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Southlake Animal Hospital
Give us a call today! 219-942-0909
Call us today! 219-942-0909

3570 E. Lincoln Hwy
Merrillville, IN 46410

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Feeding Fresh Whole Foods

February 17 2017

Fresh whole foods such as fruits and vegetables, dairy and meat, offer our pets digestible, nutrient rich food which can be added to any diet your pet is already eating.

 

Feeding your pet fresh whole foods as part of a balanced diet can have a profoundly positive affect on a pet’s overall health and can be a great aid in avoiding, treating and remedying many health issues.

Meat

Meat is a rich source of protein, amino acids and contains many nutrients necessary for the health of dogs and cats. Protein should be the primary source of food for a dog and cat. Dogs can survive without carbohydrates but they cannot survive without protein and fat in their diet and cats have no need at all for carbohydrates.  Organically raised, pasture fed, chemical free (no antibiotics, no growth hormones, no GMO grain feed, etc.) raised is always a better choice.  Raw is better but cooked is fine also.

Fish (wild or wild-caught) fatty fish such as: Anchovies, Salmon, Sardines, Shad, Smelt, Mackerel

You can also add other forms of protein such as:

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruit and veggies contain a lot of good soluble and insoluble fiber, but they are also rich in vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and are naturally low in fat while being filling.
Eating fresh fruit and vegetables also plays an important role in:

In the wild, dogs eat pre-digested fruits and vegetables when they consume the digestive organs of herbaceous prey. They also consume some plants, fruits, vegetables to self-heal and boost their immune systems.

 

Fruit  that is Safe & Beneficial for Dog’s to Consume- Fresh or Frozen
The following is a partial list…no pits or seeds

Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Clementines, Cranberries, Coconut (fresh or dry non-sweetened, shredded), Grapefruit, Goji Berries (if your dog is on medications check for drug interactions), Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Mangos, Nectarines, Oranges, Papaya, Peaches, Pears, Pineapple, Plums, Pomegranate, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Watermelon

Vegetables  that are Safe & Beneficial for Dog’s to Consume Fresh, frozen and/or cooked veggies, low sodium canned would be a last choice.

Alfalfa Sprouts, Asparagus, Broccoli, Broccoli Sprouts, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, Celery, Cucumber
Kelp, Spirulina, Leafy greens – beet greens, green or red leaf lettuce, frizzy lettuce, kale, radicchio, romaine, spinach, cilantro, dandelion, parsley; Squash – various types, summer and winter squash; Sweet Peppers – green, yellow, orange, red and purple; Mushrooms – Chaga, Maitake, Shiitake, Reishi; Pumpkin, Okra, Zucchini, Roots Vegetables- Beets, Carrots, Parsnips, Rutabaga, Turnip, Sweet Potatoes

 

How to Feed Your Dog Fruits and Veggies…

Preparation to Ensure Maximum Absorption of Nutrients from Fresh Fruit and 
Vegetables

By choosing one of these four methods to breakdown the food’s cell-wall you

perform the first stage of digestion, so your dog’s GI tract can absorb nutrients properly.

  Removing Commercially Manufactured Kibble from Your Dog’s Diet

If you are thinking of completely removing commercially manufactured kibble from your dog’s diet, please see our friends at Woof Life to get started on a commercial raw diet, canned food, a prepared home cooked diet by Always Real Food, or a combination of these. If you would like to make your own home cooked or raw diet, they have recipes available for purchase.  If you feed an unbalanced home cooked or raw diet, you will be doing more harm than the kibble diet your pet has been eating. We also recommend all pets are on a probiotic with digestive enzymes and a source of Omega Fatty Acids such as Fish and Coconut Oils.