Dog Nutrition for New Dog Parents
10-minute read
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Disclaimer- I am not a veterinary nor am I a dog nutritionist. I am only sharing dog nutrition information I have researched and used for my own dogs. Of course, always consult and work with your vet before changing your dog’s food and nutritional needs.
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Hi there, new dog parents! Cassie here, and dog mom to 7 (yes seven, that is not a typo) Standard Poodles and 1 Sheepadoodle (Old English Sheepdog and Poodle). Check out my Our Dogs page.
Having so many dogs can be expensive to feed. Yep, people are sure I am crazy for having so many dogs. I know you are thinking the same thing. That is why I have learned ways to save money on dog food without jeopardizing their nutritional needs. And you, the new dog parent, can too!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dog Nutrition Basics
Cooking Homemade
Feeding Kibble
Feeding Raw/ Grain Free
Giving Treats
First, let me just say there are so many dog foods available on the market today. From your basic dry kibbles to canned wet foods, to freeze-dried foods, and breed specific online subscriptions.
Knowing what to feed your dog and which brands or online dog food subscriptions to choose can be really overwhelming. Especially for new dog parents, who want the absolute best for their new family member.
I am involved in many dog Facebook groups and the question I see most often is “What should I feed my dog?” I know this question is asked so often because there are so many options. Not to mention the opinions. Everyone has their preferred brands of dog food and their reasons to support it.
Do not let this overwhelm you. While feeding your dog the cheapest brand you can find on the shelf at Walmart may not be the best nutritional choice for your furry friend, you don’t have to feel like buying the most expensive online subscription brand dog food is necessary either.
The best balance I have found is somewhere in the middle of the two. It is also about variety. Just like humans, our 4-legged family members get bored with the same old food.
Trust me, with 8 dogs in our home I have found this so true. Roxy, my emotional support dog, will show her disgust with the same old dry kibble by pushing through the whole bowl with her nose searching for something more. Then she will look at me and sit back on her fluffy bottom in defiance. It is as if she is saying “Where’s the good stuff Mom?”
In contrast to Roxy on the total opposite end, her dad, Cooper is not at all food motivated and will scarf down 2 bowls of dry kibble, pass up on treats, and rush back to playing with his toys.
Dogs are quite different in terms of food and that is why it is our job, as dog parents, to understand our dog’s relationship with food and do the best we can to provide the right foods to complete their nutritional needs.
Dog Nutrition Basics
So, what are the basic nutritional needs for our dogs? If you were to do a google search on the topic you would again be overwhelmed and may even be confused by all the information out there. I have found a way to simplify it. Here are the basics.
Proteins- should always be the main ingredient in your pooch’s chow. Human grade, whole proteins such as beef, beef liver, eggs, chicken, chicken liver, pork, turkey, lamb, and fatty fishes such as sardines, salmon, mackerel, herring, trout, cod, pollock, bass, anchovies, and flounder.
Healthy fats- are mostly provided from the proteins you choose, but adding in these healthy fats is ideal. I have found avocadoes to be controversial both supporting and non-supporting articles were found in my research.
Nut and seed butters such as peanut butter, almond butter, seed butters such as tahini and hemp are all great fat sources. Be sure that xylitol and added sweeteners are not in the ingredients listed in the nut butters you choose.
Plant oils such as avocado (once again controversial), flaxseed, coconut, and full fat yogurt. Be sure the yogurt you choose is full fat, not low fat, and does not have sweeteners added. Full fat Greek with probiotics is good.
Carbohydrates including brown rice, oats, quinoa, barley, and sweet potatoes are all healthy carbohydrates your dog uses for energy.
Dog-friendly vegetables and fruits see my lists here.
Vitamins and minerals-
Vitamin A- found in egg yolks, beef liver, chicken liver, butter, fish (trout, king mackerel), Vegetables (sweet potato, pumpkin, carrots)
Vitamin B- found in liver, heart, kidney, eggs, yeast, molasses
Vitamin D- found in salmon, egg yolks, liver
Vitamin E- found in spinach, oils like sunflower, salmon, and trout
Vitamin K- found in meats, fish, parsley, kale, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage
Choline- found in meats and liver, eggs, beans, spinach
Other- dried kelp, rosemary, and turmeric
Getting all of these into your dog’s homemade food may seem impossible. The best way to meet all your dog’s vitamin and mineral requirements is to add in a good supplement.
Here are the ones I have researched and/ or use for my dogs.
Avidog Essentials is a source I found from Good Dog. Being a dog breeder, I have joined the Good Dog program and have taken their classes on dog breeding. I also post my puppies on their site.
Good Dog is partnered with Avidog Essentials and recommends a variety of dog products on their site. I started using the AVN ProBalance Canine Wellness Formula for all my dogs. I highly recommend this product, but it can be expensive.
I have also used Pet Honesty products from Amazon. Their 10 in 1 Multivitamin is an excellent choice. You can get it here.
Also, NaturVet All in One Support for Dogs is top rated as an excellent multivitamin for your pooch. I have not used this one but have found excellent reviews for it. You can get it on Amazon here.
Note- Sometimes introducing these supplements may make your dog sick. That is ok, I think about it like this, sometimes I get sick from taking multivitamins too. Especially if taken on an empty stomach.
