Eating healthier is a practice that the world is embracing, and therefore it is a certainty that fresh dog food is becoming the norm for pet owners. New ingredients, without preservatives and other chemicals, can benefit your dog’s health, including digestion, skin and coat conditions, and more.
Deciding what fresh food to give your dog can therefore be a difficult task, especially given the number of products to choose from. In this article, you’ll learn about the advantages of fresh dog food, how to choose the right fresh dog food, and much more.
Why Use Fresh Dog Food?
When comparing fresh dog food with the conventional kibble or canned types of food, you’ll realize that their components vary enormously. Dog foods that are conventionally produced and organized for delivery as fresh are formulated from raw meats, vegetables, and cereals that have undergone minimal processing. Such food is usually cooked in small quantities, and when it is made in a large amount, it is delivered to your doorstep; hence, it mostly does not require being preserved in any way.
Fresh dog food has several benefits:
- Better digestion: It is easier for dogs to digest natural ingredients rather than artificial ones, which as a result cause firmer stools and few complaints of digestion.
- Healthier skin and coat: Dog foods containing omega-3 fatty acids and proteins are good for the skin and give the coat a shiny appearance.
- Increased energy levels: Fresh diets help dogs a lot, especially when it comes to their energy and alertness levels.
- Improved immune system: As the antioxidants of fresh dog food improve a dog’s immunity organ, vitamins do the same and even more.
Understanding the Costs of Fresh Dog Food
As much as fresh dog food is beneficial in supplementing the nutritional needs of dogs, it can be slightly more costly than traditional dog food. Nevertheless, the long-term health of the animal is worth the cost of the investment in the pet. In different brands, you might ask a few questions about whether they are worth the amount of price that is being charged.
The freshness of foods should, in this case, be assessed based on a consideration of the nutritional contents and the ingredients as opposed to the wholesale cost point. So if you are thinking about switching? Here’s why The Farmer’s Dog’s cost, nutritional value, and overall quality make it worth the investment for your pet’s health. The Farmer’s Dog concentrates on preparing nutritionally balanced, fresh, and quality food for your dog and nothing more.
How to Choose the Right Brand
When selecting fresh dog food, you should not only consider cheap offers; there are more factors to look for. So, it will be ideal to look for a more transparent brand, especially concerning the ingredients it employs in making the food as well as the process it goes through. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a brand:
- Ingredients: Apprise yourself of real meat, vegetables, and grains. Certain brands use ingredients such as corn, soy, or by-products, and these should be avoided.
- Customization: Most of the new fresh dog food providers can design individual meals based on the breed, age, weight, and activity level of your dog.
- Storage and Convenience: Some of the brands deliver fresh foods in a refrigerated truck or provide meal portions where preparation and consumption of fresh food are possible.
- Sourcing: Another thing that should not go unnoticed is the origin of the ingredients used; if you want to feed your dog organic food that was sourced in a manner that is friendly to the environment and the animals, then this is something that should be checked.
For extra interesting information on delicious treats and nutrition for your dog, visit The Dog Bakery’s blog for informative tips and products that would make your furry companion happier and healthier.
Additional Factors to Consider
When changing your dog to a natural diet, it is advisable to do it slowly to avoid signs of digestion problems. Sudden alteration in the type of food causes digestive problems; hence, you should mix the new food with the existing one for about one to two weeks. This enables their system to scale without discomfort.
Furthermore, you should talk to your vet before actually changing something drastically in your dog’s diet. A veterinarian, therefore, will be able to determine your pet’s special requirements, such as allergies, obesity, and other issues. Information on diets required for maintaining the general health of a dog can be found on WebMD Pets.
Making Fresh Food Affordable
If the cost is an issue, there are alternatives on how to include fresh dog food in the diet of your pet. The first solution to feeding your dog is to add some freshly prepared food to its high-quality kibble diet. This method enables your dog to have the natural meals that you prepare for him/her at a cheap price.
Another way through which one can save cost is through discounts. Keep an eye since many dealers of fresh foods or delivery services have a policy of giving discounts on items that have been ordered repeatedly.
Although it can be expensive in the short run, feeding your dog appropriate food that provides it with all the nutrients it requires can save you more in the long run by limiting your dog’s trekking trips to the vet in cases of illnesses caused by inadequate nutrition. It may cost a little more to feed your pet the best foods, but you will end up paying more when your pet is sick and needs special care.
Conclusion
In general, selecting the proper fresh food to feed your dog is traced with nutrient density, price, and accessibility. This way, feeding your dog healthy, whole foods that are in its best interest and finding a good match for everyone’s wallet and belief systems can make life a lot easier. The concept of feeding dogs with fresh food is not a mere fancy; it can become a revolution in the way your dog lives, feels, and develops.