What are the newest trends in dog nutrition? And what is the opinion of experts and dog owners themselves? I have made a summary for you about what hot topics have been discussed in pet nutrition recently, both at home and abroad.
Business related to pets grows every year. We spend really a lot of money on our pets sometimes. And we are also subject to the newest trends very often. It is true in the field of nutrition as well, and the good old statement “a dog is a beast and needs meat” gradually ceases to apply. However, is that really true? Should we obey the newest fashionable fads even in dog nutrition and force our dogs to adjust to various diets?
Firstly, let’s have a look at what trends are dominant in dog nutrition.
Vegan dogs and raw diets
One of the trends the popularity of which has been growing prominence recently is dog veganism. Many people decide for being vegan also in order to reduce their ecological footprint and have the least impact on the environment. And then, they have the same approach with the same underlying opinion to their furry friend nutrition. Although, a sustainable approach towards the environment is close to my heart, I do not identify myself with purely plant-based diet for dogs. Vets are also against this trend. They say that vegan or raw diet may even cause allergies in dogs. Therefore, raw treats shouldn’t be overused.
Grain-free dog food
Another trend popular in dog nutrition is the so-called grain-free (or gluten-free) dog food I have already written something about. Grain-free (GF) is the concept of nutrition which rejects gains. The supporters of this philosophy base it on the assumption that the dog is unable to digest grains and some of grains might even cause adverse reactions, intolerance and allergies in healthy dogs. Contrary to dog veganism, this is a healthy trend.
BARFing
Return to the natural roots. This is how you could describe the new way of nutrition called barfing. The abbreviation B.A.R.F. can be explained in several ways. The most common explanation is “Bones and Raw Food”. To put it simply, it is feeding our beasts in the most natural way for them, i.e. using raw meat. Noone can probably make any objections against. For barfing, a general rule 80-10-10 (80 % meat, 10 % bones and 10 % organs) is recommended. The last trend is to reduce the amount of pure meat and add various organs, up to 25 %.
Good old classics
As you can see, there’s always a lot going on with regard to dog food. I could definitely continue with other trends in dog nutrition. Enhanced contents as well as new packages promoting what’s inside constantly appear. It probably doesn’t mind if you go for holistic dry dog food or prefer quality meat cans – whether classic such as cans from Brit Fresh line, or mono-protein for example, which are recommended in the cases of food intolerance.
The important thing you should take care of is if the food provides complete and balanced nutrition for the animal. It means that it contains all important proteins. And you’ll make no mistake if you pick some food containing Omega-3 and Omega-6 fat acids which have beneficial effects not only on the dog's fur which is shiny but also for its immune system.
Whatever your decision will be, be sure to consult your vet or use the services of dog nutrition experts before you start experimenting with your dog’s nutrition. After all, health is the most important and we shouldn’t treat their nutrition lightly.
Every one of us has for sure encountered diarrhoea in our fuzzy friend. Usually, there’s nothing to fuss about, the body reacts to food that it isn’t capable to digest or that didn’t do it good. However, it is good to know, when we are capable of...
I have been sharing with you my experience with dogs and other animals for quite some time now and it occurred to me to wander a little bit into history as well, but into an interesting one! I’d like to introduce you to several well-known dog...
Allergy is a disproportionate reaction of the immunity system to common stimuli. It cannot be cured, but we can suppress its manifestations. In the last years, allergies in pets and dogs especially are on the rise. Currently, about 10% of house-dogs...
Today, we are going to take a look at the Feline Infectious Peritonitis - FIP, an utterly exceptional virus illness that always has a fatal end. Most of the cats get into contact with the viruses that cause FIP in their lifetime, even though the...
We can divide dog owners into two groups. The ones that allow the dog in bed and those that feel that this is no option. Let’s take a look at what such bed sharing with a dog actually entails.
If you like going on treks with your fuzzy friends, geocaching is something precisely for you. This way, you will liven up your trips and maybe you even discover places that you wouldn’t have found otherwise. I and my pack can’t get enough of it.
Contrary to dogs, cats have a strong bond with the place where they live. That’s why moving is very stressful for them and this stress may cause a number of diseases. It’s a good idea to plan everything well, so that you could make the situation of a...
Even though the dogs went through long years of domestication, they still retain fundamental instincts as we do. They might not be as strong as in wild dogs, but they still play a very significant role in the life of a dog and in their behaviour. So if...
Even though it’s been a long time since our four-legged furry friends lived a feral life, they still have the laws of the pack rooted deep down inside them. It is not acquired behaviour, the need to live in a pack is determined by genetics. And if...
It is no news that the dog isn’t only a pet and that it can also help saving human lives in various catastrophes. But have you ever thought about what it means for dogs to become rescuers? You haven’t? Well, then it’s the right time to set off together...
The usual pregnancy period in female dogs is indicated at about 58 – 65 days, the average is 63 days. In case of the nutrition of a pregnant female, possible changes in diet can be likened to the changes in diet of pregnant women. Pregnant female dogs...
The most frequent reason why your dog starts to gain weight is simple, as in most of people: they consume more energy than they spend. Some owners wave their arm at a well-intended warning that their pet has gained weight, stating that the dog is...
