Healthy dogfood – all you need to know at one glance
Tasty food is not always healthy. This not only applies to our own eating habits, but also to ours dogs. Flavour enhancers and attractants influence the taste of sweet and salty snacks for humans as well as the food for dogs. A huge variety of flavours available on the market also confuses owners. Which dog food is genuinely healthy? What ingredients may or may not be included? What needs to be considered to feed your four-legged friend a healthy diet? The most important facts for you are listed below.
High quality and natural – the basic ingredients of healthy dog food
Unlike the cat, the dog is not an exclusive carnivore, however the main component of its food should still be meat. Added to the meat, some vegetables, fruits and herbs. In the sense of a balanced diet, the dog receives enough energy from carbohydrates as well as essential fatty acids, proteins, minerals, vitamins and other important nutrients. The meat and herbal ingredients must be of a high quality and natural. Healthy dog food with only one animal source of protein is best, as it corresponds to the dog’s natural eating habits.
Healthy without any grain
High amounts of grain such as wheat, rye or barley have no place in high quality dog food because there is a lot of energy in cereals. Cereals contains vitamins, minerals and trace elements, but if the proportion is incorrect or low-grade vegetable by-products such as roots, shells and peels are processed, then it is not species appropriate. In addition, many dogs are allergic to the various types of cereals or do not tolerate the gluten contained in cereals. This is the reason why Naturavetal has always avoided using grain containing gluten. Grain is difficult to fully digest – it not only leads to short-term constipation or diarrhoea, but it can also cause long-term diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs. If you want to prepare a healthy meal for your four-legged friend yourself, it is better not to use common cereals. Instead, go for grain-free buckwheat or millet as an alternative.
Cold pressed – species appropriate
Dog food is healthy, if the natural ingredients are preserved through careful and gentle processing. That is why cold pressed dry food such as Canis Plus® from Naturavetal is ideal for a balanced diet. You will find that industrially produced dry dog food is mostly extruded. During their manufacture, the individual components are heated up to a high temperature, which means that vitamins and nutrients are lost. Gentle cold pressing, on the other hand, retains all the valuable ingredients and easily digestible fibre. This way, it contributes to keeping the dog healthy.
Toxic foods – foods that dogs must not eat
It is important to know which foods dogs should not eat. Some are simply not digestible for them, whilst others are even highly toxic, see our factsheet on toxic foods. Our healthy dog food does not contain incompatible or even harmful ingredients. Be aware, especially on walks, when visiting friends and relatives etc. that it is important to pay attention to what the dog picks up.
Healthy Dog food and BARF
Do you feed BARF or partial BARF? In this case, it is particularly important to ensure a healthy and balanced diet, to prevent deficiency symptoms. We have summarised everything you need to know about raw meat nutrition in this guide with a list of healthy ingredients. Healthy dog food and BARF are closely linked, because the theory behind this is the effort to feed the animal as species appropriate and as natural as possible. This focuses on the eating behaviour of the wolf. The wolf consumes the meat of its prey as well as the vegetable stomach content. About 70 percent meat and 30 percent vegetables, fruit, herbs and seedlings – this ratio characterizes a balanced healthy dog food.
Not too much and not too little, the correct quantity matters
The right portion for healthy dog food is sometimes not easy to find. This is because some dogs have a large appetite and unfortunately also tend to be overweight. Others are extremely lively and therefore use up lots of energy and correspondingly requires more feed. In actual fact, most pet owners over feed. Most dogs love their food and love to lick their bowls empty. Surprisingly, feeding a smaller portion is enough, 3% of the dog’s body weight is enough for the daily ration of wet food. We recommend 5% for puppies and 2.5% for seniors. For undernourished and sick dogs, an individual value applies, which is best coordinated with our advisory team.
The advantages of healthy dog food from Naturavetal
- Natural, high quality ingredients without synthetic additives
- Fresh and carefully prepared
- Transparent listing of the ingredients
- Without flavouring, colouring, additives and preservatives
- Without added sugar, caramel and artificial sweeteners
- Without vegetable by-products such as roots or husks from grain production
- Without animal by-products such as feathers, claws, horns and beaks
We are happy to provide you with comprehensive advice on the appropriate nutrition for your dog. You can reach us Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm on 0208 – 531 7804 or by email: info@naturavetal.co.uk
