‍Hypoallergenic Dogs: What Are They? Which Breeds Are Hypoallergenic?

Finding the best dog food for picky eaters can test the patience of even the most dedicated pet parents. But when faced with a dog who snubs their nose at what's in their bowl, it's not just a matter of frustration – it could impact their health. 

So how do you win your picky dog over? And how do you choose the best food to feed your dog? In this guide, we’ll look into practical solutions to encourage better eating habits. From exploring different food options to establishing a disciplined feeding routine, these changes can make a world of difference for picky eaters.

Understanding What Motivates Dogs to Eat

Dogs’ eating behaviors are primarily influenced by their senses. Smell, taste, and texture all play a role in how much your dog is attracted to a meal — and for picky dog eaters, it’s the right combination of these things that motivates them to eat.  

A dog's sense of smell is about 10,000 to 100,000 times as acute as ours, ¹ making aroma a very important factor in their willingness to eat. Surprisingly, dogs have fewer taste buds than we do — 1,700 taste buds compared to humans’ 9,000. Still, taste tests have shown that “they also prefer warm, moist foods over cold, dry foods,” according to the American Kennel Club. 

Texture also contributes to a dog's eating preferences. For example, dogs are more likely to enjoy the moist texture of fresh food over the dry, duller taste of dry kibble. Keep in mind that every dog is different, and understanding these differences is key to addressing the challenges of feeding a picky eater.

Strategies for Picky Dog Eaters

When dealing with a picky dog eater, creativity can make all the difference. To make mealtime more appealing and nutritious for your picky canine companion, take a look at the following ingredients and techniques.  

Following a Feeding Plan

A bit of discipline will go a long way at feeding time — and establishing a regular feeding schedule can be a game-changer for picky dog eaters. The key is to serve your dog’s meals at consistent times each day, allowing about 15-30 minutes for them to eat. If they haven’t finished in this time, remove the food until the next mealtime.² If you’re feeding wet or fresh food, it's best to discard any uneaten portions to prevent potential health risks. You can minimize waste by starting with smaller meal portions, gradually increasing as your dog begins to eat more consistently.

At Cola’s Kitchen, we believe in the importance of a distraction-free feeding environment. Avoid giving treats or table scraps between these structured meals, especially when working to resolve feeding issues. This approach has been successful for many of our canine customers, but keep in mind that it might take a few days for your dog to get used to it.  

Using Bone Broth

Bone broth’s savory aroma and taste are often irresistible to dogs. Just mix it with regular food or moisten dry kibble with it and you likely have a winner. In addition, bone broth is rich in minerals and nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, and can be beneficial for dogs' joint health and digestion. According to the American Kennel Club, incorporating bone broth into a dog's diet can also improve hydration and appetite. ³

Incorporating Treats

Treats can be a powerful motivator for picky eaters but should be used carefully. In fact, experts agree that treats should not exceed 10% of a dog’s total daily calories.⁴ For healthier treat options, try lean meats, carrots, or apples. You can crumble these treats over your dog’s regular food to enhance flavor and texture, encouraging them to eat their meals.

Using Puzzles

Always give your picky eater dog options when it comes to their food, including different ways to eat. Puzzle feeders can turn mealtime into a stimulating game, which can be especially beneficial for dogs that need mental stimulation to eat. Choosing the right puzzle depends on your dog’s size, intelligence level, and eating habits — from slider puzzles to treat balls to snuffle mats, there’s plenty to keep your dog entertained. 

Adding Fish Oil

Fish oil is an excellent supplement for dogs, offering benefits like improved coat quality and reduced inflammation. Plus, its strong smell can make food more appealing to picky dogs. The American Kennel Club points out that omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are beneficial for canine health, plus “research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids can help to treat canine arthritis and chronic kidney disease.”⁵ When adding fish oil to your dog’s diet, always start with a small amount and increase slowly. Stop if you notice signs of gastrointestinal upset. At Cola’s Kitchen, we include high-quality organic Salmon Oil in all of our recipes. 

Why Fresh Food is Ideal for Picky Eaters

Selecting the right dog food for picky eaters can significantly improve their appetite and overall health. Among the many options, fresh food stands out as an ideal choice for picky eaters for several reasons: it’s usually tastier, has a more appealing smell, offers variety, and provides significant nutritional benefits. 

Tastier Than Traditional Kibble

When it comes to flavor, fresh food holds a significant edge over traditional kibble. Many dogs have a distinct preference for meats and fats, which are easier to taste in fresh foods. The processing of kibble often involves high temperatures, which can degrade the natural flavors and nutrients found in the raw ingredients. Fresh foods, on the other hand, retain their natural flavor and smell, making them more appealing to dogs. For picky eaters who might be turned off by artificial flavors or the boredom of dry kibble, the enhanced flavor of real fresh food might be all they need to start eating. 

More Attractive Smell

Smell plays a major role in a dog's eating behavior. Dogs have an olfactory system that is incredibly sophisticated, allowing them to detect very specific details in the food they’re eating. Because fresh foods have strong smells, they are more likely to stimulate a dog’s appetite than the more subtle scent of kibble. This might be all a picky eater needs to decide whether the food is worth eating. 

Hydration Boost

The moisture content in fresh dog food is a game-changer for taste and hydration, especially for picky eaters out there. Dry kibble has a moisture content of only about 10%, while fresh food can contain up to 70-80% moisture.⁶ Because of this, fresh food not only tastes better due to its natural moisture but also helps keep your dog well-hydrated, protecting kidneys and supporting overall digestive health.

Offering Variety

Variety is not just the spice of life for humans – it's essential for dogs too. Fresh food diets allow for an easy rotation of protein sources (like chicken, beef, and fish) and a wide range of vegetables, offering different textures and flavors in each meal. This variety can combat mealtime boredom and keep picky eaters interested in their food. 

Nutritional Benefits

If your dog is a picky eater, finding the right balance of nutrients and taste is essential. Fresh dog food diets provide superior nutrition compared to traditional kibble, and a recent study on human-grade dog food confirmed that by noting that whole, fresh food is highly digestible and can offer higher levels of essential nutrients like proteins, vitamins, and minerals, which are vital for a dog’s health.⁷ These diets are less likely to contain preservatives, colorants, and fillers, which are common in commercial kibble. In addition, fresh food diets can be tailored to a dog's specific nutritional needs, including age, weight, activity level, and health conditions. This personalized approach ensures that dogs are not only enjoying their meals but also receiving the nutrition they need for optimal health.

Conclusion

Fresh food, often considered the best dog food for picky eaters, offers a blend of flavor, variety, and health benefits, making it an excellent choice for those with a finicky palate. Add to that a few strategies – whether it’s bone broth, treats, puzzles, or fish oil – and you can make mealtime both enjoyable and nutritious. 

At Cola’s Kitchen, we work hard to provide you with the best dog food for picky eaters in Canada. Our range of fresh food options is designed to appeal to picky eaters, ensuring your dog not only enjoys their meals but also receives the nutritional benefits they need.  

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Long before the age of commercial kibbles and intricately formulated dog foods, the ancestors of our domesticated dogs lived on a diet that was essentially a raw dog food diet. This consisted mostly of fresh meat, bones, and the occasional fruits and vegetables they could scavenge. It’s this ancestral diet that many still consider to be the optimal diet for today's dogs.

But this wasn’t always the case. As society shifted towards more urban living, the demands for convenience influenced many aspects of life, including how we feed our pets.

In the mid to late 20th century, as pet ownership surged and urban living became the norm, the convenience of commercial pet foods took center stage. These were diets that promised complete nutrition in a convenient package — that is, until scientists started to point out the significant links between diet and disease and question the health implications of these processed diets.

