There are moments of doubt you may have had as a pet owner, wondering if you are feeding your dog the right food. Is what you giving them sufficient? And more importantly, is what you are feeding them healthy? Your pet’s diet goes a long way in establishing their physical and mental health. Here is a list of tips to improve your dog’s diet in simple ways:

1. Go by the label
Most often, we tend to pick food that is attractively packaged and makes strong claims about being the top product in the market. One critical component that we miss is to cross-check if all that the package claims is true? You need to read labels closely to see what the exact contents of these packaged foods are, as this will help us pick the best food for your dog. Keep in mind that the contents are listed in a descending order based on the ingredients that are the largest component in the pack. This will help you make an informed decision about what exactly you are feeding your dog.

2. Don’t rely only on packaged food
We choose packaged or readily available food since that gives us the assurance that it’s a well-balanced diet for our dogs. However, you need to understand that food that can stay on the shelf for as long as 12-24 months does not have all the nutrients your dog needs. One element that these meals lack is any form of live enzymes that are critical for the dog’s health. Most elements in packaged foods tend to contain dehydrated items that are balanced through synthetic supplements, which end up doing more harm than good to your dog. While you can choose to have these foods for quick use, it is best to limit their intake and not make them the only staple.

3. Bring in fresh foods
This is important when you are trying to move away from packaged foods being a staple. Adding in fruits and vegetables will contribute to the overall health of your dog and significantly improve their health. Whole foods, in particular, add the required fibers that a dog requires for them to have a healthy digestive tract.

4. Don’t cook the meat
It is important to realize that dogs don’t require cooked meats. They can eat raw foods and you need to take care to serve them with their nutrients intact. It is best to avoid any other form of cooking apart from light searing as cooked meats end up increasing the release of carcinogenic chemicals that can end up causing serious complications in your dog as they age.

These are some of the basic and effective tips you need to improve your dog’s diet. More specifically, you need to remember that each dog is different and they have their unique nutritional need. You need to certainly speak to your vet and decide on a concrete food plan to help them age healthily.