Discovering the best ways to ensure your dog's health and happiness is a journey filled with wagging tails and slobbery kisses. While a convenient choice, kibble only sometimes packs the nutritional punch our furry friends deserve.

But don't fret—Volhard has you covered with amazing tips, tricks, and product offerings! You can enhance your dog's diet with simple, practical additions to make mealtime healthier and more enjoyable!

What Are the Basic Ingredients in Dog Kibble?

Dog kibble contains a blend of meat or meat byproducts, grains, and vegetables.

The exact composition varies depending on the brand and formula. Common ingredients include animal-source protein like chicken, beef, and lamb and grains such as corn, wheat, or rice.

Numerous kibble brands include additional ingredients, such as sweet potato, bell pepper, or ground turkey, for enhanced flavor or health benefits.

To ensure a balanced diet, these dry foods often include essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids, with essential fatty acids playing a crucial role in a dog's coat health.

However, the high heat used during the kibble manufacturing process degrades the nutrients, making it less nutritionally dense than other diets.

Why Consider Enhancing Your Dog's Kibble?

Even the best kibble brands fail to provide the full range of nutrients your dog needs for a healthy life.

Adding fresh or raw ingredients is a simple way to ensure your dog gets more nutrients that might be missing from kibble. The additional protein sources, essential fatty acids, and digestive enzymes will benefit your dog's stomach and GI tract.

What Signs Indicate Poor Nutrition in Dogs?

A dull or patchy coat suggests a lack of essential fatty acids, while excessive shedding might indicate a vitamin deficiency.

Digestive health issues, such as frequent diarrhea or constipation, also signal an imbalance in a dog's diet, possibly due to a lack of fiber or digestive enzymes in kibble.

Behavioral changes, like lethargy or irritability, are often caused by a deficiency in energy-providing carbohydrates or high-quality protein from animal source proteins.

Persistent ear infections, bad breath, or skin issues indicate an imbalance in essential nutrients or allergies to common dog food ingredients.

How Does Enhanced Kibble Benefit Your Dog's Health?

Enhancing dog kibble with raw ingredients leads to noticeable improvements in your dog's health and well-being.

By supplementing dry kibble with raw foods or homemade meals, you can provide additional essential nutrients that may be lacking in typical dog food, helping your dog:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Have healthy, beautiful skin and coat
• Regulate energy levels
• Foster better eating habits
• Improve overall internal health

3 Easy Additions to Dog Kibble

Endurance

Endurance is our specialized product designed for dogs that eat kibble. It enhances digestive health by maintaining high digestive performance and replenishing essential nutrients that might be missing or lost during food processing—like vitamins, oils, and minerals. Endurance also provides all the essential amino acids your dog needs.

Veggie Paks

Veggie Paks are made from a variety of dehydrated vegetables and herbs packed with natural nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants. These ingredients boost digestive health and strengthen the immune system. Recent studies indicate that dogs consuming vegetables three times a week may have a marked decrease in cancer risk. Adding Veggie Paks to your dog's kibble can enhance the meal's nutritional value and support a balanced diet.

Puzzle/Slow Feeders

These feeders slow down eating speeds and offer mental enrichment. They spread out the kibble, making mealtime a stimulating game that encourages your dog to think and work for their food. A high-energy dog will benefit from mental stimulation and having to work for their meal!

This not only enhances mental engagement but also aids in digestion by slowing down the feeding process.

4 Ingredients to Enhance Dog Kibble

Incorporating natural foods into dog kibble is a simple way to enhance its nutritional value and promote better health. Here are four natural foods to mix into your dog's kibble:

Eggs

Eggs are rich in protein and other essential nutrients, making them a great addition to kibble. Adding eggs 2-3 times per week can support muscle development and add variety to your dog's diet.

Homemade Broth

Homemade broth adds moisture and flavor to dry kibble, making it more palatable for dogs. It also contains amino acids and minerals that support joint health and digestion. This is especially beneficial for older dogs or those with digestive issues.

Kefir/Sauerkraut

These fermented foods are excellent sources of probiotics, promoting gut health.

When adding kefir or sauerkraut to kibble, it's essential to use the correct measurements. A single teaspoon for medium-sized dogs is usually sufficient.

Goat’s Milk

Goat's Milk is easier to digest than cow's milk due to its lower lactose content and smaller fat globules. It provides essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that help improve digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, and boost overall health.

Goat's milk also contains probiotics, which promote a healthy gut flora and support the immune system.

3 Safe and Beneficial Supplements for Dogs

Digestive Enzymes

Digestive enzymes can improve digestion and nutrient absorption, especially for dogs on a typical kibble diet. They help break down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, ensuring your dog gets the most out of their food.

Appropriate digestive enzyme intake leads to improved digestive health and reduced gastrointestinal issues.

Vitamin B Complex

Vitamin B complex includes several essential vitamins that help with energy production, brain function, and maintaining a healthy coat.

B vitamins are very fragile and can be easily lost during the cooking process. Since they are water-soluble, pets must consume them at each meal to maintain health.

They support digestion, neurological functions, and energy production. B Complex vitamins are also beneficial in managing stress and anxiety, shedding and hair loss, reactions to vaccinations, stool eating, bad breath, constipation, and weight gain.

Adding B vitamins back into your pet’s processed or cooked meal is essential for maintaining their health.

Krill Oil

Krill oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for coat, skin, and joint health.

Adding krill oil to kibble supports cardiovascular health, benefiting your dog's overall well-being.

Krill oil is superior to salmon oil because it does not become rancid as quickly as salmon oil.

How to Safely Introduce New Foods to Your Dog’s Diet

Start by gradually incorporating new foods into their dog kibble over a week or two. This gradual transition helps your dog's digestive system adapt to new ingredients and reduces the risk of digestive health issues.

Add small amounts of the new food to their existing kibble. Start with a teaspoon of cooked food like sweet potato or ground turkey, then increase the portion as your dog adjusts.

Keep an eye out for any adverse reactions, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or changes in behavior, as these could indicate a food allergy or sensitivity. If this happens, consult a veterinary nutritionist to ensure your dog gets the best food without compromising their health.

It's also crucial to maintain a balanced diet while introducing new foods. Focus on including animal source proteins like raw meat, essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber from fresh vegetables.

For dog parents who follow grain-free diets or prefer raw diets, consider freeze-dried or dehydrated dog foods, which retain more of their nutritional value.

Ready to Transform Your Dog's Diet? Discover the Volhard Difference Today!

Create a custom meal plan that is both fun and nutritious, supporting your dog's long, healthy life!

For more advice on dog nutrition, health, and training, make sure to contact us and check out our blog!

Volhard Dog Nutrition and its expert canine nutrition coaches are now offering online consultations to help more dog parents discover why and how to feed their dogs the healthiest of foods!

Speaking to a Volhard canine nutrition coach will help you understand the inseparable relationship between healthy food, a healthy body, and a healthy mind.

If you want to contact one of our Volhard canine nutrition coaches, don't hesitate to access our consultation page!

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