By the 1990s, the raw feeding movement started to grow significantly thanks to Australian veterinarian Dr. Ian Billinghurst, who advocated for the "BARF" diet, an acronym for “Bones and Raw Food” or “Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.” His argument was the same as others had pointed out before — our dogs can eat raw meat just as their wild ancestors did.

Today, raw feeding is not just a niche trend but a significant movement within the world of pet nutrition. Despite its growing popularity, it remains a topic of debate among veterinarians and pet nutritionists. But, with generations of dogs now raised on commercial food, how do you find the best raw dog food for your pooch?

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Benefits of Raw Dog Food

The raw puppy food and adult dog movement are about more than mimicking a dog's ancestral diet. It's also about taking advantage of the many benefits that come with  unprocessed and intact ingredients. Let’s unpack the benefits of a raw diet:

Natural Ingredients

The biggest benefit of feeding a raw diet is that you will be stepping away from processed foods and prioritizing whole, unprocessed ingredients such as fresh meats, vegetables, and fruits. This means no fillers, artificial colorings, and additives in your dog’s food — things that PetMD points out offer no nutritional benefit, can cause allergic reactions, or are potentially carcinogenic.

Improved Skin and Coat Health

A shinier coat and healthier skin are some of the most common improvements attributed to a raw diet. This is likely because raw diets are high in fat and rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which can have a positive impact on a dog’s skin and coat.¹ This is not just a cosmetic benefit but also reflects the overall health of the pet.

Better Dental Health

Periodontal disease affects nearly 80% of dogs by age three.² While brushing your dog’s teeth can help prevent this, the mechanical action of chewing raw bones and meat can also act as natural dental cleaners, reducing tartar and plaque. In fact, a study published in the Australian Veterinarian Journal found that chewing raw bovine bones can reduce dental calculus covering by up to 87.8%. 

Optimal Weight Management

Studies show that up to 65% of dogs in the United States are considered overweight or obese, which can, in turn, contribute to kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and a decreased quality of life. ³

Because raw diets are protein-centric and low on fillers, they can potentially help fight canine obesity. In fact, experts believe that dogs tend to have a good, healthy body condition and aren’t overweight. “This may be due to twice daily, portion feeding, or to the high protein, low carbohydrate content,” according to a report published in The Canadian Veterinary Journal. ⁴

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Dangers of Raw Dog Food

While raw feeding sounds pretty good at first sight, you should approach it carefully. From parasites to nutritional imbalances, understanding the risks of raw meat for dogs is an essential first step. Here are the most important dangers to consider: 

Improper Formulation and Balancing

Designing a balanced raw diet is more complex than simply offering meat. A chunk of beef or chicken is not a complete meal, and if that’s all you are feeding, your dog won’t get all the necessary nutrients to stay healthy. 

Calcium and phosphorus imbalances, for example, can result in bone deformities, especially in growing dogs. Unfortunately, studies have found that up to 60% of both home-prepared and commercially-bought raw diets had multiple nutritional imbalances, including a poor calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, very low content of vitamin A and E, and extremely high levels of vitamin D.⁵ 

The reason for this? Research shows that most people (33%) design their own pet’s diet by just following other people’s advice available online. An alarming 19% follow no rules whatsoever, just throwing ingredients together without understanding if the final mix is balanced or not.⁶ This is a risky practice as it often overlooks the specific needs of different dog breeds and ages. 

With a homemade raw diet, you will also need to monitor how your dog responds to different ingredients. Some might cause digestive upsets, while others could be potential allergens. You will also need to rotate proteins and other ingredients to make sure your dog is getting the proper nutrition. What does this all mean? It means feeding a proper, well-balanced homemade raw diet is not an easy task and it’s very time-consuming. 

Pathogens and Sickness

The scariest and most serious issue with a raw diet issue is the presence of pathogens. Recent findings revealed that nearly 60% of raw meat diets tested had pathogens like Salmonella and E. Coli in them.⁷ These bacteria are dangerous not only to dogs but also to humans handling the food. 

Raw diets (especially those that include wild-caught meats) can also introduce parasites like tapeworms and toxoplasmosis.⁸ These parasites can affect your dog’s effects and can also be transmitted to humans in some cases. Although regular deworming and careful meat selection can help reduce these risks, they can’t eliminate them. 

Bone Hazards

While bones can be good for dental health, they can also present significant dangers, including fractured teeth and gastrointestinal injury. According to a study published by the American Veterinary Medical Association, they can also cause obstruction or perforation of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, or colon. The study adds that “Bone foreign bodies were present in 30% to 80% of dogs and cats with esophageal foreign bodies.” These blockages can be life-threatening and require emergency medical intervention.

Expense and Availability

Quality raw dog food ingredients can stretch budgets, which is why raw diets tend to cost significantly more than commercial pet food.⁹ The expenses can also add up, especially in a multiple-dog household or if you share your life with medium to large-sized dogs. In addition, access to affordable high-quality raw ingredients can be especially difficult in some regions, complicating consistent feeding. For those seeking immediate availability, searching for "raw dog food near me" will show you local suppliers who specialize in raw canine diets.

The Importance of Proper Handling and Preparation

Raw diets are the only pet diets that need to be handled extremely carefully to avoid contamination. For starters, storing raw food requires careful attention to prevent bacterial growth. Without the right storage temperature, bacterial overgrowth can quickly turn a nutritious meal into a toxic one. Preparation also carries risks, as raw food can easily contaminate the kitchen, making people sick.  

One of the most critical aspects to consider is the safe handling of the food. Raw meat is highly perishable and it needs to be stored properly. In homes where space is shared between human and pet foods, it’s smart to also use separate containers or designated areas in the refrigerator to avoid cross-contamination. 

After each meal, all surfaces, utensils, and hands must be cleaned well to prevent the spread of pathogens like Salmonella or E. coli. In fact, the FDA recommends cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces and objects that come in contact with raw pet food, first with hot soapy water and then with a mix of water and bleach.  

Conclusion

Raw dog food diets offer a unique mix of potential benefits and significant risks. While many dog owners are passionate advocates of the benefits of a fresh or frozen raw dog food diet, it's essential that anybody considering it spends some time looking closely at all the research available. Even better, it would be a good idea to consult with your veterinarian for a better understanding of what to expect.

For pet owners who want to offer their dogs a more natural diet but are concerned about the risks and difficulties of raw feeding, there's an alternative available. Fresh dog food, professionally formulated and conveniently delivered, bridges the gap between commercial kibble and raw diets. Cola's Kitchen provides ready-to-serve fresh meals for dogs that are truly nutritionally complete, tailored to your dog's specific needs and 100% safe. It’s a great way to get all the benefits of whole, real food without the risks and challenges associated with raw feeding.

Grain-free dog diets have been around for a long time, but they have become increasingly popular over the past decade. The trend to feed dogs grain-free diets seems to somehow coincide with the popularity of low carb and keto diets that have become the go-to solution for weight loss among people.

A grain-free diet for dogs is basically one that contains no grains of any kind. This means no corn, wheat, rice, millet, rye, soy, barley or oats. Grains gained a bad reputation over the years because cheap kibble often contains a big percentage of cheap grains (primarily corn), which is used to replace quality ingredients and bulk up the food.

But this doesn’t necessarily mean all grains are bad or all grains are the same when used as part of a healthy, well-balanced diet. Grains provide fibre, which aids digestion, helps keep the colon healthy, and can prevent obesity by making your pup feel full so he eats less. They also provide plenty of energy and are great for active or sporty dogs as well as growing puppies.  

An important thing to keep in mind is that grain-free does not mean carbohydrate-free. Most dry dog foods substitute grains with other carbohydrate sources. According to PetMD, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas and lentils are some of the most common sources of carbohydrates in grain-free dog food. Some brands also use quinoa.

