Settling on the right diet for a dog can be a challenge for owners today. With such a wide variety of foods on the market, it can feel like navigating through a minefield to select a diet that is best suited to meet a dog’s nutritional needs and fuel their development and growth. Many of the foods available today have been enriched with powerful superfoods that can provide dogs with everything from greater immunity to fight against disease, support for brain and vision development, and even optimal joint health. These superfoods can form a part of a pre-made dog food formulation or can be fed on their own to increase their health-giving benefits for dogs. Let's see the top ten superfoods for dog that can be safely fed to our canine pal.
Which Superfoods Provide the Most Nutritional Impact for My Dog?
There are many different nutritious foods that can safely be fed to dogs but not all of them will boost their nutritional profile. Typically, foods that are high in omega 3 fatty acids or dietary fiber will pack the most power for their punch, ensuring dogs receive the greatest health benefits from them.
Since introducing too many foods into a dog’s diet can lead to gastrointestinal distress, it is important for families to limit the addition of any superfoods to the ones known to provide the most benefits.
Here is our list of the top ten superfoods for dogs:
Carrots
Most dogs enjoy munching on carrots, finding both their crunch and sweetness very appealing. Carrots are naturally high in dietary fiber, an important component in optimal digestion.
A low-calorie snack, dogs can enjoy a few carrots each day while safely adding vital beta-carotene into their diets, an important vitamin that supports immunity, eye development, and strong bones.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a highly digestible carbohydrate that can greatly enrich a dog’s diet. Possessing a healthy amount of dietary fiber as well as Vitamins A, B6, C, and magnesium, each serving of sweet potatoes supports optimal digestion and encourages the development of strong vision, good skin and coat quality, and healthy muscles.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a superfood that helps settle upset stomachs. It also provides a whopping serving of dietary fiber, helping dogs that struggle with overeating to feel full without having to consume a lot of additional calories. Other nutrients that pumpkin offers dogs include Vitamins A and C, iron, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, and folate. In addition to providing support for digestion and assisting with weight loss or maintenance, pumpkin can also help regulate blood pressure and prevent inflammation from occurring.
Oily Fish
Rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that are vital for healthy skin, coat, and eyesight, any oily fish is of great benefit to dogs. Among the most popular fish superfoods are mackerel, salmon, anchovies, and sardines.
Blueberries
Blueberries are not only delicious; they are also highly nutritious for dogs. Naturally high in antioxidants, blueberries provide dogs with higher resistance against developing serious illnesses such as cancer. Blueberries are an excellent source of dietary fiber, Vitamin C, and phytochemicals.
Plain Yogurt
Healthy gut bacteria is a vital component in helping a dog to properly process and utilize its food. Plain yogurt that is low in fat contains powerful probiotics that assist with proper digestion and the development of strong, healthy bones.
Apples
Apples are a healthy snack that dogs can safely enjoy so long as the fruit’s seeds are removed. Low in calories, apples provide dogs with an additional amount of Vitamins A and C. They are also an excellent source of dietary fiber. As an added bonus, the act of chewing the apple helps to scrub the dog’s teeth preventing tartar accumulation.
Eggs
Rich in protein, eggs are a superfood that offer many benefits to dogs. This humble food offering is easy to digest and contains riboflavin and selenium, two important nutrients all dogs need. Eggs are particularly beneficial for dogs that suffer from stomach distress as they provide the necessary protein to maintain strength but are not overly heavy on the body.
Quinoa
Quinoa is a nutritious seed that is free from gluten and easy for dogs to process. Its main benefits include additional protein and calcium to help support the development of a healthy body.
Broccoli
Broccoli can safely be fed to dogs in its raw form or cooked. This powerhouse vegetable offers dogs an excellent serving of dietary fiber as well as Vitamin C. It is naturally low in fat and calories, making it a healthy snack for dogs to enjoy.
Will All Dogs Eat Superfoods?
Though most dogs do enjoy eating superfoods, there are some that display little interest in them. For dogs that do not like fruits and vegetables, these superfoods can be cooked, pureed, then added to the dog’s daily meals, ensuring additional health benefits without sacrificing the taste of the dog’s regular food.
Author: Jason Homan
