Dog Nutrition

Domestication has profoundly affected our canine companions. They have gone from carnivorous predators to pampered pets. Roughly 95% consider them members of their families. That’s huge for an animal we once considered a competitor. The gray wolf is the closest ancestor to the one these species diverged from 27,000 years ago. Despite millennia of selective […]

Feeding dogs a raw diet has often been promoted as a great nutritional option due to claims that raw meat matches a dog’s natural ancestral diet. As a result, many raw dog food companies incorporate raw chicken breast into their recipes. While dogs can eat raw chicken breast, it’s an ingredient best offered to dogs

If you check the dog food aisle in most pet stores, you will see an abundance of grain-free and wheat-free foods. There is a modern belief that dogs benefit from this kind of diet. While it is unlikely that a canine would ingest wheat or other grains in the wild, these are commonly used in

You know chocolate is toxic to canines, so giving it to your pup is out of the question. But sometimes those begging eyes are so hard to resist! However, while you can’t feed your dog real chocolate, you can feed them carob, which is “dog-friendly chocolate.” In truth, carob isn’t related to chocolate, as it’s

As owners humanize their dogs and the pet industry pushes innovation, dog food has diversified significantly in recent years. Fresh, freeze-dried, and homemade meals now enjoy more attention, prompting many long-time pet parents to ask, “Whatever happened to good ol’ dry food?” Though its popularity may be waning, traditional store-bought kibble is still a practical,

Hearts of palm are literally exactly what they sound like—the very internal parts of certain species of palm tree. These tender veggies can serve in a variety of recipes and so many people can reap the long list of benefits this plant has to offer. Many use hearts of palm as a meat replacement thanks

Have you ever been out on a walk with your pup in the fall season and seen tiny apples littering the ground? Those are crab apples (Malus sylvestris), an older version of European cultivated apple species. These small apples are tarter than your everyday Honeycrisp or Granny Smith and are eaten less often than normal-sized

Our canine companions always want some of whatever we’re eating, no matter what it is. And while it’s fine to feed your pet a bite of your food occasionally, it shouldn’t be done often, and you shouldn’t do so with all foods. Some food is simply not safe for dogs to consume. But what about

Dill (Anethum graveolena) is a member of the parsley family, Apiaceae, and is safe to feed to dogs, in moderation. There is no evidence that indicates that dill causes problems in dogs, but it is always best to feed it in small amounts, just in case your dog does react badly to it. You can

Almond flour is an alternative to wheat flour that, in humans, is considered healthier because it has fewer carbs, contains plenty of nutrients, and has a naturally sweeter flavor. However, while almond flour isn’t toxic to dogs, and it can be fed in moderation, for example when being used to make healthy homemade dog treats,

Dogs enjoy eating sweet and savory foods, and most won’t refuse a serving of chicken. It may seem like orange chicken is an ideal food for dogs, and dogs can develop a taste for it. However, it’s not recommended to feed dogs orange chicken because it can end up doing more harm than good. The

Dogs find many human foods tasty. However, due to differences in our anatomy, dogs experience taste differently from humans. When it comes to spiciness, dogs are capable of tasting spice and can even feel the heat, but their taste for spice isn’t as sensitive as a human’s. So, it’s likely your dog can eat something

If your dog just broke into the trash or snatched a plate of leftovers, you want to make sure that anything they got ahold of is perfectly safe, otherwise, a vet trip may be imminent. The good news is that cream of mushroom soup isn’t toxic to dogs. The bad news is that it can

Product developer Beatrice Ojakangas found a gold mine when she created pizza rolls in Duluth, Minnesota, in the 1960s; a time where quick-and-easy snacks and meals were becoming increasingly popular. While pizza rolls are undeniably moreish, they aren’t a healthy treat for your pup, and some ingredients are even toxic to dogs. Additionally, our pets

Okra is a staple in many cuisines, including Creole, Brazilian, and Cuban. The food is an edible seed pod that you can eat raw, boiled, sauteed, or pickled. Eating can be challenging for some people because of the characteristic goo that forms when cooking it. It’s not a safety concern but an aesthetic one involving

It’s common knowledge that chicken is good for us, and dogs can absolutely reap the health benefits of chicken, too. However, not all parts of the bird are recommended for your canine companion, and chicken skin can be one of them. While plain, unseasoned chicken skin isn’t toxic for dogs, we believe the cons of

We take our dogs with us wherever we go, spoil them on holidays, and consider them part of our family. So, it makes sense if you’d like to share your favorite activities and snacks with them, too. But what if the first treat you reach for when you’re feeling snacky is gummy worms? Can you

Anyone who’s lived with a Shih Tzu can attest to the fact that it’s really hard to resist feeding them when they’re giving you the sad, puppy dog eyes. These toy breed dogs have big personalities, and they’re exceptionally talented at getting their own way. In addition to their regular dog food, Shih Tzus are

Most of us know that sugar is only allowable for dogs in small quantities, but the diverse sugar substitutes available today can leave many unsure about which sweet additives are safe. Since they’re low- or no-calorie alternatives that don’t affect blood sugar to the same degree, they undoubtedly seem like a better alternative to offer

For humans, oatmeal cookies are generally considered a healthier alternative to other cookies because they contain whole-grain oats, which are high in fiber, however, oatmeal cookies will still contain sugar and butter which are not healthy for dogs. Oatmeal cookies aren’t toxic to dogs unless they contain harmful additional ingredients like chocolate, raisins, xylitol, or

Rottweilers are big dogs with big appetites to match, so it’s essential to feed them appropriately to ensure they’re getting the nutrients they need to thrive. However, the number of dog food products available can make choosing the right diet feel impossible. If you’re unsure what or how much to feed your Rottie, keep reading.

If you’re coming to this article concerned and ready to call the vet—just know that sweet potato fries aren’t toxic for your dog. However, if they are already made into fries, and you haven’t just cut up a fresh, sweet potato, they might contain other ingredients that are toxic or certainly not healthy for your

There are many pieces of misinformation floating around the web on what is and is not safe for your canine companions. One of these very topics might have to do with pine nuts. Are pine nuts toxic to dogs? No, they are not toxic, and most dogs can eat a small amount of pine nuts

Tamarind is a pod-like fruit with a tangy and sweet flavor. It’s native to tropical Africa, though it can grow in some places in the United States (namely Southern Florida). Though it is not as easy to find in most supermarkets as other North American-grown fruit, its pulp is widely used for sauces, marinades, drinks,

Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp) is readily available, inexpensive, and easy to prepare for your dog. It is also packed full of vitamins and minerals and is considered a superfood for our canine companions. That said, you do need to be careful to ensure you don’t overfeed this fibrous squash. Below, we look at why pumpkin is

Pasta night is a tradition in many homes, so there’s a fair chance our family dogs will come across at least a little spaghetti sauce at some point. Between food left out, random spills in the dining room, and empty bowls on the table, they’ll likely have numerous opportunities to steal a bite. Though likely