Good Food for Less
A commercial kibble diet is commonly thought to be an inferior choice when it comes to feeding our pooches, but with some ‘help’, they can actually be quite nutritious.
While we all want the best for our dogs, not everyone can afford the most nutritious diets on the market. Here are ways you can minimise the negative impact of any excesses or deficiencies present in a typical kibble meal.
Rotate The Food
One of the ways would be to feed your four-legged friend a variety of diets, even if all of them are in kibble form. Rotating the food doesn't mean choosing different flavours from the same kibble manufacturer, as many of them will use the same vitamin premix. Ideally, pet owners are encouraged to feed their canine food from various brands.
The idea of rotating food can be seen as a drastic change in your pooch's diet, so consult your veterinarian first. Also, the changes should only be made gradually and stopped if any problems arise.
By getting the dog used to food from a variety of sources, he will build up a stronger gut. Ensure that the kibble you choose is free of artificial preservatives, dyes, and other additives as they can contribute to allergies or inflammatory bowel disease.
If your dog doesn't take well to the rotation of food, do consider adding ingredients into his kibble. Some of these include:
• Probiotics
The heating and processing present when manufacturing kibble causes it to lose both good and bad bacteria. This can result in health issues as having balanced gastrointestinal flora is vital for effective digestion and balance in the immune system.
As such, pet owners should look out for probiotic blends meant for dogs, and add them into their pooch's food.
• Enzymes
There are enzymes present in fresh foods which help promote the digestive process before the body's salivary and pancreatic enzymes further facilitate digestion.
As some kibble may not contain these enzymes, they can be added in the form of powders, sprinkled onto the food before serving.
• Whole Food Vitamins
Although many kibble manufacturers claim that their food is complete and balanced, the synthetic vitamins present in these foods may not be sufficient.
Instead, fresh, whole-food sourced vitamins are more nutritious and can be added to a dog's diet in the form of blended fruits and vegetables.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Some kibble diets lack healthful fats, and instead contain hydrogenated or trans fats. Fish oils are a good option to give the necessary fatty acids for your dog. It can be added immediately to kibble before serving.
Pet owners should only add them in gradually and monitor their dogs' stools consistently. If it turns watery at any time, decrease the amount added.
* The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified pet health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Always make a pet health care decision in partnership with a qualified veterinary or pet health care professional.
*This article was updated on 8 May 2021.
