Want to learn how you can improve a dog’s diet today?
If you read my blog then you already know that I advocate for feeding our Chihuahuas a fresh food diet. There are many reasons for that and I have written countless articles about the reasons why. But, I also caution against trying to do it on your own. A fresh food diet should always be created by a veterinary nutritionist or a canine nutrition specialist.
With all that being said, it’s not so easy to feed your Chihuahua a fresh food diet that you are confident meets all the necessary nutrition requirements and in the right balance for optimal health.
For many Chi pawrents feeding their Chihuahua a fresh food diet is just not reasonable for their budget or lifestyle. So what’s a loving Chihuahua pawrent to do?
Deciding what to feed your dog is a big decision, and it may seem complicated to figure out what dog food on the shelves is best. But no matter what brand of dog food you feed your Chihuahua it’s never too late to improve on it and make it healthier.
My dogs are all four lean, healthy, and energetic cuddle machines. My oldest, Winston has the usual senior dog issues that just come with getting older, but he is a healthy senior. I’ve always been conscious of the importance of good nutrition for my little Fab-4 and the ones that have come and gone through the years.
it's time to stop beating yourself up and time to stop worrying!
When it comes to feeding your Chi, it’s not all or nothing. In other words, you don’t have to be perfect and get all crazy about whether you are feeding them right or not. But you can start to improve your dog’s diet today.
I realize that a lot depends on the time and money that you have available and your unique circumstances. You don’t have to make immediate, drastic changes. Every step in the right direction helps.
All the studies show and I agree that feeding them fresh whole gently cooked food is healthy for them, but not everyone can do that and if you aren’t either, just incorporating some of the suggestions below will help.
- Add fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables
- Make sure meat (not meal) is the biggest portion of their daily diet
- Add a variety of whole grains and fresh food
- Wash produce in apple cider vinegar
- Whole grains are great but don't buy processed dog food with corn or grains
- Do not overfeed and limit treats
- Add coconut and krill oil for brain function, cardiovascular health, and healthy skin and coat.
- Add natural vitamin supplements
- Include live enzymens and probiotics
- Give fruits and vegetables as treats
ignore the marketing hype
Just ignore the hype and read the label! Please don’t rely on advertisements for nutritional information. The people who write the ads have nothing to do with the product itself except to get you to buy it. They don’t care about your dog’s health
if possible avoid feeding shelf-stable food
What does that mean? It means food that has a shelf life of 12 to 24 months! Again, marketing wants us to believe that these foods provide everything dogs need to live long and healthy lives. That is not true. Shelf-stable foods have no live enzymes, something dogs, as well as humans, need to stay healthy. They use synthetic supplementation to meet the “balanced” nutritional standard set by The American Association of Feed Control Officials, (AAFCO). This is not how you feed a dog healthy!
“The AAFCO has no regulatory authority, the Association provides a forum for the membership and industry representation to achieve three main goals”
If dry kibble is all you can afford to feed your dog, don’t beat yourself up. Just be sure to find one that lists the first 5 ingredients starting with a good protein source and supplement with natural and holistic vitamins and enzymes. This will help to improve your dog’s diet. Or, better yet…
conclusion
The bottom line is; do the best you can and incorporate into their diet any of these suggestions that you can. We all want our Chihuahuas to be as healthy as they possibly can be, and we all do the best that we can.
The suggestions listed above will help to improve your dog’s diet regardless of what you feed them now. This is how you feed your dog healthily.
MADE WITH REAL FOOD THAT REALLY GETS YOUR CHIHUAHUA GOING!