With all the emphasis on eating healthily these days and the spotlight on modified or unhealthy food designed, for maximum profit, do we ever think about what our dogs are eating and how it affects their health?
There are many excellent brands on the market however do we need to consider what we are giving our dogs to absorb and whether it is in their best interests? After all, for those who can afford a vet, it can become quite a financial investment when diet related problems occur?
Lunchbox Theatre obviously love dogs which is why they love performing A Dog’s Life and teaching children why it is important to employ the ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ philosophy for voiceless animals. So in this newsletter it seemed appropriate for Lunchbox Theatre to offer some nurturing ideas on how to improve your dog’s nutrition sourced from Phivo Christodoulou.
- Avoid feeding shelf-stable foods like tins and pellets as a staple diet. Buyers often overlook the reasons why processed food has a 12 to 24 month shelf life. Shelf-stable products have no live enzymes due to cooking processes and manufacturers sometimes add synthetic nutrients into the products.
- Have you ever joked about how smelly your dog’s farts and poops are? Many dry pet foods contain gluten meal which causes waste products to be retained and can strain the liver and kidneys. So, make a wise choice and choose a reputable rather than cheap brand. It could cost you more in vet bills in the long run.
- Introduce a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit which are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is the leading cause of premature aging in people as well as dogs. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and legumes provide carbohydrate calories that can reduce food costs and keep weight on skinny, very active dogs. Bananas, apples, berries, melon, and papaya are good choices. Google which fruit and veg is not good for your dog. Use certified organic vegetables and fruit when possible or scrub the pesticides off non-organic vegetables with 1 part apple cider vinegar and 4 parts water
- Avoid cooking meats because all species on the planet eat raw food for beneficial nutrients, except for humans.
- Replace rice with organic green lentils which are nutritionally valuable because they are rich in lysine, an essential amino acid that helps to boost the immune system.
- Add raw coconut oil which can helps to manage your dog’s weight and goes straight to the liver where it gets converted into energy. The more energy your dog has, the more he exercises and the less the chance of obesity-related diseases.
- Gnawing on raw bones will help keep your dog’s teeth sparkling white.
- Water is the most important aspect of a healthy diet yet there are well over 150 chemicals in most tap waters. 97% of Europe refuses to put hydrofluorosilicic acid in their water supply as it is a byproduct of fertilizer manufacturing and contains traces of arsenic and lead and it increases the body’s uptake of aluminium. So, it is a good idea to filter your dog’s water or give them rainwater.
Prevention is better than cure so make sure your dog has a heathy diet. We salute all those who love and care for dogs. Now that you know some ways to make your dog healthier consider supporting the staging of more A Dog’s Life live theatre shows.
For R200 per month, 400 children can be educated through A Dog’s Life every year for as long as your donation continues. For R1000 per month over 1000 children will be educated on how to care for animals and with a once off payment of R5000 we can educate 500 kids with one show. This is great value for money, so visit https://lunchbox.org.za/share-your-lunchbox/ now.