his commercial dog food diet. If you feed your dog at least three-quarters commercial dog food, you won't need to worry about balancing the foods you add. It’s more important to provide variety and proper proportions.
When working with a homemade dog food diet, keep protein content high by adding foods from animal sources (eggs, meat, dairy, etc.) rather than plant sources (grains, legumes and vegetables).
If your dog develops digestive problems when you add homemade foods to his diet, experiment with different foods and different preparations.
Foods to Add to Your Dog’s Commercial Diet
· Eggs: Feed raw or cooked.
· Canned Fish with Bones: Sardines (preferably packed in water or gravy instead of oil), Jack Mackerel and Pink Salmon are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and trace minerals.
· Canned Pumpkin or Sweet Potato: Great for digestion in small amounts. Avoid pumpkin pie mix.
· Cottage or Ricotta Cheese: Use whole milk or low fat.
· Fruit: Banana, apple, melon, pear, blueberries, etc.
· Green Tripe: It smells awful, but dogs love this healthy food.
· Liver & Other Organ Meat: Feed small amounts of liver or kidney at a time, or hearts and gizzards in greater quantities.
· Muscle Meat (including heart): Feed raw or lightly cooked chicken, turkey and lean beef, either ground or in chunks.
· Vegetables: Raw vegetables must be pureed in a food processor, juicer or blender to be digestible by dogs. DO NOT FEED ONIONS!
· Yogurt: Look for those with probiotics, beneficial bacteria that assists with digestion.
Foods to Avoid or Restrict
· Alcohol
· Chocolate & Caffeine
· Cruciferous Vegetables: Includes arugula, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, cabbage, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, turnips, turnip greens, watercress, rutabaga, daikon and kohlrabi.
· Fatty Foods: Can trigger pancreatitis in susceptible dogs.
· Garlic: Larger quantities can cause anemia.
· Grapes & Raisins: May cause kidney failure.
· Human Supplements/Medications: Consult your vet prior.
· Macadamia Nuts: Toxic even in very small amounts.
· Milk: Can upset stomachs of lactose intolerant dogs.
· Onions: Can cause a form of anemia.
· Xylitol: Natural sweetener found in some water additives, sugar-free gum, mints and children's vitamins.
· Yeast Dough: Can expand and cause a dog’s stomach to rupture.
Follow these basic rules to help make your dog’s diet healthier than ever!
Evanger’s also offers a variety of ready-to-eat, easy to use human grade foods that are simple to add to your dog’s existing diet. Evanger’s Grain Free Game Meats come in an assortment of protein options including exotic meats like Rabbit, Pheasant, Salmon, and Duck, which are excellent for allergy prone dogs.
Whatever you choose, your dog will thank you for adding variety and nutritional boosts with some fresh human food additions to his diet!
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| Adding fresh human food or Evanger's Pet Food to your pet's diet can add many nutritional benefits Photo: Barbara Brandt |
When working with a homemade dog food diet, keep protein content high by adding foods from animal sources (eggs, meat, dairy, etc.) rather than plant sources (grains, legumes and vegetables).
If your dog develops digestive problems when you add homemade foods to his diet, experiment with different foods and different preparations.
Foods to Add to Your Dog’s Commercial Diet
· Eggs: Feed raw or cooked.
· Canned Fish with Bones: Sardines (preferably packed in water or gravy instead of oil), Jack Mackerel and Pink Salmon are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and trace minerals.
· Canned Pumpkin or Sweet Potato: Great for digestion in small amounts. Avoid pumpkin pie mix.
· Cottage or Ricotta Cheese: Use whole milk or low fat.
· Fruit: Banana, apple, melon, pear, blueberries, etc.
· Green Tripe: It smells awful, but dogs love this healthy food.
· Liver & Other Organ Meat: Feed small amounts of liver or kidney at a time, or hearts and gizzards in greater quantities.
· Muscle Meat (including heart): Feed raw or lightly cooked chicken, turkey and lean beef, either ground or in chunks.
· Vegetables: Raw vegetables must be pureed in a food processor, juicer or blender to be digestible by dogs. DO NOT FEED ONIONS!
· Yogurt: Look for those with probiotics, beneficial bacteria that assists with digestion.
Foods to Avoid or Restrict
· Alcohol
· Chocolate & Caffeine
· Cruciferous Vegetables: Includes arugula, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, cabbage, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, turnips, turnip greens, watercress, rutabaga, daikon and kohlrabi.
· Fatty Foods: Can trigger pancreatitis in susceptible dogs.
· Garlic: Larger quantities can cause anemia.
· Grapes & Raisins: May cause kidney failure.
· Human Supplements/Medications: Consult your vet prior.
· Macadamia Nuts: Toxic even in very small amounts.
· Milk: Can upset stomachs of lactose intolerant dogs.
· Onions: Can cause a form of anemia.
· Xylitol: Natural sweetener found in some water additives, sugar-free gum, mints and children's vitamins.
· Yeast Dough: Can expand and cause a dog’s stomach to rupture.
Follow these basic rules to help make your dog’s diet healthier than ever!
Evanger’s also offers a variety of ready-to-eat, easy to use human grade foods that are simple to add to your dog’s existing diet. Evanger’s Grain Free Game Meats come in an assortment of protein options including exotic meats like Rabbit, Pheasant, Salmon, and Duck, which are excellent for allergy prone dogs.
Whatever you choose, your dog will thank you for adding variety and nutritional boosts with some fresh human food additions to his diet!
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