24/11/2021
Some great tips for making meals both more interesting and more nutritious. 🥦🍌🥚🍏🍓🍅🥕🧄🥔🍠🦴 🐕🐩🦮🐕🦺
Here at Holistic Vet, as you know, we are passionate about raw food but if you are raw curious or perhaps still feeding kibble, there are some great additions you can add to your dogs bowl that pack a nutritious punch! Kibble fed dogs can benefit hugely from the additions of some fresh foods. Here's just a small selection of fresh foods you can give to your dog -
Eggs - A powerhouse of protein, amino and fatty acids, anti oxidants such as Lutein and Zeaxanthin which is known for it's protective properties for eyes. Perfectly safe to feed the entire egg, shell and all. Did you know that the membrane of the egg (the thin layer inside the shell) is a fantastic source of collagen, great for joints. So even when you crack an egg for your own breakfast, be sure to peel out that precious membrane and pop it in your dogs bowl. 2-3 eggs a week or whatever suits your dog.
Leafy greens and Blueberries - Packed full of vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients. Powerful antioxidants and anti inflammatory properties, greens such as spinach, kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts etc (organic if possible) make a fantastic nutritious addition to any diet. For easier digestion for your dog, steam or lightly cook veggies (never in a microwave!) and whizz them up a little. Blueberries can be fed fresh or frozen. No need to give whole bowls full of plant matter, a little now and then will be great.
Oily fish - Raw where possible but if not, tinned sardines etc are fantastic and your dog will love them! Packed full of Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D and Coenzyme Q10 these little fishes will keep your dog super healthy! Always source wild fish, farmed fish are kept in horrendous, stressful conditions, pumped full of anti parasitic drugs, anti biotics and not to mention the damage these farms do to the wild fish population. If buying tinned fish, never get the fish in sunflower/seed oil, they are heated often rancid and contain high levels of omega 6 oils which will be counterintuitive to the anti inflammatory omega 3 oils in the fish. Fish in Brine (washed off) or plain (no added sugar) tomato is fine. Tomatoes also offer a nice hit of Lycopene, great for cognitive health. A couple of times a week is a great addition.
Pumpkin seeds - full of Vitamin E and zinc but also can be used as an anti helminthic ( natural worm prevention, always wormcount to check for eggs and worms too) as they contain Cucurbitin and Kainic acid, so you can avoid those harmful chemically laden parasite prevention pills and spot ons! Buy organic, EU sourced and whizz up in a food processor or coffee grinder and give 1-2 grams for a few days, a few times a month.
Last but not least - Raw or cooked meat. Even if you are unsure about going the whole way and feeding raw, why not add some raw meat from your own preparations at home to your dogs bowl? Those left over bits of chicken the kids are going to chuck off the plate from their dinner... when you chop them up raw, give them to your dog. Even some left over cooked meat from the Sunday roast (just remember - never feed cooked bones), your dog will love you for it and you'll be adding some fantastic nutritious additions to that bowl!
For more on feeding raw and feeding raw bones you can view Dr Nick's videos here -
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/rawfeedingthebasics
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/bonesandhowtofeedthem
Karen - Holistic Vet Team
