Nutrition - What You Put In Is What You Get Out

• Posted on 5 March 2019
• By Kaitlyn Simpson
• Posted in carnivores, cat nutrition, dehydrated pet foods, digestion, dog nutrition, kibble, meat-based diet, pet nutrition, protein, raw diet
• 0

Nutrition plays a role in all aspects of your pets life and is one of the most important things that you can provide for your pet. Focusing on what your pet is designed to eat, not what is convenient, is so important.

Nutrition plays a role in all aspects of your pets life and is one of the most important things that you can provide for your pet. Focusing on what your pet is designed to eat, not what is convenient, is so important. Years ago dry kibble foods were invented to make it quick and easy to feed your pet. But is that what is really best?

Kibble Concerns 

Kibble pet foods were first made over a hundred years ago as a way to use up leftover grains from cereal companies. Dogs being obligate carnivores thrive when fed meat-based diet, with little or no vegetation and grains. Cats being true carnivores are not at all designed to digest grain of any sort.  This kibble food, although it says complete and balanced, is not actually all that great for your dog and cat. Yes, it might be convenient to just scoop and serve, but is convenience more important than the health of your beloved pet?

Kibble pet foods have been known to cause a lot of health issues in our pets. Diabetes, skin and coat issues, cancer, and many, many more. Kibble food does not have any moisture in it. This puts significant stress on the bladder and kidneys. Dogs tend to drink excess water when fed kibble, whereas cats tend to become dehydrated because they were not designed to drink water but to get most of it from their food.

Give Kibble An Upgrade

There are a few quick ways to upgrade a kibble diet. Digestive enzymes, raw or lightly steamed vegetables, raw or lightly cooked eggs, and meat, essential fatty acids, and raw parts are all ways to upgrade a kibble diet.  Adding a digestive enzyme will help the body process the cooked foods a little more easily. It will help the dog absorb more from the food than before. Adding in raw or lightly steamed vegetables can add a lot of antioxidants. Anything fresh is always better for you than processed.  Eggs and raw meat, or lightly cooked, as a topper have a lot of added benefits.

Our pets do best with meat as mentioned before so adding it on top is a great option. Adding an essential fatty acid can help to strengthen the immune system and improve inflammatory issues. Dogs that have inflamed joints from arthritis or inflamed skin from allergies can hugely benefit from adding fatty acids. Lastly, adding raw parts, such as necks and backs, can add a lot of calcium and other minerals, proteins and fats. Plus they are great for cleaning the teeth and keeping your pet busy.

Go For the Dehydrated & Raw

Other ways to upgrade your pet's diet would be to switch them to a dehydrated or fully raw diet. Dehydrated pet foods are a way to feed healthier food quick and easily. They come in many different brands and varieties, and most of the time you just have to add in water to rehydrate it. Some advantages to feeding dehydrated food are that it is minimally processed, it doesn't have fillers added (corn, wheat, soy, and by-products), it is easy for on the go feeding, and dogs usually love it!

A fully raw diet is what cats and dogs originally were designed to eat. Our pets digest raw meat differently than cooked or processed foods. The body actually will use almost all of the nutrients. This allows the animal to feel more full and have a smaller stool because they are using everything they take in. The raw meat will help keep the teeth clean and tarter free, and also will keep the breath nice and fresh. Pets who eat raw will have more energy, a healthier shinier coat, and are less likely to develop most of the “common” issues dogs are having these days. The benefits of feeding a raw diet are endless.

Nutrition is such an important part of owning a pet. What you put in is what you get out. The better food that you give your pet, the better their chance at living a long healthy life. Our pets are our family members, and we want them to have the best lives possible, so take a look at what you are feeding and see if there might be a way to upgrade their diet. 

If you want to learn more about the right diet choices to make for your pet, consider a Nutrition Consult with our very own Dr. Jill or Kaitlyn. To schedule a consultation for you and your furry friend(s) call (248) 548-3448. We can meet in person at our store or set up a Skype / Google Hangout video consultation if you are outside of the Metro Detroit area.