Alternatives for Dog Food

Traditional dry dog food can be alternated with other foods. The BARF diet consists of raw meats and vegetables. However, dehydrated foods are more suitable for older dogs

Currently, many dogs only eat dry dog food. However, sometimes doubts arise about these kinds of foods. So, are they actually healthy? Don’t dogs get bored after eating the same thing every day? What do you do if your dog doesn’t like dry dog food? If this is the case for your dog, then look at some of these alternatives for regular dog food.

Feeding Your Dogs

It’s a fact that dogs evolved from wolves. However, one of the greatest evolutionary differences between them took place in their digestive system.  Even though wolves are carnivores, dogs have evolved into omnivores. 

Therefore, the basis of a dog’s diet is still meat, but they also need vegetables, fruits, grains, etc. Regular dog food provides them with these foods and other products to make it more appealing to your dogs. However, you should know that there are other options for feeding your dog.

Not all dog foods contain the balanced foods that dogs need. Very cheap dog food tends to have too many grains and vegetables because meat is too expensive. On the other hand, expensive dog food often adds more of the meat protein that your dog needs. Look carefully at their ingredient labeled on the food container to see which will work best for your dog.

BARF Diets

BARF diets are based on raw foods that include only a few cooked vegetables and grains are cooked like pasta. In BARF diets, dogs ingest raw meat, bones, and viscera as they would if they were living in the wild.

This type of diet has many advantages. The quantities and balance are personalized for each dog. It allows your pet to give in to his instinct to gnaw and tear. Likewise, these raw foods provide them with different textures and tastes throughout the day.

However, there are two great disadvantages to this diet. The first is that it’s difficult to balance. It’s important for the vet to be to monitor the diet to ensure that your dog isn’t lacking any of the food groups and that he is eating the right amount.

Frozen BARF

The second disadvantage of the BARF diet is that the meals have to be planned ahead of time, and it’s difficult for people who are running short of time. To help with that, companies have begun to prepare mixtures that provide meals with all the necessary food groups and freeze them. 

It seems like a different kind of diet, but, in essence, it’s the same as the BARF diet. The exception is that, instead of making it at home, you can buy bags and packages of pre-mixed frozen foods. 

At home, all you’ll have to do is divide up the portions according to your dog’s size and needs, let the food thaw, and then give it to your dog.

Dehydrated foods

Dehydrated foods, as the name suggests, are previously cooked and mixed foods that have been dehydrated and packaged. When it comes to preparing it, all you have to do is follow the package’s instructions: some require hot water, others cold, and the preparation time varies depending on the water temperature you use.  

From the packaging, it may look like just another kind of dog food, but it’s actually very different because it’s fresh and prepared in a manner that doesn’t spoil. After rehydrating it, you’ll have a bowl of natural food that’s soft, tasty and hardly processed.

Usually, this type of food is suggested for older dogs or for dogs that have dental issues because they are easy to chew. However, it can leave traces on their teeth that cause bad breath. Therefore, it’s necessary to clean your pet’s teeth once he has finished eating or to give him a clean bone to gnaw on. 

Alternative Foods Made From Scratch

Before dog food appeared in the supermarket, dogs ate the remains of what was made at home, or whatever was cooked for them.

This is still an option for your dog and it’s a great alternative to regular dog food. Remember that some ingredients are harmful to dogs. Therefore, avoid using salt, oil, sugar and fried foods, among other processed foods.

Also, remember that it’s important to follow your vet’s advice to make sure that you’re feeding your dog properly. 

Dogs are omnivorous animals, meaning they eat all the food groups. In addition to meat, they also like fruits and vegetables. Therefore, you can feed your dog by using a natural diet similar to the one you would eat at home. That way, you can get rid of that boring, unhealthy dog food.