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Are Grain-Free Dog Diets a Good Thing?

The simple answer is, it depends. There’s a lot of information out there so let us break it down into digestible pieces!

You might have heard that in 2018, the FDA announced that it was researching a potential link between grain-free foods and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). This research seems to have actually started with a study conducted by Kaplan [GBF1] et al., 2018[GBF2]. DCM is a heart condition that affects the heart muscle and can result in congestive heart failure. Large and giant breeds (such as Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Irish Wolfhounds, and Saint Bernards) are more likely to develop this condition, but the FDA started receiving reports of DCM happening in smaller breeds, so they decided to take a closer look.

Turns out DCM seemed to be appearing more regularly in dogs eating certain grain-free foods. Upon closer inspection, it seemed this was specifically related to grain-free foods containing “a high proportion of peas, lentils, other legume seeds (pulses), and/or potatoes in various forms (whole, flour, protein, etc.) as main ingredients (listed within the first 10 ingredients in the ingredient list, before vitamins and minerals).”

Kaplan et al., 2018 study reported that “certain diets and diet characteristics were associated with the development of taurine deficiency.” This is an important piece of information to hold on to! One thing to keep in mind is that taurine deficiency, food digestibility, and genetics have been known for many years to lead to DCM in dogs and cats.

In dogs, taurine is synthesized primarily in the liver and central nervous system from methionine and cysteine which are normally supplied by food. Actually, dogs can produce enough taurine for themselves if enough methionine and cysteine are biologically available for them. But if enough amounts of methionine and cysteine are not biologically available for them, taurine deficiency will appear.

In June 2019, the American Food and Drug Administration made headlines when it linked 16 brands of dog food to DCM. 90% of the pet food brands named in the report were considered “grain-free”. These grain-free foods contained no wheat, corn, soy, rice, barley, or other grains but most did contain, in the words of the report, a “high proportion of peas, lentils, other legume seeds (pulses), and/or potatoes in various forms (whole, flour, protein, etc.) as main ingredients.“[GBF3]  

So what does this mean? Does it mean legumes or potatoes are dangerous and can lead to DCM in our dogs? The answer is definitely NO. It is all about diet formulation and supplying the right amount of nutrients in a balanced manner. In other words, some of the legumes are known to be deficient in methionine and cysteine and if they are the only source (or the main source) of protein in your dog’s food, they can cause problems. Many dog food producers try to supply the protein requirements of your dogs through cheap protein sources including plant-derived proteins like legumes and animal by-products. Therefore, some of them end up with methionine and cysteine deficiency in their food which leads to taurine deficiency in your dog. So the problem isn’t the ingredients on their own but how they have been formulated in diets.

Now let us make the argument for why legumes and good carbs should be a part of your dog’s diet IF FORMULATED CORRECTLY!

We know now that the life expectancy of dogs decreases if fed only meat (or even animal-derived protein sources) for extended periods of time. Proteins and amino acids along with fats and carbohydrates are the major macronutrients in food. Proteins and amino acids are needed to form the basis of living tissues in your dog’s body. They also play a central role in the biological processes and activity of many important biochemical compounds in your dog’s body like hormones, enzymes, immune system-related components, brain chemicals, etc. Your dog also needs energy for maintenance (maintaining body size, body composition and a level of necessary and desirable physical activity consistent with long-term good health), growth and development, etc.

Easily digestible carbohydrates (like gelatinized starch found in cooked grains, legumes and potatoes) and fats are the main sources of energy in dog food. Inadequate energy in food through deficiency of dietary fat or carbohydrates leads to poor growth, weight loss, and reduced physical ability and reproductive performance. Dietary carbohydrates deficiency makes the body of your dog draw more heavily on its protein supply (and deposit) to meet its energy needs. When dogs are fed with diets high in protein but low in energy diets (energy-deficient diets), part of the protein is metabolized and used for energy production. The nitrogen part of this protein portion is not used for energy production and needs to be converted in the liver to certain components and sent out of the body by kidneys, which means severe stress on the liver and kidneys. Now that’s definitely not good!

As long as the dog’s supply of protein is sufficient, using proteins for energy production does not lead to protein deficiency for your dog but more stress for her/his liver and kidneys is certain.

As you see, although a food can consist of only meat (or even animal-derived protein sources) is grain-free and also legume-free, your dog can still end up with serious health issues.

The fact is all of these food ingredients can and should be a healthy part of a diet for dogs, but they must be human-grade, hygiene and fresh and mixed in a well-balanced manner to supply your dog’s requirements individually. This is why we’re such big advocates of individualized fresh diets for our dogs formulated by qualified professionals.

Also when it comes down to ingredients, according to Best Pets Veterinary Hospital, brands of dog food that use lots of cornmeal or wheat gluten as a cheap way to bulk out their products are in essence creating a lower quality product. If you see that listed within the first five ingredients of the dog food you’re feeding, it’s time to switch to something better. But even if it’s down on the list, these fillers offer little to no nutritional value so there’s no reason for them to be part of your dog’s diet.

When in doubt about the pros and cons of grains in dog food, it’s always better to speak to your veterinarian for better advice.

Should You Feed Your Dog a Grain-Free Diet?

If you are thinking of switching your dog to a grain-free diet or already feeding one, you should discuss the potential risks and benefits with your vet. This is especially important if you have a dog with an underlying or chronic health condition that might be affected by diet.

Otherwise, grain-free diets can be helpful in certain situations.

One of them is allergies, although grain allergies are rare and when they do happen, the main culprit is almost always corn. Dogs are more likely to be allergic to proteins, with chicken and then beef being the two main culprits. Food allergies are also very tricky to diagnose and usually require a long process of strict elimination where the animal is fed a single protein and single carbohydrate at a time to observe the body’s response.

Overweight or obese dogs might also do better in a grain-free diet, as the lack of carbohydrates means the body needs to burn fat as a source of energy. The result? Your pup might lose weight more easily on a grain-free diet. Keep in mind that grain-free might also mean low fibre unless the food has added different carbs to supply that. Since fibre plays an important role in helping your pup feel full, you might end up with a hungrier dog otherwise.

According to DVM360, a diet containing at least moderate levels of fibre is a good “way to reduce the caloric content of a weight loss diet” while keeping your dog full.

Finally, a grain-free diet could also benefit pets with cancer. Cancer is the leading cause of death among dogs, with 45 percent of dogs over 10 years of age dying of cancer.  Generally speaking, carbohydrates “feed” cancer cells by providing plenty of glucose but also stimulating insulin production -- which then speeds glucose absorption and could cause cancer cells to reproduce faster.

Both in human and canine cancer patients, this means reducing carb intake could slow down the spread of cancer. On the other hand, a low-carb, high-fat diet seems to promote remission and increase survival time.  If your dog is undergoing chemotherapy or has other underlying health conditions in addition to cancer, you should discuss options with your veterinarian before switching to a high-protein, grain-free diet.

Grain-free diets could offer relief in other situations as well, such as in the case of dogs with chronic gut inflammation or those with diabetes. Again, this depends on a lot of factors, such as what other health issues your dog might be experiencing or potential side effects of the medication he could be taking. Never switch diets without talking to a vet first if your dog is sick.

What About Fresh Food?

Nutrition plays a key role in the overall wellness of our canine companions, so the better quality food you can offer, the healthier and happier your dog will be as a result.  

Fresh food has become a popular choice for dog parents who are concerned about feeding the very best available. Whole food, clean diets with no added artificial coloring or preservatives aren’t just a better choice but they also take the guessing of “carb or no carb” out of the equation.

