Improve your dog's diet by adding raw foods and eliminating gluten

Bored Shih Tzu lies near bowl of commercial dog food. Take three steps to improve your dog's diet. Start by buying with caution, adding raw foods, and eliminating gluten. — Take three steps to improve your dog’s diet. Start by buying with caution, adding raw foods, and eliminating gluten.

Just like us humans, your dog requires (and deserves) a healthy, balanced diet.

Not only does a proper diet help maintain their physical and mental health, but it also gives your pup a longer-lasting and enjoyable life.

Feeding your dog the wrong foods can result in sickness, obesity, lethargy, hair loss, skin problems, and ultimately a shorter life span. So, the food you decide to feed your dog truly is an important decision not to take lightly.

It’s also important to consider that some breeds prefer different food types, with some dogs requiring different diets for enhanced health. For example, the best dog food for Shih Tzu may not be the best food for a Labrador and vice versa.

Fortunately, it isn’t hard to provide an excellent diet for your beloved canine. Read on to discover three great tips that will improve your dog’s diet and have them bursting with health and energy in no time!

#1 Buy with caution

Everybody knows that uncanned food — meaning refrigerated and ultimately fresh — doesn’t have a long-lasting shelf life. It is why many companies opt for canned, processed foods because it is cheaper and longer-lasting.

Most processed dog foods can still be edible between 6 – 24 months of purchase, which says only one thing — the nutrient, mineral, and freshness levels are low. This is the industrial manufacturing that goes into the production, which rids its enzymes’ food and instead adds harmful preservatives and ingredients.

So, when you’re next in the pet food store, be sure to check labels for synthetic supplements and ingredients, and think, do I want to put this in my dog’s belly?

Try to opt for fresher foods — it may prove to be slightly more expensive, but what is the expense when it comes to the health and happiness of your pup?

#2 Introduce raw foods

After reading the above section, it makes sense to consider alternatives for your doggy’s diet.

An alternative that is receiving increasing popularity and exposure is raw dog foods. Made from fresh, unprocessed ingredients, these foods mimic what dogs would eat in the natural world.

Benefits that come from introducing raw foods to improve your dog’s diet include easier digestion, healthier skin, shinier coats, and more.

When considering raw foods, note that you can also create a customized diet based on your dog’s breed and characteristics. Let’s face it, you get to choose what you put in your body, so why can’t they?

Examples of raw food include:

Apples, and fruit in general
Muscle meat
Vegetables
Organ meats (liver and kidneys etc.)

#3 Go gluten-free

This point is one you may not have thought about, but it’s worthwhile to do your research.

Gluten is a grain-based mixture meant to prevent unstable fats in kibble from becoming stale. What many people don’t know, however, is that it can increase the retention of waste products in your pup’s digestive system. The waste could harm their organs and make their poo smell worse.

Also, to ensure that your dog doesn’t become obese, avoid overfeeding. In today’s society, obese dogs are becoming a problem; limiting their intake to only what they need can reduce the risk and ensure overall health.

The bottom line to improve your dog’s diet

So, when it comes to your dog’s health, you cannot compromise.

Their well-being is your utmost priority and ensuring they have a healthy diet and active lifestyle can be the difference between a happy, healthy, long-living dog, and let’s face it — the opposite.