The cornerstone of many canine diets in America is kibble, or dry dog food. Its convenience and affordability make it a popular choice, accounting for over 60% of the dog food market. However, kibble, despite its widespread use, is far from a perfect nutritional solution. The good news for devoted dog owners is that kibble’s nutritional profile can be significantly improved by incorporating simple additions of cooked or raw foods. Mary Straus, a seasoned pet food researcher and owner of the DogAware.com website, emphasizes that kibble, due to its highly processed nature and tendency to be carbohydrate-rich, is the type of diet that most benefits from enhancement. Dogs have no inherent nutritional requirement for carbohydrates; in contrast, animal-source proteins are vital for supporting the immune and central nervous systems, aiding in wound healing, promoting lean muscle development, and maintaining healthy skin and coat.
Strategic Additions to Your Dog’s Food Bowl
When supplementing your dog’s dry food, it’s crucial to remember that these additions should constitute a modest portion of their total caloric intake. Exceeding 25% of daily calories from fresh foods, treats, and chews risks unbalancing the overall diet unless careful attention is paid to balancing the added components, according to Straus. Adhering to this guideline ensures your dog benefits from added enjoyment and variety without compromising their essential nutritional needs.
1. Eggs: A Nutritional Powerhouse
Eggs are among the simplest and healthiest additions to a dog’s diet. They can be fed raw, lightly scrambled, soft-boiled, or hard-boiled. Straus confirms that whole raw eggs are safe, as the biotin in the yolk counteracts any potential biotin depletion by raw egg whites. For easier digestion, cooking the egg whites is recommended. For dogs weighing 40 pounds or more, a whole egg daily is appropriate. For those between 20 and 40 pounds, half an egg, or a whole egg every other day, is a suitable amount, with smaller dogs requiring proportionately less.
2. Muscle and Organ Meats
Incorporating various muscle meats, such as chicken, turkey, or lean beef, is highly beneficial. Ensure these are cut into small, easily digestible pieces, whether served raw or lightly cooked. It’s critical to never feed cooked bones, as they can splinter. While organ meats like liver offer valuable nutrients, Straus advises caution with beef liver for kibble-fed dogs, as many commercial foods are already high in copper, and excessive amounts can lead to copper storage disease. For other organ meats, such as heart and poultry gizzards, which are nutritionally akin to muscle meats, introduce them in small quantities. Some dogs may experience digestive upset if fed too much at once.
3. Fish: Rich in Omega-3s
Canned sardines (packed in water), jack mackerel, and pink salmon are excellent choices due to their omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) and trace minerals. Straus recommends providing 3 to 10 mg of EPA/DHA per pound of body weight daily. For instance, a small sardine (under half an ounce) can provide 100 to 150 mg of these beneficial fatty acids. However, avoid feeding raw salmon or trout from the Pacific Northwest, as it may contain a fatal parasite for dogs. This precaution also extends to other saltwater fish that spawn in freshwater, such as smelt, sturgeon, shad, and striped bass.
4. Fermented Dairy: Yogurt and Kefir
Homemade or commercially produced yogurt and kefir, fortified with probiotics and free from sugar or xylitol, can be beneficial for digestive health. Whole-milk versions are generally fine unless your dog requires a low-fat diet.
5. Cottage Cheese and Ricotta Cheese
Many dogs readily accept cottage cheese and ricotta. If these cheeses are made from the milk of grass-fed cows, particularly A2 milk or goat’s milk, they are easily digested and provide valuable protein.
6. Canned Pumpkin: A Digestive Aid
Plain canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix, serves as a versatile digestive aid for both diarrhea and constipation. A common recommendation is to feed about 1 teaspoon of plain canned or pureed cooked pumpkin per 10 pounds of body weight, once or twice daily.
7. Cooked or Pureed Vegetables
While whole raw vegetables offer limited nutritional value due to dogs’ inability to thoroughly chew and break down cell walls, pureeing or cooking vegetables significantly enhances their digestibility. Recommended options include carrots, celery, leafy greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, asparagus, turnips, and parsnips. Onions are toxic to dogs and should be avoided. Additionally, if your dog exhibits symptoms of arthritis or inflammation, steer clear of nightshade family plants like potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, and goji berries.
8. Fruit: A Sweet Treat in Moderation
Fruits like bananas, apples, melons, pears, and blueberries are generally enjoyed by dogs. However, avocados should be consumed in moderation due to their high fat and calorie content. Grapes, raisins, and fruit seeds and pits are potentially hazardous. The primary concern with fruit is its sugar content, making it advisable to offer fruits in smaller quantities.
9. Raw Green Tripe: A Nutrient-Dense Choice
While supermarket honeycomb tripe is available, raw green tripe—untreated and greenish-brown in color—is nutritionally superior, though its strong odor may be off-putting to humans. Raw green tripe from grass-fed cattle is highly recommended. If feeding a dry diet, limit green tripe to a maximum of 25% or less of your dog’s daily caloric intake.
10. Recreational Bones: For Chewing Pleasure and Dental Health
Raw, fresh bones can offer significant benefits, including cleaning teeth, preventing gum disease, and providing jaw exercise. However, bones, particularly marrow bones, pose a risk of broken teeth if their size and shape allow dogs to crunch them. Knuckle bones may be safer due to their shape. Swallowed bone shards can cause serious internal issues. Always feed raw, fresh bones and remove them once the meat has been consumed, before they dry out. Cooked or dried bones are not recommended as they can splinter.
For those seeking further guidance on enhancing their dog’s diet with fresh foods, resources like “Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet” by Steve Brown and “Chow: Simple Ways to Share the Foods You Love with the Dogs You Love” by Rick Woodford offer valuable insights and recipes. Mary Straus’s website, dogaware.com, also provides extensive information.