A fresh diet provides many benefits, including better overall health, better digestion, increased energy levels, and a healthy and shiny coat. You can learn more about the many benefits of feeding a well-balanced fresh diet in our article, What to Expect When Switching to Cola's Kitchen Individually Balanced Fresh Dog Food?

Kibble is -- as you’ve learned by now --often filled with lots of empty carbohydrates as a replacement for better-quality ingredients. To avoid those poor quality carbs, many pet parents opt for feeding grain-free diets -- which is not always the best choice for every pet, as carbs do provide a number of vitamins and plenty of fibre to keep your pup healthy.

A healthier way to feed carbohydrates is to feed fresh food. Individually balanced fresh dog is tailor-made for a dog based on his age, breed, body weight and condition, and other factors. And because all food is fresh and human-grade, adding carbohydrates into the mix is never a problem. At Cola’s Kitchen, we only use high-quality grains such as brown rice and organic quinoa. We also add other healthy carbohydrates, including sweet potatoes, green lentils, green peas and beans.

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We are a nation of dog lovers and part of that love includes treating our dogs to what we think is great food. Because, after all, who doesn’t like a great yummy dinner?

The problem is that many people don’t really know what they’re feeding their beloved dogs. Too much food, the wrong kind of food, food that’s not properly balanced to help prevent disease and keep your pooch in optimal health. Some of us rely on commercial food to do the homework for us, others are feeding homemade or raw in hopes that it's healthy.

But without the proper knowledge of what your dog really needs, any type of food could lead to health issues and potential over or under-feeding.

According to VCA Hospitals, “obesity is the most common preventable disease in dogs.” Up to 30 percent of dogs are obese, which is more than the percentage of people who are obese in Canada (26.8%). The numbers are equally higher in the overweight category: 40-45% of dogs aged 5-11 years old are overweight while the Canadian humans fitting into that category reach 36.3%.

If you don’t find that telling enough, think about this: food-related illnesses and deaths are highly preventable. Because you’re in charge of your pup’s diet, it’s up to you to figure out the best foods for him to live longer, be healthier and be happier.

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Over-Feeding Your Dogs

Canine obesity has become a major epidemic. The problem occurs after a chronic mismatch between the energy intake and energy requirements and it is characterized by increased energy retention, accumulation of fat and variable degrees of weight gain, from moderate to excessive. According to the AKC, over 50 percent of dogs are overweight or obese. But while other health issues would prompt most pet parents to head to the vet, obesity goes largely ignored. Interestingly, dog parents do not necessarily recognize overweight or obesity in their dogs. For many, it has actually become “normal” for dogs to be overweight.  The APOP (Association for Pet Obesity Prevention) calls this the ‘fat pet gap’ or a “misalignment between what we think a dog should look like and what a healthy body composition should really be.”

Of course, obesity is usually the direct result of overfeeding, whether that means too much regular food or too many treats. That’s because even people who might be feeding the right amount of calories through food might not be accounting for the extra calories treats provide. Treats should not make up more than 10% of the calories in your dog’s diet – if you train regularly and need to use treats, you might need to adjust the amount of food you feed.

The problem of obesity is more obvious in older pets, however, considerable variations exist depending on breed, sex, individual endogenous and environmental factors. The level of body fat can vary extensively between breeds. As a rule of thumb, 10% overweight can be considered as beginning obesity, 20% are indicating the manifestation of severe obesity. Body fat concentrations, being 10-20% in normal-weight dogs can rise up to 40% in obese individuals.

Overfeeding can lead to serious issues, as overweight dogs are more likely to develop diabetes, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Plus, excess weight makes it difficult for dogs to move well, which means they’ll exercise less and when they do move, they’re more prone to injuries.

Experts point out that too much food might seem like an act of love, but it’s actually harming your dog. In fact, a recent study that followed more than 50,000 dogs for over 20 years, tracking their weight and health to see the impact of weight on dogs’ lifespan, proved just that. The results clearly showed that dogs that maintained a healthy weight range lived up to 2.5 years longer than those qualified as overweight.

Overcoming the Mystery of Labelling

Pet food labels allow assessment of the nutrient composition, however, the information given by the label may be misleading to consumers. The principles of labelling are regulated by the AAFCO in North America and European Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 in the EU. All nutrients have to be listed according to those legal requirements. The concentrations are always related to the feed “as is” or in other words to the “original” material. This makes a comparison of nutrient densities more difficult between different types of pet food. If a dry diet for dogs would be labelled to contain 15% of crude fat, and an alternative canned food would be labelled to contain 8% of crude fat, it is often not clear to consumers, that the latter diet has a higher fat concentration, related to its dry matter, compared to the dry diet. The level of fat in the dry matter of a wet diet can be calculated easily. Assuming that the labelled moisture content of the wet diet is 80%, the dry matter content of the diet would be calculated by 100% - 80% = 20%. The concentration of fat in the dry matter can be calculated by dividing the labelled fat concentration (as is) by the dry matter content and multiplication by the factor 100:

• 8% (fat content as is) ÷ 20% (dry matter content) × 100 = 40% (crude fat in dry matter).

This example shows how often you can be misled about this essential basic information about the nutrient profiles of the diet which you use.

Another factor that you would have to consider is “the amount of nutrients your dog gets per day”. For instance, when you feed your dog with 105 g/day of a kibble product with 90% dry matter and 15% crude fat (as is) the amount of fat he receives per day is 15.78 g:

• 15% (fat content as is) ÷ 90% (dry matter content) × 100 = 16.7% (crude fat in dry matter).
• 105 (g amount of food per day) × 90% (dry matter content) = 94.5 (g dry matter food per day)
• 16.7% (crude fat in dry matter) × 94.5 (g dry matter food per day) = 15.78 (g fat per day)

You’re not sure if you’re overfeeding your dog? Figuring that out based on weight alone can be tricky, especially for mixed dogs where you don’t have an average weight for the breed to rely on.

A simple check is to look at your dog from above. If you see an hourglass shape, chances are your dog is the right weight. Using your hands, you should also be able to easily feel their ribs and spine. You can also use the dry matter calculator from Omni to calculate the dry matter accurately.

Overfeeding Isn’t Just About Weight Gain

If your dog doesn’t seem overweight, you might think all’s good with what you’re feeding, but this isn’t necessarily the truth. Sometimes the pounds pack on slowly so you might not notice the weight gain, especially on large dogs. But even if your dog isn’t necessarily getting chubbier, overnutrition can also lead to other health problems.

Bowel Issues: Abdominal discomfort, gas, and loose stools can all be connected to eating too much. The digestive system simply cannot work effectively if it’s constantly being overworked.

Skin Problems: Persistent shedding isn’t normal in most dogs and it could indicate a problem with nutrition. The same is true of constant itchiness. In the absence of parasites like fleas, a dog who’s always scratching probably has an underlying condition causing it – and those conditions are often connected to nutrition. Some dogs might be allergic to some of the ingredients in the food you’re feeding, while others might not be getting the right nutrients or even eating too much. Certain nutrients negatively interact with one another and have detrimental effects on the bioavailability of each other. For instance, besides the fact that excessive amounts of calcium or phosphorus can negatively affect absorption and utilization of each other, the antagonistic effects of calcium are also detrimental for iron, manganese, copper and especially zinc. Indeed, the iron, zinc, manganese and copper requirements of a dog increase when he receives a meal containing high levels of calcium. Zinc, iron, manganese, copper and selenium are essential trace elements. In dogs, the role of zinc in skin health has been well documented. Like zinc, copper and selenium are particularly important for the skin, hair, immune system and reproduction. Given the known negative interactions between certain nutrients which affect their bioavailability, all the nutrients in the final food mixture must be provided in a proper manner, with the right proportions and ratios. These include but are not limited to:

1. Energy to protein ratio,
2. Calcium to phosphorus ratio,
3. Amount of calcium and trace elements

Joint Problems: Overweight dogs often experience pain and discomfort in their joints. In fact, according to VCA Hospitals, “being overweight and obese set the stage for increased risk of joint damage and subsequent osteoarthritis (OA), leading to chronic pain.” And if you thought OA was just about age, you’d be wrong – at least 20% of all dogs show evidence of OA, including younger dogs. The constant wear and tear caused by excess weight traumatizes the joints over time and leads to inflammation and pain, which in turn leads to arthritis. This is often worse on dogs that are fed a poor-quality diet lacking in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

Lethargy and Tiredness: Being overweight takes a toll on your body and the same is true for our canine friends. But even overfed dogs that aren’t overweight can also feel tired and not up for running and playing around. This could be because they feel too full to move too much or because their joints or tummy might be in pain. Changes in behavior and energy levels should always be discussed with a veterinarian, as they could also be signs of a number of underlying health issues.

