7 Healthy additives for your dog's Kibble

Please Note: The author is in no way a k9 nutritionist or vet. These are suggestions based on what she has fed her dogs with great results as well as doing her own research.

Always consult a vet if you are unsure about feeding your dog any human food. What works for one dog might not work with another, etc.

Dogs have been a part of humanity for a very long time. They ate our scrapes and were our hunting partners a long time ago, Nowadays dogs have other jobs. Therapy, search and rescue, service dogs, military and police dogs, and more.

Dog food has evolved from what it used to be, but there are still issues with certain brands of kibble. They include ingredients such as Red dye forty, BHA, diseased meat, and in some scary and random cases, a euthanasia drug was accidentally mixed into a batch of kibble. Causing a few dogs to collapse dead after eating the tainted food.

Which was scary for the dog's owners, vets, and pet food manufacturers. (BHA and red dye forty have been known to cause cancer and other terrible health issues in dogs)

Due to this many pet parents have switched from plain kibble to Freeze dried food, (Open farm, Stella and Chewys) Air dried food (Sundays), Or switched to kibble with higher quality ingredients. (Farmina N&D, Fromm, zignature, inception, Roosevelt, etc... They might also switch to a completely raw diet of meat, bone, and organs. Which is a great option if you can afford it.

If you feed a raw diet. Your dog will have better poop, great skin, and coat health as well as better teeth and overall health. Brands such as We Feed Raw, Darwin's, and Raw feeding Miami are just a few examples.

There are also fresh frozen food options that are premade and are made to be kept frozen until mealtime. (JustFoodForDogs, Open farm, Stella and Chewy's, Farmer's dog, Petplate, etc.) However not every pet parent can afford such high-quality foods and supplements and that's ok. There are a lot of healthy foods that you buy for yourself that you can also give to your dog. Here's a list of 5.

1. Blueberries

According to the American Kennel club. Dogs can eat blueberries as they state in an article discussing this. "Blueberries are low in calories and contain high amounts of vitamin C, fiber, and phytochemicals (naturally occurring chemical compounds found in plants). Vitamin C and fiber are vital components of proper canine nutrition..."

2. Carrots

According to an article by PetMD. "Carrots are a safe and healthy treat for puppies and adult dogs, as long as they are cut up into ¼-inch thick slices. And as with any treat, moderation is key.

Carrots promote eye health in dogs and humans, and the crunchiness is great for satisfying a dog’s primal urge to chew. It’s a low-calorie snack, plus your dog can benefit from these vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients found in carrots:

1. Vitamin A

2. Vitamin K

3. Potassium

4. Vitamin B6

5. Beta-carotene

6. Calcium

7. Iron

8. High in fiber

Carrots have a significant amount of insoluble fiber, which can help regulate stool, and the vitamin A and antioxidants can help improve the skin and coat."

Carrots are not very expensive and are healthy for both you and your dog. Maybe next time if you have a carrot snack share some with your dog.

3. Water

Yes, you heard me right water. Warm water to be exact. Kibble is often cooked at a very high temperature which results in the dried-out crunchy, hard dog food we are very familiar with.

This is a problem though because the kibble is so dried out that there's no moisture and almost little to no nutrients in the kibble because of the high cooking temperature.

(it's often cooked at 180 degrees according to This article by the truth about pet food.) Because of how hard and dry the kibble is when served. Dogs tend to get very thirsty after eating due to the dryness of the food they are consuming. Requiring you to give them a lot of water after they eat.

So to help your dog out. Add warm water to their food and let it soak for about 20 mins before meal time. It helps bring out nutrients in the food and makes the meal easier for your dog to eat. (It's good for dogs who won't drink enough water on their own or older dogs who can't have crunchy or hard-to-chew kibble if softer fresher food isn't an option.)

4. Greek yogurt or Kefir.

Another good additive for your dog to help their digestive system is Greek yogurt or kefir. According to Whole dog journal. "Fermented dairy products that are homemade or manufactured with added probiotics – and are free of sugar or xylitol – can help with digestive issues. Whole-milk yogurt or kefir is fine unless your dog needs a low-fat diet..." If you want more information check out this link

5. Eggs. Whole dog journal also mentions eggs as a good additive from the same article that mentions the greek yogurt and kefir. Linked here They mention this about adding eggs. "Feed eggs raw or lightly scrambled, soft-boiled, or hard-boiled. “Whole raw eggs are fine,” says Straus, “as the yolks contain plenty of biotins to make up for what raw egg whites destroy, but the whites are more easily digested when cooked..."

6. Pumpkin puree. Pumpkin is a great source of fiber for your dog's digestive system especially when they have an upset stomach like constipation or diarrhea. It also makes a great enrichment treat when frozen in a kong or on a lickimat. (Same with the greek yogurt.)

7. Spinach, Peas, and, celery. According to the American kennel club. Dogs can eat spinach and celery They explain. "Yes, dogs can eat spinach, but it’s not one of the top vegetables you’ll want to be sharing with your pup. Spinach is high in oxalic acid, which blocks the body’s ability to absorb calcium and can lead to kidney damage.

While your dog would probably have to eat a very large amount of spinach to have this problem, it might be best to go with another vegetable."

They have this to say about peas. "Green peas, snow peas, sugar snap peas, and garden or English peas are all OK for dogs to find in their bowl on occasion. Peas have several vitamins, and minerals, and are rich in protein and high in fiber. You can feed your dog fresh or frozen peas, but avoid canned peas with added sodium..."

They also mention celery as another good vegetable. They said this. "Yes, celery is safe for dogs to eat. In addition to vitamins A, B, and C, this crunchy green snack contains the nutrients needed to promote a healthy heart and even fight cancer. As if that wasn’t enough, celery is also known to freshen doggy breath..."

Now you have a short list of additives you can add to your dog's kibble to boost their overall health.

Resources and more info

If you want to read more check out The forever dog by Karen Becker and Robert Habib.

Big bad kibble. the Hidden Dangers of the pet food industry By Shawn Buckley and Dr. Oscar Shavez.

Resources

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/new-study-finds-drying-time-of-kibble-lessens-nutritional value/#:~:text=Pet%20Food%20cooking%3A%20Kibble%20temperature,on%20the%20product%20being%20canned.

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-blueberries/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20dogs%20can%20eat%20blueberries,and%20most%20pups%20love%20them.

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/fruits-vegetables-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20dogs%20can%20eat%20spinach,can%20lead%20to%20kidney%20damage.

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/food/can-dogs-drink-milk-eat-dairy-products/

https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-carrots

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/food/10-healthy-dog-food-additives/