Feeding dry food alone to a dog (or cat) is never ideal. Dry food or ‘kibble’ is highly processed, and while most meet the nutrient requirements of dogs and cats, by adding small amounts of fresh foods you can provide natural and more easily digested nutrients, which is better for their long term health.

You need to be careful that you don’t ‘unbalance’ your dog’s main diet of dry food. (Otherwise, you may as well change to a 100% fresh food diet). 

The general rule is to not go over 15 - 20% of the daily calories in ‘added’ foods. 

The following are just some easy examples…

Try adding:

Fresh raw meaty bones and muscle meats – dental health and highly digestible protein and fats.

Fresh raw organ meats – go easy on this as liver is high in phosphorus, Vit A and copper, kidney is high in phosphorus and selenium. Small amounts go a long way!

Sardines (fresh and raw if possible) – great source of Omega 3 fatty acids

Eggs – raw and cooked. A fantastic source of bioavailable protein

Green vegetables (steamed or pureed raw) – provide phytochemicals = cancer-fighting!

Bone Broth – immune system building. Be careful with store bought bone broth that is doesn't contain ingredients such as onion. Better yet, make your own!

Green tripe – besides that most dogs love the stinky smell, tripe is a great source of manganese and it may also contain digestive enzymes that could benefit your dog.

You may also want to look into 'hybrid' feeding where you feed kibble for one meal, and a fresh/raw balanced pre made food for another meal. You can also feed fresh and kibble together.

Rotate through the different 'add ons' and start gradually with small amounts and cut back if you notice any GI upsets.

For help with your dog's diet, contact us today for help.