Under-Feeding Your Dog

Underfeeding your dog on purpose is a form of animal abuse. In fact, the Humane Society considers underfeeding “intentional cruelty” – just as bad as depriving your dog of water, shelter or veterinary care.

While we don’t expect our readers to intentionally deprive their dogs of food, you might be surprised to know that you could be accidentally underfeeding your dog. In fact, this is more common than you might think in multiple-dog households unless you’re closely watching your dogs when they’re eating. For example, a weaker or smaller dog might get bullied by other dogs and have food stolen from him. Or if you free-feed, the bigger dogs might get to eat most of it, leaving little for the other dogs.

You might also be under-feeding by accident if you’re not measuring the amount properly. For example, if you’re just guessing the amount or using a cup (and probably not the same one) every day to feed. When in doubt, a proper measuring tool is a key to getting the proportions just right.

Underfeeding can also happen when using commercial dog foods because the feeding guide listed on the package is normally a wide general range and doesn’t take into consideration your dog’s lifestyle and personal needs. For example, active and working dog breeds might not get enough nutrition from a standard feed. Not only do they need an adjustment in the nutrients they consume, but they might also need to be fed just a little bit more than what the charts recommend.

Underfeeding or feeding poor quality food that’s not meeting your dog’s nutritional needs could also lead to malnutrition. While the most common sign of underfeeding is weight loss, dogs that aren’t getting proper nutrition can also show other signs of malnutrition, including:

• Tummy troubles: A change in the color or consistency of your dog’s feces can indicate the bowel isn’t very healthy. An unhealthy gut biome can be the result of many things, but feeding a nutritionally poor diet is certainly part of it. To learn more about your pups number two habits please refer to our blog “A Super Guide to Your Dog's Poop: Frequency, Color, State, Smell & More”

• Lack of energy: Lethargy can be a sign of illness, especially if coupled with depression or a down mood. But it can also be a sign that your dog is not getting the proper nutrition to keep him healthy and strong.
  
• Skin & Coat issues: Loss of hair, a scruffy coat or dry skin can all be signs of underfeeding as well. When you’re not providing proper nutrition, what little the dog consumes will go to more biologically important functions in the body, such as keeping the organs running properly. If there’s nothing left nutritionally to nourish the skin and coat, this is where you’ll see issues first.
• Weak immune system: Nutrition is a critical factor for a well-operating immune system. Many nutrients have been identified as essential for the development, maintenance and function of the immune system, including amino acids, vitamins like C, D, E, minerals like selenium, iron, zinc, and more. Deficiency in these nutrients can make the immune system of your dog vulnerable.

Still unsure if you’re feeding too much or too little? This body condition score chart can help you better understand how well your dog is doing and whether you need to adjust his food intake.

The Connection Between Nutrition and Illness

You already know that poor nutrition can exist regardless of whether you’re overfeeding or underfeeding. You also know that obesity is connected to a number of health issues and so is not feeding enough nutrients.

But poor nutrition can also lead to reduced immunity. When your dog’s body doesn’t get the nutrition it needs, it becomes more vulnerable to infection, allergies and problems with healing. This is even worse if your dog already has a food allergy, as this can take a toll on the immune system and trigger worse issues, including environmental allergies.

An even scarier consequence of poor feeding is pancreatitis. This is a serious inflammation of the pancreas and can be life-threatening. Pancreatitis inflammation can be triggered by high-fat foods, obesity, food allergies and some toxins, a high-fat diet being the most common one. It means that it’s not only commercial food that can lead to this problem. Overfeeding a homemade diet can be just as damaging if you’re feeding too much or feeding the wrong combination of ingredients. If you’re going to walk away from commercial food (and you should!), you need a well-balanced diet to ensure proper nutrition but also to make sure the calorie count and fat content are just right.

Calcium and phosphorous are the "bricks" (the building foundation) of the bones. Nutritional imbalances, particularly deficiencies or imbalances of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D in your dog's diet, can lead to bone disorders. These, in turn, cause serious and permanent problems, especially in young dogs.

Addressing the Feeding Problem

Both overfeeding and under-feeding your dog can lead to a whole host of health issues. Combine that with a poor-quality diet and you can end up with a dog that seems to be eating well but it’s still not in great condition.

To prevent long-lasting problems, you should feed your dogs a high-quality, wholesome diet that’s free from preservatives and additives.

Unfortunately, just because a commercial dog food is labelled as “complete and balanced” doesn’t mean your dog is receiving optimal nutrition. Experts agree that ingredients such as corn, wheat, soy, additives and preservatives, salt and “meat” (without specifying which kind) provide questionable nutrition and are often only used as ingredients because they’re cheap.

Learning to read ingredient labels on dog foods is a great first step, but that still doesn’t guarantee that what you’re buying is the best option for your dog since there’s no personalization. A two-year-old dog who likes to run around needs a very different combination of nutrients than a seven-year-old who rather naps in the sun.

Looking at the feeding chart on commercial dog food containers doesn’t tell you much. Their one-size-fits-all chart doesn’t account for a dog’s particular needs, so you can never really tell if you’re feeding what your dog really needs.

In addition, for a diet to be healthy, it needs to be not only the right amount but also well-balanced and appropriate for the age, breed, weight, activity, biological and health status of your dog. An athletic dog shouldn’t eat the same as a dog who’s happier lounging on the sofa -- no matter if they’re the same breed, age and weight.

Feeding an individually balanced diet doesn’t have to be complicated. Take a 5-minute quiz and Cola's Kitchen will build the right diet to help your pup thrive.

Does your dog have allergies or special needs? We’ll account for that too when designing the right combination of ingredients and nutrients. We’ll even account for extra activity, age and other variants that affect how much and what your dog needs. In short, we offer completely balanced daily meals delivered right to your door so you never have to do any guesswork when it comes to feeding your pooch right.

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Seeing your dog vomit can be a scary thing, especially if it seems to come out of nowhere. But the truth is that your canine companion can suffer from an upset stomach just like you do, and it’s often nothing serious that will disappear on its own.

Still, different colors of vomit can mean different things –some might require a diet change while others might mean it’s time to see the vet.

We’ve put together a dog vomit color guide to help you identify what could be happening.

Is your dog actually vomiting?

Vomiting occurs when your dog brings back up food that’s already reached the stomach. But if you see your dog eating or drinking too fast and almost immediately after throwing up, he’s probably regurgitating.

Another option is coughing. When dogs cough, they might actually spit out phlegm or a yellowish liquid. Although coughing doesn’t always bring up fluid, some dogs might retch at the end of a cough and bring up white foam or clear liquid. This can sometimes be a sign of kennel cough, so it’s important to see your vet if your dog coughs several times a day.

