5 Super Foods That Will Help Keep Your Dog Happy and Healthy

Eating nutritious food ensures a healthy mind and body. We need a certain amount of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients daily to help us maintain a tip top shape. Eating junk food regularly affects our energy levels and increases the risk of health problems. This applies not only to us, but to our pets, too! Nature has provided superfoods to keep humans and animals alike at their best state of health! Just remember to slowly introduce these foods to your dog's regular diet or as treats until they're used to them!

Carrots

Carrots are packed full of essential nutrients that can benefit your dog's health in many ways. It is rich in Vitamins A, C and K, beta carotene and phytonutrients. It supports eye, heart, lung and teeth health for dogs, helping improve eyesight, maintain a healthy set of teeth and even lower the risk of heart disease.

Broccoli

Considered to be one of the world's healthiest foods, broccoli is a super star when it comes to essential nutrients. It is an excellent source of Vitamins B2, B6, C, E and K, chromium, fiber, folate, phosphorus, manganese and many more! It provides plenty of health benefits for your pet's eyes, heart, skin, aiding in detoxification and digestion, repairing damaged skin and even fighting off cancer!

Blueberries

A great alternative snack treat for dogs, blueberries are loaded with antioxidants and fiber which support brain and heart health. They also help maintain healthy blood sugar levels and aid in digestion. Blueberries are also perfect for highly active dogs as they are known to be energy boosters.

Spinach

Spinach contains an excellent amount of carotenoids and flavonoids which are known to help prevent inflammation and lower the risk of cancer in pets. Also rich in Vitamin K, fiber and iron, spinach supports bone and heart health in dogs.

Fish Oil

Food containing natural fish oil like salmon are great sources of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids which are known to effectively cure allergies in dogs. Fish oil benefits your dog's coat and skin. They help add shine to your pet's coat, reduce itching and scratching and reduce arthritis and inflammation.

Familiarize your beloved pet with these superfoods so that you can introduce more fresh fruits and vegetables to their diet in the future! Like us, having a regular healthy diet benefits not only our body, but our spirit as well!

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Is Fish Oil Good For Your Dog?

Fish oil is one of the supplements that is added to most pet foods. This is a practice that has been there for a long time and there are reasons why it is added. Omega-3 fats that are present in fish oil are known to cure some abnormalities that pets may develop. Research and studies has shown that this is the same for humans.

Pet owners are now using fish oil as a supplement because of its positive effects on the coat and the skin of their pets. Generally, supplementing you dog food with fish oil is a good thing and it has positive effects on the dog's health. However, there is the other side of it, too much of it may turn out to be harmful.

The anti-inflammatory quality of the fish oil produces chemical that will alter the platelet functions. Platelets are blood cells that are made in the bone marrow and they aid in the formation of blood clot in case of a body cut. Blood clotting is a body mechanism to help the body from bleeding a lot and a defensive mechanism again external infections.

Chemical produced by DHA and EPA reduce the rate of action of platelets to clotting. Most dogs that have had their food supplemented with excessive fish oil, tend to lose a lot of blood if injured. You should be very careful if your dog needs surgery.

Salmon Oil

The anti-inflammatory ability of DHA and EPA tend to interfere with the body ability to heal a wound. When a wound is noticed, inflammation send white cells to that body part and the wound healing may start. With anti-inflammatory property of these chemicals, they interfere with this important healing process.

This slows the body ability to heal a wound or replace the lost skin. Production of white blood cells happens at the first 5 days of injury. This is very important for dogs that are undertaking long surgical procedures. Chemical like DHA and EPA can interfere with the process.

Studies and research has been done to determine the right amounts of EPA and DHA that you can give your dog. Research institute are doing research for cats too. The recommended dose is 20-55mg of DHA and EPA per weight in pound. This dose is less than the dose administered in a condition where the benefits are more important that the resulting side effects.

If you want to be sure if fish oil could be good for your dog always talk to your vet before giving it to your dog.

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Allergies and How They Relate to Your Dog

It is truly amazing that such small molecules can have such great effects on such large organisms. To be specific, think about how allergies arise. A small molecule enters the body, or is already persistent in the body, and the immune system of your body begins to attack that molecule. That is the basic principle of how allergies arise, an over-protective body. It is not a stretch to say that allergies not only affect humans but other animals as well, such as dogs. Dogs are animals that require relatively the same amount of hygiene as humans. Lacking in this department may lead to severe outcomes for the dog and its owners.

