Nutrition & Behaviour

I am a big believer in we are what we eat and the same goes for our pets. After recently doing a course on nutrition, it has made me think even more about what we feed our pets, particularly our dogs. Most other pets we do not have so much control over what they eat, most cats will go out and catch their own meals as well as what we are feeding them. Or refuse to eat things if we do not keep their meals exciting! Horses and small animals graze as well as the hard feed we feed them. 

Most dogs by their very nature as scavengers will eat pretty much whatever is put in front of them! Their diets are pretty much dictated by us, and what is most convenient for us as well as trying to do best by them. Over time we have developed a philosophy of feeding the same food, day in day out to our dogs. Not only can this cause intolerance's to develop, it's also pretty boring. Imagine eating the same thing day to day out! Research is coming through about the importance of keeping gut microbes healthy and the affect it has on the mood and therefore behaviour as well as health. 

Basically research is suggesting that by just adding fresh (fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and herbs etc) to your dogs diet you can drastically reduce your dogs risk of cancer. All you need to do it add a variety of fresh things to your dogs dinner 3 times a week to dramatically reduce their risk of cancer and to have a healthier happier dog. Just research that you are not adding anything toxic to dogs before adding it. The thing I love best about it is watching the dogs try different things and picking out what they like best. It's a great form of enrichment for them too! Meal times are taking longer because they are thinking about what they are eating.

If you would like advice on your dogs diet, references or recommendations on where to learn more about this please pop into store, or message, or email. 

Happy feeding I have attached some photos of my doggies dinner this morning.