One way to figure out if your dog is regurgitating or vomiting is to focus on what happened immediately before. Vomiting is usually preceded by abdominal retching and tensing of the abdominal muscles. Some dogs also seem to curve their backs upwards as a sign of nausea.

What Causes Vomiting?

If you’re sure your dog is vomiting, the next step is to figure out what’s causing the upset tummy.

One of the most common reasons a dog vomits is gastroenteritis. This is caused when the stomach or intestines become inflamed. Gastroenteritis can happen if you change your dog’s diet suddenly, if your dog swallowed a foreign object, or if he ate something not great for him (like table scraps or greasy food). Dogs with gastroenteritis sometimes have diarrhea as well.

Other causes of vomiting include:

• Parasites
• Bacterial infection
• Ingesting poisonous substances such as human medications (like ibuprofen, which is very toxic to dogs), chemicals (cleaning products, antifreeze, etc.), and certain plants
• Motion sickness (usually after or during a ride in the car)
• Serious medical issues, including severe allergic reactions, kidney or liver disease, and untreated diabetes

Dog Vomit Color Guide

The vomit colour is one of the most telling signs and can often clearly tell you what’s going on.

Keep in mind that when your dog throws up most of what comes out is likely to be half-digested food. If possible, first inspect the vomit to make sure there are no foreign objects in it. Then look at the color.

White or Yellow Dog Vomit

White and yellow vomits are rarely mixed with food. Instead, they tend to be in the form of just liquid or foamy bile that often indicates an empty stomach or acid reflux. This type of vomit tends to resolve on its own, but keep an eye on your dog – if this happens regularly, it could be a sign of gut inflammation, and you might need to contact your vet.

Green Dog Vomit

When a dog vomit is greenish, he’s probably vomiting on an empty stomach. Just as with yellow vomit, it often indicates that your dog suffers from acid reflux. While not a dangerous condition, it can be very uncomfortable and sometimes painful, and your dog might need medication to help. Vomit can also look green if your dog has been snacking on grass, though you should notice pieces of grass in the vomit if this is the case.

Brown Dog Vomit

Brown dog vomit can be trickier to understand. If your dog’s kibble is a dark brown, the vomit colour could simply be regurgitated food from the esophagus – especially if the kibble is mostly digested when your dog throws up.

Coprophagia (the consumption of feces) can also cause brown vomiting and is more common than you might think among dogs.

There’s also a more serious reason for brown vomit in dogs: blood. When small traces of blood are present in vomit, they can sometimes look brown. To make sure it’s not blood, use white paper towels or a light cloth to clean up – if blood is present, you’ll notice the reddish color against the white of the cleaning materials.

Red Dog Vomit

As with brown vomit, red dog vomit can be caused by red food dye found in kibble or treats. If that’s not the case, then the most likely culprit is specks of blood in the dog’s vomit. While the amount of blood in brown vomit is usually small (which is why you don’t notice the blood right away), if the vomit is red in color, chances are the amount of blood is much larger.

Blood in vomit could be due to serious gastrointestinal issues and should be considered a medical emergency.

Black Dog Vomit

Black dog vomit is usually caused by digested blood. If your dog is throwing up digested blood, the vomit will have a granulated appearance, almost like used coffee grounds. This should always be considered a medical emergency, and your pup should see a vet ASAP.

When to See a Vet

Vomit is always a cause for concern, especially if it happens more than once during the course of a day. If you notice your dog looking particularly tired or if he has diarrhea, refuses to play or something feels off, contact your vet. Dark-colored vomit always merits a visit to the vet to find the underlying cause.

Other potential things you could find in dog poop are fur (if your dog is self-grooming or licking himself excessively due to stress, itchy skin or allergies) or worms. In both cases, talking to a vet is the first step to solve the problem. For example, to avoid excessive licking you might need to change your dog’s diet (if the licking is caused by allergies) or make changes at home to reduce stress. Worms can be easily treated with deworming medications, although severe cases might need treatment for several months to ensure both the adults and the eggs have been completely eliminated.

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The Industrial Revolution completely changed the way we eat, process and store our food – and that applies to dog food as well. Your dog’s ancestors once hunted and ate scraps but adapted over thousands of years to depend on humans for food and comfort. Still, it wasn’t until the 19th century that people introduced processed diets to pets.

How Kibble Came Into the Picture

The world’s first manufactured dog food was Spratt’s, which appeared in London around 1860. The brainchild of electrician James Spratt, the biscuits were a mix of grains, fish and meats, vegetables, spices and cod liver oil. Known as “dog cakes” at the time, they were a huge success and were heavily advertised all over the country. Less than a decade later, they were also all the rage in the US.

Ken-L Ration, the first American brand of canned dog food, didn’t appear in the market until the early 1920s and was owned by Quaker Oats. It consisted mainly of horse meat and, like Spratt’s, it didn’t have a long shelf life. It was cleverly marketed as “lean, red meat” and was only disclosed in tiny letters at the bottom of the package. This canned food was so successful that by the 1940s, horses were being bred specifically to be slaughtered. Over fifty thousand of them per year that is! Purina Dog Chow also entered the market in the 1920s with the world’s first dried dog food, though the product wasn’t shelf-stable either.

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When metal became scarce during WWII, and manufacturers could no longer produce canned food, companies started to look into producing shelf-stable dog food. After all, this was the perfect time to bring a cheaper, more profitable product to the market. Although the first true shelf-stable kibble came into the market around this time, it wasn’t until the 1950s that kibble became a commercial success. This was after the appearance of Purina’s first balanced dog food, produced via extrusion. To explain extrusion simply, wet and dry ingredients get combined to make a doughy mixture. This dough then gets pushed into a machine called an expander that cooks the dough at an alarmingly high temperature killing most of the present nutrients. Yes, that includes all the “Organic and nutrition-dense” ingredients. Once cooked, the dough gets forced or extruded through small-shaped holes and cut by a knife to form the smelly, burnt, brown pebbles we now know as kibble.

What’s Wrong with Kibble

Although some brands are better than others, you could potentially think of kibble as “fast food for pets.” The cheaper the brand, the lower the quality of the ingredients used. In fact, the quality of the ingredients in pet food is often so low that they need to be processed at high heat to kill bacteria and make it safe. As a result, many nutrients are lost and need to be re-added later in synthetic form to comply with AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards.

Here are other reasons kibble isn’t the ideal choice:

Lots of Empty Carbohydrates

While dogs can digest carbohydrates and they can be part of a healthy diet, kibble is often oversupplied with them as a replacement for better-quality ingredients. Carbohydrate sources can be a problem if they are used in large quantities in kibble.

Added Preservatives and Other Chemicals

In addition to food dyes and artificial flavors, pet food contains a lot of other chemicals. Fat preservatives such as Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), and Ethoxyquin are often added to foods to extend their shelf-life. Some of these chemicals, including ethoxyquin, can be carcinogenic and are banned from use in human food.

Synthetic Nutrients

Since many nutrients are lost during the manufacturing process, pet food companies have to add them back later in their synthetic form to be able to label their food as “complete and balanced.” The biological quality of synthetic nutrients is not the same as natural nutrients from fresh, high-quality food.

Low-Quality Ingredients

While pet food must contain a certain minimum of protein and energy to comply with standards set by authorities like AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), there’s no requirement regarding the quality of that protein and energy sources. Some brands get most of their protein from meat- and poultry-by-products, which are, essentially, slaughterhouse waste. This is what’s left after the meat is removed for human consumption and can include things like lungs, intestines, blood, and several other organs. Legally, the meat can even come from roadkill and diseased farm animals, according to Dog Food Advisor.

So What Can I Feed My Dog Instead?

If you’re truly concerned about what you’re feeding your pets, switching to fresh food for dogs that’s properly balanced and made from human-grade ingredients is your best option.

