A perfectly balanced diet for dogs is not an easy to achieve task. A lot of dog food myths are associated with food that often diverts us from some healthy foods for dogs.
The article will break some common dog food myths for you. Your food choices will change, and you can add more flavors to your dog’s life.
Time is less; stakes are high, I understand! But, will you risk your baby dog’s health? Here’s a comprehensive read for you to skim through!
Myth #1: Dog Food Label should Bark “Complete & Balanced”
It’s an era of consumerism and commercialization. This top of the list myth about a “complete balanced diet for dogs” is inculcated in our minds by pet food companies. The myth often denies and overpowers the concept of home-made pet foods because they may not be “complete & balanced”.
Did you ever try to research nutrients and minerals required for a perfect balanced diet? Have you attempted to feed your pooch home-made dog foods for weeks? Did he get sick and drowsy? Try it, and you will have an answer!
Getting a balanced diet on a daily basis isn’t practical for humans. We enjoy variety. A balanced diet over a week is our real goal. So why not for dogs too?
Variety in food tastes is important for your dog too. The key is to give around 60% of the commercial food with a “perfect balance of nutrients” and 40% of raw or cooked meat, fruits & vegetables, and homemade treats. Provide specific supplements after consulting the vet if your dog is suffering from some vitamin or mineral deficiency.
If you feed the dog something, just keep a balance by keeping track of the nutrients. For example, if a raw Salmon has high potassium content, you should maintain a balance of what else you feed your dog. Other foods high in potassium should be avoided for a while!
Your Dogs Nutritional Needs is a science-based guide for pet owners to let them experiment with dog food and get out of the ‘balanced’ food myths.1
Myth #2: Dry Food Promotes Dental Health:
It’s a commonly repeated myth regarding dry dog food that it’s beneficial for dental health. The pointed canines and sharp-edged molars of cats and dogs do not get scraped as they chew on kibble. The teeth are used to bite, tear and chew raw food. Dogs either break down or swallow the kibble. The dry food does not reach gums and lower parts of teeth and, thus, dental problems begin.
The dry food sticking between teeth promotes bacterial growth. The carbohydrates in food break down into sugar, and bacteria feed on it. You can find plaque on your dog’s teeth after feeding him dry kibble for few days. This makes teeth cleaning routine important.
The habit of regular brushing or giving your dog best dog dental chews are necessary steps for maintaining dental health of dogs. Make a daily routine of teeth cleaning from a young age.
Myth #3: Dogs Love High-Protein Meaty Foods:
Even though dogs do love high-protein food but science says the opposite. Depending on high protein diet for most of the days is a big ‘No.’ Dogs are omnivores that can be satisfied with a perfect balanced diet with all the fats, carbohydrates, protein, minerals, and nutrients. They can happily eat vegan foods. However, puppies require a little high level of proteins for proper muscle and bone growth.
According to PetMd, proteins are high in calorie count. Excessive proteins can cause obesity and then arthritis as a consequence. Dogs suffering from liver and kidney issues can face troubles in digesting high protein diets. Protein count is connected with the size, age, and breed of a dog.
Myth #4: Variety of Brands Can Affect Digestion:
There’s a slight truth to this myth, but facts half deny it. All the top rated food brands approved by APPA have a perfect blend of balanced nutrients and minerals. You just have to bring the change a little gradually so that the dog’s stomach can adjust to changed nutrient concentrations in his food.
According to PetMd, it is recommended that you take 5 – 7 days to bring the change:
Day 1: 20% new food, 80 % old food
Day 2: 40% new food, 60% old food
Day 3: 60% new food, 40% old food
Day 4: 80% new food, 20% old food
Day 5: 100% of the new food
Try out this method to bring variety in your dog’s food, and there’ll be no more digestion problems.
Myth #5: All Human Foods are Poisonous to Dogs:
Not all human foods are toxic to dog’s health.
Coming towards fruits and vegetables, first get your research done on whether dogs can eat avocados, cucumbers, ginger, and other human foods. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has compiled a list of toxic human foods for dogs that includes the following:
- Alcohol
- Mango
- Avocado
- Chocolate & Caffeine
- Citrus
- Coconut & Coconut oil
- Grapes and Raisins
- Macadamia Nuts
- Milk and Dairy
- Onions, Garlic, Chives
- Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones
- Salt and Salty Snack Foods
- Xylitol
- Yeast Dough
All the listed foods are not entirely toxic. Some of them have a possibility of toxicity. So, just do a little research and you can get a huge list of fruits, and vegetables to enjoy with your puppy!
Author Bio:
James is a part-time dog-trainer and dog behavior consultant with years of experience in dog training and the man behind LabradorTrainingHQ.com. He is interested in finding out fun ways to handle dog behaviors, specifically, Labradors to help dog-owners enjoy their companions at all times.