Salmon Oil for Dogs

Fish oil is a relatively new addition to the healthy line-up made for dogs. Its benefits include healthy skin and glistening coat, decreased inflammation, increased stamina, decreased shedding, protection against auto-immune diseases, such as allergies, as well as improved immune system and renewed energy.

To get your dog started on practicing good oral hygiene, get your dog ready for it. Start by consistently massaging and gently rubbing your dog's mouth and lips for a minute or so twice a day. Once they are in the habit of this, continue by practicing brush techniques for a minute or so twice a day.

Continue this practice and your one step closer to a healthy mouth for your pet. It is also recommended that you purchase a teeth whitening chew toy for your dog. Simply put, dogs love to chew, and this is a no-brainer.

The most common dog diseases are ear infections, worm-related infestations and infections, fleas, and an infection commonly known as hot spots.

In terms of diet that influences a healthy body for dogs, a vegetarian diet is great for your dog - for the most part. This is because dogs are actually omnivores, animals that can consume both vegetables and meat. Carnivores, their commonly attributed representation, are animals that consume exclusively meat, such as tigers, lions, etc.

It is true when they say that allergies can affect humans and animals. Dogs that do have allergies, like humans, may suffer lifelong. As they age, their symptoms will likely increase in magnitude. Knowing this, one would like to help treat their dog as best to their ability as possible. Knowing what type of allergy your dog has is the first step in achieving this goal. The second is to take your pet its veterinarian and have a complete test done to discover how it can be treated. There are many types of allergies, that is why it is best to go to a registered, veterinarian.

In conclusion, it is absolutely necessary that a dog owner should take care of their pet's oral hygiene and its overall health. Allergies are very prevalent in dogs, and it is important that you understand what allergy your dog has and how it can be treated, if possible. It is also important to keep your pet regularly groomed, brushed and clean.

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3 Superfoods for Your Dog

How much happier would we all be if we could feed our dogs healthy foods that are not only delicious for our dogs to eat but can save your dog from those expensive and harmful medications?

If you are wondering...what foods you can give your dog then I am going to share some amazing health improving foods that we think every dog should love.

What is even better is that these foods are all easy to find... and also are not expensive

If your dog is already eating a healthy, whole food diet then these extra foods will be more effective and your dog already has a good start on health and disease prevention

If your dog is eating a processed diet, then these extra foods will still make him a lot healthier. I think of my dog's food as his medicine and a worthwhile investment in my dogs health

The first food we can look at is OILS

Many of us give our dogs fish oil and that's good. We know that the Omega-3 oils in fish oil control inflammation in our dogs. Examples of Inflammatory conditions our dogs suffer are allergies, joint disease, heart disease and cancer. So a healthy daily dose of fish oil has been scientifically proven to help curb the inflammation in these conditions

If you are feeding a beef based pet food, then a good idea is to supplement your dog's diet with hempseed or walnut oil say a teaspoon of oil for every pound of food

For a chicken or other poultry-based foods, you can supplement your dog's diet with a teaspoon of flaxseed or chia oil for every pound of food.

To keep your dogs diet completely balanced, rotate the oils mentioned above

Of course we cannot forget about coconut oil and I suggest you add this on a fairly regular basis. Coconut oil has amazing benefits for your dog and I have listed some of them here

Clears up skin conditions such as eczema, flea allergies, contact dermatitis, and itchy skin

Prevents and treats yeast and fungal infections, including candida

Disinfects cuts and promotes wound healing

Improves digestion and nutrient absorption

Reduces or eliminates bad breath

Contains powerful antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal agents that prevent infection and disease

Another great addition to your dogs food is kefir. This is fermented milk and contains major strains of friendly bacteria that cannot be found in yogurt.

Kefir also contains friendly yeast which in turns controls candida in your dog

In addition Kefir also contains many vitamins and mineral which aid in healing and has been shown to prevent allergies. Kefir has also been shown to reduce the risks of some cancers.

So how much Kefir should you give on a daily basis

Small size dogs or cats: 1 tsp - 1 tbsp

Medium size dogs: 1 - 2 tbsp

Large dogs: 2 -3 tbsp

Try these superfoods and you will see a difference very quickly!

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