Feeding a well-balanced, fresh diet made with natural, real ingredients can promote heart, liver and gastrointestinal health, improve skin condition and energy levels and help dogs with food allergies. It can even extend your dog’s life. In fact, a Belgian study that followed 500 dogs for a period of 5 years found that dogs eating a fresh homemade diet lived up to 32 months longer than those eating commercial food.

The problem with homemade diets is that unless you can consult with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, getting the recipe right can be very challenging. On your own – and even following recipes for dog food you find online -- you most probably will end up with something that won’t completely fulfill your pet’s nutritional needs and, in the long term, will lead to malnutrition (overnutrition and undernutrition of nutrients).

This is where Cola’s Kitchen comes in. We believe in feeding dogs the best food. We also believe in feeding them an individually balanced diet that’s customized to their needs. Take a look at how you can have the best dog food delivered right to your dog HERE.

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Let‘s face it – all dog foods are not created equal, and some are healthier and much better for your dog than others. Ever wondered what is the best diet for dogs? It's a complicated question and as science and technology advances, the answer to this question rapidly changes. Here are five things you should look for in high-quality dog food when the almighty “What should I feed my dog?” question comes up. The best dog food should be:

1. Addressing Individual Needs
2. Nutritionally Complete
3. Well-Balanced
4. Fresh, Tasty and Easy to Digest
5. Safe and Hygienic

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1. Addressing Individual Needs

Dogs are individuals and have different nutritional needs depending on their age, breed, gender, weight, physical activity, and reproduction status (whether they’re castrated, pregnant or lactating)¹. Ideally, the best dog food should allow dogs to receive a specific daily food ration that caters to those needs, including:

Age: Age affects the nutritional requirements of a dog and the basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is the minimum number of calories required for basic bodily functions. Below you can find 2 examples of the effects of age and BMR.

• Example 1. The BMR of a 1-month old Dachshund puppy per kg body weight is considerably higher than that of a 3-year-old Dachshund adult. This means puppies have higher nutritional requirements (including the need for more calories) than adults.
• Example 2. The BMR of a 3-year-old Dachshund per kg body weight is considerably higher than that of a 12-year-old senior Dachshund.

This means the nutritional and calorie requirements of an adult dog are higher than those of a senior dog. Most dog food producers focus only on age and weight when formulating diets for dogs. This is why you see lots of commercial foods labelled as „puppies“ or „adult dog, “ but you rarely see a focus on some of the other factors that affect nutrition, such as body condition (whether the dog is over or underweight), reproduction status (whether they’re castrated, pregnant or lactating), breed or physical activity level. These needs are equally important, as they affect the BMR and the kind of nutrition a dog needs to thrive.²‍

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Breed: The BMR and mass-specific metabolic rate (MSMR) vary widely among breeds. For example, small breeds have a lower BMR and a higher MSMR than large breeds.³

• A dog’s nutritional requirements change based on his breed and age, among other factors.
• Dogs become seniors at different ages, depending on breed size. Most large-sized dogs are considered seniors when they turn 8 years old, but small breeds won‘t reach their golden years until they are 10 or 11.

Castration: Spaying and neutering lower the BMR in dogs. A few months after castration, the BMR begins to decrease, and as a result, the maintenance energy requirements decrease. So if you continue to feed your dog the same type and amount of food, you are over-supplying your dog with nutrients (including energy), which can lead to obesity and other problems.⁴
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Reproduction status: Pregnancy and nursing increase the nutritional requirements of a dog. The pregnancy stage and how many puppies the dog is carrying should also be considered when choosing a proper diet.⁵
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Body weight and condition: How much energy a dog uses, and his metabolic rate depends in part on his current body condition (proportion of lean muscle and fat tissues) and amount of metabolically active tissues. Your dog‘s weight is an important factor in evaluating body condition and calculating the weight of metabolically active tissues. ⁶
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Physical activity: Dogs that are physically active regularly will spend more energy than dogs with a sedentary lifestyle. This means not only dogs involved in competitive sports but also dogs who regularly hike or run with their humans. The amount of activity your dog engages in regularly will considerably affect his nutritional requirements. ⁷

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2. Nutritionally Complete

Personalized, customized fresh dog food should be formulated in a way that meets all the nutritional requirements of your dog. To do that, an expert like a veterinarian/animal nutritionist should:

• Carefully evaluate your dog’s nutritional needs according to his breed, gender, age, weight, physical activity, and reproduction status(whether they’re castrated, pregnant or lactating).
• Carefully evaluate the nutritional composition of available food ingredients (different types of meats, fishes, cereals, legumes, fruits, vegetables, oils) and then formulate a balanced recipe for your dog.

The final dog food recipe MUST contain all the required nutrients, such as energy (carbohydrates and oils), vitamins (A, D, E and Bs), macro minerals (such as calcium and phosphorus ) and micro minerals (including iron, selenium, and copper, among others), essential fatty acids (from animal fats and plant oils), proteins and amino acids (from human-grade animal-derived proteins and amino acids). These nutrients must be provided in the correct quantities that aren‘t too high or too low for your dog‘s needs.

3. Well-Balanced

Certain nutrients negatively interact with one another, so they must be provided in the right quantity, so all are appropriately absorbed. For example, if the food is high in calcium, the dog will also need to consume higher levels of iron, zinc, manganese and copper to meet all his nutritional requirements. On the other hand, too much iron, zinc, manganese and copper can impair absorption of other trace elements like selenium.

To avoid a negative interaction between nutrients, they must be provided in the right proportions and ratios. For example, the right protein to calorie ratio, the right calcium and phosphorus balance, the right ratio of calcium and trace elements, etc.

4. Fresh, Tasty and Easy to Digest

The dog food industry relies on extrusion to produce commercial dry food. This is a process that grinds, mixes and then heat-treats ingredients. Unfortunately, the method also degrades vitamins and amino acids, so you end up with food that‘s lower in quality and harder to digest.⁸ For the food to be the optimal quality and as healthy as possible, it should be made up of fresh ingredients that haven‘t been extensively processed.  

Despite what it might look like, dogs aren‘t technically carnivorous animals. They are omnivorous. This means they need a diet that‘s more than just meat to fulfill all their nutritional needs. This doesn‘t mean meat is less important, and any source will do – in fact, dogs will thrive when fed human-grade meat that supplies quality protein and amino acids with additional nutrients added in. Remember that not all calories are equal and that the best dog food is one that considers all of your dog's individual needs. 

5. Safe and Hygienic

The ingredients in your dog‘s food must be from safe and reliable sources to ensure the final mix is safe as well.

• Free from pathogens like Campylobacter, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella
• Free from toxins like aflatoxins (produced by certain fungi), ochratoxin A (often found in contaminated grain and pork products), and more
• Free from chemical preservatives like Ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT, TBHQ and Propyl Gallate (added to foods to prevent oxidation).

How We’re Changing Things Up

Cola’s Kitchen fresh dog food is the first and only pet food company that creates individually balanced recipes tailored to your dog’s specific needs. We do so in a way that provides your dog all the required nutrients through Complete and Well-Balanced Natural Fresh Food. At Cola’s Kitchen, we’ll design and produce every dog’s meal in individual batches based on the individual needs of each dog and any unique conditions that might apply.

Our recipes are designed based on the profile our customers make for their dogs. These choices then allow our AI system to formulate and individually balance recipes. The concentration of each ingredient in each recipe changes from one dog to another based on the individual characteristics of each dog and their unique requirements.

Our AI formulates each diet in a way that allows all the nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, to be supplied from natural sources. This means that, in contrast to other fresh food producers, we do not need to add synthetic vitamins or minerals to our food.

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Before you start reading this article, let us ask you one question:

Which one do you prefer, prevention or medication?

