I posted a picture of my little Romeo in a dog lover’s FB group and he got almost 2000 “Likes”! People love their dogs. And we want to keep them healthy and with us as long as possible. We are still in the process of finding the right food for our two Pomeranians, but in the meantime, I've changed some of our snacking. l
According to the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), 56% of dogs in the US are overweight, which increases their risk of heart disease, osteoarthritis, and cancer. But even reading the labels doesn’t always guarantee healthy choices. One study showed that 76% of the snacks studied had inaccurate listings of ingredients. So we decided we wanted to try some natural snacks. Here’s some of the snacks I am going to try for our dogs (Barbie and Romeo).
Apples: Good in fiber and have a lot of antioxidants. Caution - Always remove the seeds and core before giving to your dog. Bonus – Good for dental health
Bananas: High in fiber, potassium and copper, which is good for heart health. Consideration – Also high in sugar so serve in moderation.
Blueberries: High in antioxidants and dogs love them. Pro Tip: break open the berries so the dog can smell them better and they are more interesting to your pooch.
Cantaloupe: Lots of beta-carotene, fiber, potassium, Vitamins A, B-6 and C. Caution – Always remove the seeds and rind.
Carrots: Great for fiber and beta-carotene. The texture of the carrot might also help with dental health.
Celery: Crunchy, which dogs love, full of Vitamins A, B, and C.
Cucumbers: Loaded with nutrients including magnesium. Can also help hydrate your dog, especially in summer. The phytonutrients can help fight bacteria which causes bad breath.
Green Beans: Again, crunchy and full of iron, folic acid, and vitamins. Caution- Only feed fresh or canned without salt.
Pears: These contain lots of fiber, vitamins, and are great for digestion and the immune system. Caution – Be sure to core before serving.
Pumpkin: Rich in beta-carotene, fiber, potassium and Vitamin C. May also help with diarrhea and constipation. Pro Tip: Use canned pumpkin puree instead of pie filling. Less sugar and spices.
Sweet Potatoes: Great for beta-carotene, Vitamin B-6 and C. If you are cooking them for your dog, opt for steaming or boiling them. Caution – raw potatoes can be too rough for your dog’s digestive system.
I just have to talk a little about nutrition here too. Our dogs have become pretty finicky eaters and we were worried that they weren’t getting the nutrition that they needed. For the last 6 months, I have been giving them a puree that I also take that is full of goji berries (wolfberries), blueberries, plum, cherry, and pomegranate juices and extracts. A “superfood.” They love it. I just put one dropper on some of their food or snacks. The benefits are higher energy levels (for me especially), support for cellular function and whole-body health. I have seen a noticeable difference in the dogs, especially my little one Romeo. Lots more spunk.
Bonus: I have a bunch of notes that I have collected about healthier, more natural choices for pet care. If you’re interested, I can send them out to you in a short email series. Just drop me a note and I’ll get it out to you.
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