Do You Incorporate Fresh Food Into Your Pup's Diet?

 Image by Rodney Habib, Pet Health Site

When we add fresh fruits and vegetables into our diet, we increase our health and notice a difference in how we feel. These simple additions are beneficial to our bodies - providing us with nutrients, vitamins and minerals, helping to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, and fight infection. 

So why wouldn't more pet parents feed fresh food to their dogs? 

Here are some great reasons why you should:  

• Aids in brain and eye development
• Reduces inflammation
• Eliminates cancer cells
• Adds antioxidants that protect the heart and other organs
• Promotes gut health
• Supports a healthy liver

Incorporating fresh food into your dog’s meals can be done in a few ways:

1. Treats to reward during a training session
2. Sprinkled directly into their regular food at mealtime 
3. Tucked into a Kong to add some fun

Veggies should be finely chopped or food processed to make more bioavailable. It's always best to feed in moderation and introduce fresh food slowly to not upset their bellies. Keep in mind certain health issues too and if ever unsure, speak with your veterinarian. 
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Julia Henriques, Managing Editor of Dogs Naturally Magazine, brings light to a study completed by researchers who analyzed the link between vegetables and the risk of bladder cancer in Scottish Terriers concluding, ​“Dogs that ate dark leafy green, yellow and orange vegetables 3 times a week or more had a 90% decrease in cancer risk … and there was a 70% reduction in dogs eating cruciferous vegetables only.”

Doesn’t that make you want to open your fridge and start incorporating fresh food for your furry companion? 

Carrots, blueberries and bananas get my pups the most excited. Although my Beagle mix Lotus hasn't come across something she doesn't like...

And of course, never feed your dog:

• Grapes
• Raisins
• Onions
• Garlic
• Macadamia nuts
• Yeast dough
• Chocolate
• Caffeine
• Anything containing xylitol

Upcoming blog topics include fun getaways to enjoy with your pup, how to conservatively manage your dogs torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), the wonderful benefits of Golden Paste and navigating the pet food industry. 

Be well and enjoy the adventure! 
Ashley Sylvia