New Year means New Goals for a lot of us, but what about your four legged best friend? As we get older it gets harder to stay in shape and metabolism changes, well so does a dogs! They are just like people. I recently read an article on Little Things " 10 Healthiest People Foods you should be feeding your dogs" and I wanted to share them! First of all before I start I credit Little Things by Laura Caseley, posted December 2016.
1. Lean Meat = Energy
Meat for dogs provide the bulk of there energy through protein. Lean meats such as chicken, pork and beef are great sources of vitamin B and amino acids. They also boost energy and metabolism! Which is what I was just talking about above. If you buy a piece of meat with fatty ends, simply trim this off before giving the meat to them as that portion is no good for them. You will want to avoid ground meat since it contains high fat and fat is hard to burn off the older we get. With chicken beware of the bones, make sure to take these out before handing over that scrumptious meal to them!
2. Salmon & Tuna= Shiny Coat and Healthy Immune systems
These foods are high in Omega 3 fatty acid content which is good for dogs both inside and out. These foods will help maintain a shiny coat (which is great for dogs like Mason who have that short tight pit bull fur!) You will want to serve these cooked, rather than raw. If you don't have this around you can also give them fish oil to there already regular foods. Sometimes I use fish oil pills in Mason's food to help with his joints as well!
3. Liver= Vitamins A, B and K
Now this one I personally do not agree with...read on to see why.
Liver provides lots of vitamins as well as iron. However, do not give to much of this as to much Vitamin A can be hazardous to them.
4. Oatmeal=Digestion (P.S. so does pumpkin!)
Oatmeal provides fiber which will help digestion to be smooth and comfortable! It is considered a whole grain and healthier than a refrained grain. You would want to serve this cooked as you would with yourself and cool it down before handing it over to those big smiling, drooling pups!
5. Parsley= Fresh Breath
This one was no shocker to me as I personally use this ingredient in my homemade dog treats! After this check out www.masonsbarkyardtreats.com
Here you will want to chop up a few tablespoons and add it to the dog's food. In addition this will
provide potassium (think banana's which Mason LOVES) and calcium.
6. Peas= Potassium
Again so do Banana's! Potassium is crucial for the overall health in dogs. They need it just like we need it! They also provide vitamin B, so just add them to the dogs bowl and go!
7. Carrots= Healthy Teeth (P.S bright eyes too, Mason has shown this)
Mason is 11 and has been eating carrots since he was a puppy! He loves them, in fact Mason loves all this healthy stuff. With that, this 11 year old still has VERY bright eyes blue in some lights and brown and others. My vet even had asked me "what does he eat, his eyes are so bright for an older dog?"My answer "CARROTS!" Since carrots are hard they are a great snack to scrape plaque off and other stuff off the teeth in your dogs mouth that can lead to infections. If you have a small dog you will want to use baby carrots. So really this healthy treat has various good uses, healthy teeth, bright eyes and is loaded with good vitamins!
8. Seaweed Nori= Metabolism
Now this one is a new one to me, I have not tried this one. Nori is a dry seaweed. This is often wrapped around sushi or found in Japanese food. It's rich in fiber and vitamins C and E. This will help regulate metabolism and help keep them in shape!
9. Yogurt or Cottage Cheese= Calcium
Yogurt Mason has had, cottage cheese, well I don't eat it so he hasn't had it. However, doesn't mean he can't try it. Products like these are good sources of calcium promoting bone and tooth health. For someone like Mason who has torn both ACL's this might be a good item for me to start trying. These probiotics will help any digestive problems. With these you will want to stick to plain, no added sugars or fruits as those could have to much sugar which is not a good thing. If your dog is lactose intolerant you will want to skip this treat, if you are not sure be sure to test in only small amounts at first.
10. Coconut Oil= Protein, Immunity and skin Health
This is a no brainer. We all know that coconut oil for the human is good for the hair, skin, nails and more. You can also give them coconut flakes adding these to the food. The oil will help nourish the skin and fur. This is another high source of protein.
So a few things that was not on this list that I have learned over the years are anything ending in BERRY! Berries are a great source of antioxidants for the dog. Strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries. So, next time you are snacking don't forget to share with your four legged friend if it's on this list or has similar benefits!
If you have gotten to the end, thanks for reading and pass it along!
XO,
DOGOBSESSED
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