That is why I choose the powdered forms of these to mix in with my dogs' food. This will usually keep them from getting sick. You also want to introduce them slowly. I suggest starting with ¼ of the recommended dose and gradually add more to their food to help them adjust to the transition more easily.
Now that you know the basics of your dog’s nutritional needs, let’s get cooking.
Cooking Homemade
Cooking meals for your dog is as easy as cooking for yourself. Now that we have discussed what foods are good for your dog, you are ready to put together a shopping list and get in the kitchen. The best part is many of these items you may already have. Dog’s diets are much like our own.
Bonus- You save money when you cook for your dog. Especially if you garden and grow your own vegetables and can buy ingredients in bulk.
Here are some of the basic recipes I cook for my dogs regularly.
Feeding Kibble
Kibble aka dry dog foods are a fast, easy choice for your dog’s nutritional needs. Feeding kibble can be a good option if you read and understand labels. Here are some tips for reading labels and ingredients lists.
Top rated dog foods do not have “meals” in them, nor corn. The top 3 ingredients should be a whole protein source such as beef, beef liver, and eggs or chicken, dehydrated chicken, or deboned chicken, and chicken liver. Look for words like “human grade,” this means that these meats are fit for human consumption. Otherwise, you may be feeding your pooch roadkill or worse.
Whole grains like barley, oats, chickpeas, lentils, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pea starch, peas, whole flaxseed, whole millet, and quinoa are good ingredients to be listed on your dog’s kibble bag.
And remember our lists of dog friendly fruits such as apples, blueberries, pears, peaches, bananas, and strawberries. Same goes for dog friendly vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, peas, green beans, carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes to name a few.
A well-rounded dry kibble should also include healthy sources of fats such as salmon oil or salmon, herring, sardines, eggs, coconut oil, and nut butter. And seeds such as chia seeds, flax/ linseeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and hemp seeds.
Choosing good dry dog foods for your 4-legged friend gets a lot easier to narrow down when you know what to look for.
Sidenote for dry dog foods. Always remember to transition gradually when switching foods, otherwise, your pooch may experience an upset tummy including vomiting and diarrhea. It is best to follow these guidelines when switching foods.
Feeding Raw/ Grain Free
Unlike humans, dogs can benefit from eating their foods raw. Studies have shown that feeding raw is beneficial for your dog. Okay, I am not going to lie here. I am no expert on feeding raw, nor do I feed my dogs 100 % raw. I have only recently started studying how to feed raw exclusively.
However, I can share a few key tips and recommend a fellow blogger that has over 25 years of experience in feeding raw. So, without further ado here are a few steps to take toward feeding raw.
Start off slowly and know what your percentages are. First things first, balance Fat and Protein, these are the 2 biggest percentages. The protein source given is going to also provide most of the fat. Therefore, keeping your fat percentages between 10-20% is ideal.
Also, consider if you are giving fats as oils or butters you want to be sure that the overall fat from both protein and healthy fats are in this percentage range.
Be sure if feeding bones, they are raw. Cooked bones can be a choking and/ or splinter hazard to your dog. Raw bones provide your dog with essential vitamins and minerals needed to complete a balanced diet. Bone percentage should be between 10 to 15%.
If you are not feeding raw bones, then opt for a bone meal replacement to ensure the appropriate vitamins and minerals. Also note that grass fed meats are best.
Carbohydrates should be consumed solely from fruits and vegetables from the Dog Friendly lists at 10%. Dogs Naturally Magazine states that grains and legumes cause the wrong gut bacteria and bloat.
I do agree that feeding grain free is more suitable. But I am not going to say I do not feed my dogs healthy carbohydrates because I do feed from the lists above.
However, this is one of the choices you will need to make for yourself and your pooch and don't forget to discuss it with your veterinarian.
According to Dogs Naturally Magazine Vitamin D and magnesium are a bit more challenging to get into a raw diet. Raw fish, egg yolks, mussels, shellfish, oysters, and spinach are reliable sources, therefore, be sure to add these ingredients into your dog's diet as well.
Percentages of how much to feed is the same concept as feeding dry kibble. You want to start off feeding your pup at 8 to 12 weeks of age with 8 to 10% of their body weight, then gradually decrease the percentage over the first year of life. Decreasing the percentage ranges by 2 percent every 2 months of age until 12 months. Adult dogs should be eating 2 to 3 % of their body weight when feeding a raw diet.
Read this article for more information on feeding raw foods.
Giving Treats
My favorite part of feeding my 8 doggies! Giving them a fresh, homemade, and nutritious treat. Dogs love to receive treats and we, as dog parents, love making our dogs happy.
Treats are also the best way to start off training your pup. Rewarding your pooch with high value treats will help you to train them to do the essential commands like sit, down, stay, etc.
The key to making homemade treats for your dogs is to keep it simple. Fewer ingredients are best! Here are some simple homemade treat recipes to get you started. You may notice all have pumpkin. I love to feed pumpkin because all my dogs love it, it is inexpensive and can be used in a variety of recipes, and it is excellent for their tummies.
Got a dog with an upset stomach? Give them a spoonful of pumpkin or a pumpkin based treat. It works!
Wrapping things up here, I must say, while I am no expert on dog nutrition, I do have 8 healthy, happy pooches. I hope you, as the new dog parent, are inspired by this post and able to find the best balance for your fur baby!
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