What is a Fresh, Healthy, Natural diet for Dogs?
When dog parents think of a fresh, natural diet, most often a raw diet comes to mind. In reality, a fresh food diet simply means real, whole, human grade ingredients, without additives or preservatives or any processing that removes the majority of nutrients. These meals can be home prepared or purchased, and can be raw or cooked (although cooking does affect nutrients). The common factor in all of these diets is that they include fresh ingredients instead of processed food.
Why Fresh Food for Dogs?
As consumers learn more about how the majority of today’s pet foods are made, and the quality of the ingredients that go into these foods, many people are looking for alternative and better ways to feed their pets.
What are the benefits of a fresh food diet?
Prevents Disease
Fresh food diets typically have plenty of antioxidants and high quality proteins, so they can help boost the immune system, helping to reduce a number of health issues. Many people with dogs who have health issues find those diseases and symptoms can be turned around once dogs are switched to a fresh food diet.
Weight Management
Commercial diets, especially ones made with low quality ingredients, play a huge part in dogs’ weight issues. One of the main reasons is because it’s loaded with inexpensive starch fillers such as corn and potatoes. On the other hand, fresh, natural diets focus on real meats, fruits, and vegetables. This type of diet helps your dog stay lean.
Increases a Dog’s Lifespan
Because commercial dog food contains starch, preservatives, dyes and synthetic nutrients it can eventually take a toll on your dog’s health. Studies show that dogs who are fed a fresh food diet live an average of 2.5 years longer than dogs who are fed a commercial, processed diet.
Improves digestive health
In the wild, dogs typically prey on small animals. Since most small animals are herbivores, the dog consumes both meat and the vegetables in the prey’s stomach. This provides a dog with the nutrients and fiber to keep their digestive tract working smoothly. A fresh food diet provides the same benefit. Plus, you’ll find that your dog sleeps better!
Improves Cognitive Ability
Research has shown that a diet rich in antioxidants such as fresh, colorful produce can prevent or at least reduce cognitive decline in humans. The same can be shown in dogs.
Promotes Healthy Skin and a Shiny Coat
Because of the way commercial dog food is processed, it can deprive dogs of the healthy fats and oils they need to maintain healthy skin and coat. After switching to a fresh food diet problems such as itchy, dry skin and rough, dull coats tend to disappear.
It makes sense that for most dogs, feeding a fresh, natural diet can improve their life in a number of ways. We’ve been feeding our dogs this way for many years, and they’ve always been healthy, lean, muscular, and energetic, with no skin or coat issues. If you want to give your dog the best chance for health and longevity, try a fresh, natural diet.