At Cola's Kitchen, we believe in prevention through quality food for dogs. Good nutrition is the core principle of prevention and health. As you probably have realized, many industrial dog food brands, despite their "premium," "complete and balanced," or "high protein" labels, are NOT the best source of nutrition and won't fully support your dog's health.

Some of these foods might actually harm your dog over time!

Here are some tips to help you figure out which dog food is the right nutritious dog food your dog.

1. Learn to Read Labels

What does the label on your dog's food really tell you? Does it tell the real story about what's inside the packaging?

Some of the statements on the labels mean very little.¹ Legally speaking, commercial dog food producers in North America and Europe are not obligated to reveal their food formulation or the percentage and quality grade of each ingredient used. Standard information you'll find on labels includes:

• The name of the ingredients (mainly general terms and not very specific) such as chicken or beef
• WITHOUT specifying quality grade and the type (breast, thigh, with skin or without, head, with or without bone, etc.)
• Basic chemical composition, including crude protein, fiber, and energy.

Let's look at the protein part of dog food labels a bit more closely and see what is going on there:

Among all the nutrients your dog needs daily, protein is one of the most expensive ones. Does that mean that if you see statements like "high protein," "premium protein," or a BIG number for protein content on the package, you can be sure that you're getting your money's worth? Unfortunately, no.

First of all, keep in mind that what you see as protein content on the label is actually crude protein content, not the true protein content. Crude protein contains a significant amount of nitrogen (N), which is non-digestible. If manufacturers report crude protein content, they include the amount of nitrogen in the food product, not the true digestible protein content. This might make the true protein content appear bigger than it really is, even though there is no guarantee this nitrogen is coming from digestible protein and real amino acids that are actually required for your dog.

The crude protein on the label can be composed of indigestible (sometimes even harmful) substances such as feathers, hide or hoofs. Feeding this to your dog is like feeding them iron capsules containing some amino acids. The kidneys and liver then have to work harder to clean toxins from the body, leading to serious kidney and liver issues.

So before purchasing dog food, always:

• Clarify how much of the reported protein content is real digestible protein rather than non-protein nitrogen.
• Most importantly, if the real protein content seems good enough, make SURE that the real protein part is a highly digestible protein coming from animal muscle tissues rather than low digestible plant-derived proteins or low digestible animal-derived by-products (such as low-quality fish meal, bone meal, feather meal, poultry meal, etc.)

2. Choose a Truly Balanced Diet

Dogs are individuals with unique nutritional requirements based on their age, breed, gender, weight, physical activity, and reproduction status (castration, pregnancy, lactating). For optimal nutrition, every dog should receive a specific daily ration that caters to her or his needs. For instance:

Age: Age is an important factor in determining the basal metabolic rate and the nutritional requirements of a dog.

• The nutritional requirements (including the needs for maintenance and growth) of a 1-month old Dachshund are considerably higher than those of a 3-year-old Dachshund. The basal metabolic rate (BMR) of a 3-year-old Dachshund per kg body weight is considerably higher than that of a 12-year- old Dachshund. Therefore, an adult dog's nutritional and calorie requirements are higher than for a senior dog.
• UNFORTUNATELY, age and weight are often the ONLY factors most dog food producers consider when formulating diets for dogs.

Breed: The BMR and mass-specific metabolic rate (MSMR) vary widely among breeds. For example, small breeds have a lower basal metabolic rate and a higher MSMR than large breeds.

• A dog's nutritional requirements change based on his breed and age, among other factors.
• The onset of the senior life stage varies according to breed size. The larger the dog, the sooner they become seniors.

Castration: Castration lowers the basal metabolic rate and the requirements for certain nutrients in a dog. A few months after neutering a dog, the basic metabolic rate begins to decrease. As a result, the maintenance energy requirements decrease. So if you continue to feed your dog the same type and amount of food, you are over-supplying your dog with nutrients (including energy), which can lead to obesity and other problems.

Reproduction status: Pregnancy and nursing increase the nutritional requirements of a dog. The pregnancy stage and how many puppies the dog is carrying or feeding should also be considered when choosing a proper diet.

Body weight and condition: How much energy a dog uses, and his metabolic rate depends in part on his current body condition (proportion of lean muscle and fat tissues) and amount of metabolically active tissues. Your dog‘s weight is an important factor in evaluating body condition and calculating the weight of metabolically active tissues.

Physical activity: The amount of activity your dog engages in regularly considerably affects its nutritional requirements. Dogs that are physically active regularly will spend more energy than dogs with a sedentary lifestyle.

3. Use Common Sense: Could it Be That Cheap?

Did you know that even if the food label says that it contains ingredients Y or Z, there may only be a teeny-tiny amount of ingredients Y or Z in the food, just to get through legal inspections? So always do the math yourself. Could 1 kg of "High Protein" or "Premium" food that claims only to contain high-quality turkey breast as a protein source cost 10 dollars? Could it be that cheap? If it sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.

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4. Stay Away From Chemical Preservatives

Another serious issue with some commercial dog foods is chemical preservatives, which can be extremely harmful to your dog. Preservatives are added to dog food to slow down spoilage. Almost all NON-FRESH foods contain some form of preservatives. After all, that's how it can sit on the shelf for so long!

Antioxidants are used as preservatives because they slow down the fats' oxidization process and do not let them turn rancid. Preservatives and antioxidants can come from natural sources (such as vitamin E, C, etc.) or artificial sources. Natural sources can provide health benefits, but artificial preservatives like Ethoxyquin have a controversial reputation for safety.²

For example, Ethoxyquin (also known as Santaquin, Santoflex or Quinol) was originally developed to prevent rubber from cracking due to oxidation. It's also been used in pesticide production. Ethoxyquin has been linked to kidney cancer and can cause allergic reactions and skin diseases.

Other artificial antioxidants like BHT (also used in rubber products, food packaging, cosmetics and petroleum products) and TBHQ (commonly used in varnishes and to stabilize certain explosive compounds) have long been suspected of contributing to cancer and other diseases. ³

Legally speaking, if a food contains artificial preservatives or antioxidants, this must be stated somewhere on the label. However, this isn't always easy to spot. For example, they may not be listed on the ingredients list at all but instead, appear somewhere at the end of the chemical analysis in a small font.

So what happens when a food clearly states "no preservatives" or "no artificial preservatives" on the package? Can you be 100 percent sure that there are no chemicals at all in your dog's food?  

Unfortunately, the answer is, "it depends." For example, the statement could mean that the food manufacturer didn't add any artificial preservatives during production. But it is possible that chemical preservatives were added to the ingredients by the supplier before shipping to the food manufacturer.

5. Check processing

Most dog food manufacturers use extensive thermal processing for food production. For instance, the extrusion process is the most common type of processing used in kibble production, involving harsh heat treatment (temperature above 100C).

Unfortunately, the process also degrades vitamins and amino acids, so you end up with food that's lower in quality and harder to digest. For the food to be the optimal quality and as healthy as possible, it should be made up of fresh ingredients that haven't been extensively processed. ⁴

6. Avoid Food Ingredients That Can Cause Allergies

You should always check the ingredients list of any food you intend to buy, especially if your dog has been diagnosed with a sensitivity or allergy. Food manufacturers change ingredients and formulas from time to time, so you should always check labels to see what you're getting.

7. Switch to Better Ingredients

Most commercial dog food brands (canned, semi-moist and dry) are similar to human conserves, canned and fast foods. They contain harmful preservatives, they use low-quality products, and they are not transparent when it comes to specific protein types used. Some of these companies also practice harmful processing methods, such as extrusion. Instead, it would be best if you tried feeding your dog with premium fresh human-grade food ingredients and healthier cooking methods.

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