The adage that you are what you eat rings true for humans, but did you know that the same can be said for our four-legged friends?
The link between emotional wellbeing and a healthy gut is well-recognised for us, and research into the microbiome of canines, though in its infancy, is also finding the same holds true for dogs.
A healthy diet helps your dog to stay in physical shape, but it also helps to improve your dog’s mood, if your pooch appears bad tempered or stressed. Foods that are high in protein, for instance, are associated with aggression and sleeplessness. Artificial additives or preservatives are also associated with hyperactivity.
To help your dog to feel more serene, foods which we also consider to be antioxidants such as blueberries, oily fish, and pumpkin seeds are recommended. Antioxidants also help pooches to maintain their agility and strength, which can only set them up for success.
Beyond the food itself, it is also important to feed your dog at regular intervals during the day and to discourage so-called ‘free-feeding’ in which food is left out for your dog to graze on throughout the day. Choosing two or three points in the day when your dog can expect his dinner helps you to add variety to the animal’s diet and to eat portions sizes that are suitable for him.
There may be more to feeding your dog than meets the eye. If you want to learn more about what your dog should be eating, why not download our Canine Nutrition Diploma Course?
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