7 Ways You Can Improve Your Dog’s Diet

Choosing the right food for your dog is extremely important. Their diet can influence everything from their growth, to their development, maturity, weight, overall health, energy levels and even their behaviour. This can have direct and indirect impacts on your dog’s wellbeing. Feeding your dog good-quality and well-balanced meals from the moment you bring them home can help them age healthily and improve their quality of life. There is so much choice out there, however, that it can be difficult to make a decision on the right diet for your pup. If you are unsure about what food to feed your dog and you would like to make some positive changes, then here are seven ways you can improve your dog’s diet.

Learn How to Read Labels

Relying on certain brands and advertisements to provide you with all of the nutritional information is not a good option. This is because many commercial pet food brands aren’t always honest with you. Learning how to read the labels of your pet food will help you improve their diet. Once you know what you are looking for, you will be able to make more informed purchases and you will realize that the price of the food really does make a difference in the quality. Shelf-foods shouldn’t really be a staple diet.

It is important that your pup gets a balanced and nutritionally-complete diet. However, many dog owners are struggling to keep up with rising costs and have no choice but to turn to pet food banks. For practical tips on how to keep your dog happy and healthy whilst reducing monthly expenses, read our guide on the cost of owning a dog.

Consider Vital Supplements

Even if your dog is getting a nutritious and balanced diet, you should consider adding some vital supplements to their meals. Vitamins for dogs can improve the health and appearance of their coat, strengthen teeth and bones, and provide them with the right levels of energy that they need to function. YuMOVE vitamins for dogs are essential as they can help to maintain healthy joints. YuMOVE have many collections that can support your dog’s joints from a pup up to their golden years. 

Feed the Correct Amount

Dogs can be greedy animals and many owners will give in to feeding their dog more than they should. This can lead to weight gain and obesity, which can affect mobility and joint function, and eventually cause a large number of health issues in the future. Other factors, like old age, can also lead to weight gain due to a slower metabolism. When you find the right diet for your dog, they will feel more satisfied with their meals. You should also limit treats and opt for healthier options during their training.

Always Provide Fresh Water

Your dog should always have access to fresh, clean water. Sometimes, hunger can be mistaken for dehydration, so providing plenty of water will allow them to quench their thirst and their appetite, making your pooch feel more satisfied throughout the day. Dogs that drink too much or too little water could be suffering from a medical issue, so you should keep a close eye on their water consumption throughout the day. Water removes waste and aids digestion, which can improve their overall health.

Try Adding Some Variety

No one likes to eat the same food every single day, so you should try to add some variety to your dog’s diet. This will need to be done with care and caution, because some dogs can react very negatively to changes in their diet, especially if they have a sensitive digestive system or certain allergies. Choosing food that is fresh and healthy can keep mealtimes interesting for your canine companion. Variety can also dilute issues that could develop from a certain brand of food and can provide more nutrients.

Research Raw Feeding

Raw feeding has become extremely popular in the pet community over recent years. Feeding your dog a raw diet is self-explanatory. It allows you to know exactly what your pet is eating and is a great option for dogs that have sensitive digestive systems or suffer from allergies. However, ensuring your dog is getting the right nutrition can be a tough task with this diet. You will need to work with your vet and/or a pet nutritionist to ensure your dog gets the right amount of every nutrient they need.

Introduce Fresh Whole Foods

Introducing fresh whole foods, like fruits and vegetables, into your dog’s food bowl can provide them with a number of health benefits. Fresh produce is full of live enzymes, which can help with a number of bodily functions. They will add some variety to your pet’s meals. Whole foods are full of fibre. This is an essential compound for digestion and waste removal. It can also form firmer stools. You should do your research on whole foods that are safe for your dog and introduce them into their diet slowly.

Making the right changes in order to improve your dog’s diet will not go unnoticed by you, your dog, and other people. Feeding them a good diet as early as possible will benefit them in a huge number of ways in the future and will help them become happier pups.