We all know that what we eat can affect our mood as well as our long-term health. Of course, the same holds true for dogs. Feeding your pet one of our Superfood diets can go a long way towards keeping both their mind and body in good shape.
‘Superfood’ is a term that has been coined relatively recently and can be used to describe a range of foods that offer multiple benefits and are seen as being generally healthy. When we talk about a ‘superfood’, we mean one that is nutritionally dense and offers a variety of benefits.
Let’s take a look at some of our favourite ingredients here at Pooch & Mutt:
Naturally packed with vitamins A,C and E, spinach is like a leafy multi-vitamin! It is also rich in iron and calcium and can naturally reduce inflammation. While we shouldn’t believe everything we see in cartoons, it seems Popeye was on to something when he said:
"I'm strong to the finish, cause I eats me spinach, I'm Popeye the Sailor Man!"
Cranberries are especially beneficial for urinary tract health and are often advised for those suffering with chronic UTIs and cystitis. Research has also shown that they can bolster the immune system and ward off infection. These sweet, red berries are packed with antioxidants and pack a real punch considering their small size.
While seaweed may look like soggy weeds, it is both tasty and packed full of healthy nutrients. The omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are joint protective and can also help to protect the heart by reducing inflammation and preventing abnormal heart rhythms (1).
Brimming with vitamin C, potassium and folic acid, these exotic fruits are delicious and good for your pooch. Vitamin C is a vital antioxidant that may help to prevent cognitive decline as dogs get older (2). The abundant polyphenols contained within pomegranates are known to be beneficial for those with neurodegenerative disease.
Did you know that while potato doesn’t count as one of your five a day, sweet potato does? This is because it is nutrient dense and is rich in vitamins and minerals as well as fibre, to help keep your dog regular. The slow-releasing carbohydrates provide energy that will last all day long.
While this is hard to quantify, especially in pets, recent studies in humans indicate that diet is strongly linked to mood. In fact, researchers in the UK established that a healthy diet is directly linked to less depression and stress (3). It makes sense that a body and brain that is properly fuelled will function better. Similarly, supporting your dog’s general health will generally lead to an improved quality of life.
We all want our beloved pets to be happy and fulfilled. Diet is just one aspect that will affect how they are feeling. Other areas to focus on will include:
A dog that is tuckered out in the evening can better relax and wind down. Try to provide your dog with all of the exercise they need on a daily basis.
Exercise alone is not enough for most, who enjoy having their minds tickled. Puzzles and interactive toys as well as obstacle courses are a fun way to keep your pupper happy and engaged.
We all like to be complemented when we’re doing well. Remind your furry friend when you’re happy with their behaviour and watch their tail wag.
Just like us, your dog can get bored with the same routine. Try to rotate their toys and bring them on new and exciting walking routes.
Making meal time fun. Things like food puzzles can help spice things up. Pop some of our new treats (like our Turkey & Hemp Calming Probiotic Meaty Treats) inside a feeding ball or hide them around the home and garden for a fun game of ‘find the treat’.
Comments (17)
Is pooch and Mutt senior 7+ low fat
My dog is 1yr old. Which dry complete kibble would you recommend for her as she suffers with itchy skin.. Always scratching poor baby. Thanks.
Hi Liz,
It might be best taking a look at our Skin & Coat dry food is designed for those dogs that are prone to dry or itchy skin, it contains additional supplements to help with this and if you would like any further details please do reach out to the team on [email protected] :)
I have a puppy who is 5 months. He likes to eat anything but we try and keep him off chicken as this can affect their skin. Your puppy food has chicken in it. I have heard that in dog food chicken is the rubbish of the chicken, do you have any different flavours that he can have. I did try the primal and he was not to bad on that. He broke his leg 2 weeks ago and has to be crated for up to 8 weeks. My 2 year old got out with my puppy and he was missing for two days he lost 3.5kg and was found over 2 miles away. What is the best food for him to out a little bit of weight back on 1.5 kg would be good weight to make him a good weight for him at 25kg. He usually settles around 27-29kg ne is a Goldendoodle about standard size. What would you recommend for him please.
Angela
Hi Angela,
You could look at feeding your pooch our Health & Digestion dry food, or the Skin & Coat dry food instead. Both of these are suitable for puppies from 8 weeks old and neither contain any chicken ingredients. If you would like to discuss this further with our team, please reach out to us on [email protected] :)
My Minnie is a miniature dachshund who is 51/2 she has always had to have her annual glands emptied on a 4-6 week cycle after having an abscess. She’s currently on the calm & relaxed food, would the be a better one to help with this issue?
Hi Sarah,
Our Health & Digestion range may be a great choice here as it is designed for those with sensitive tummies and contains ingredients to support healthy stools as well as anal glands. If you would like any further guidance and advice with this, please do reach out to the team at [email protected] :)
Hello, I have two miniature Dachshund 10 months old both female I have had Dotty since she was 8 weeks on royal canin, I got Holly three weeks from the breeder and she has only been on raw diet but now having Royal canin, she is only 3 kg the vet said to try them on your food but there is so many to choose from please can you suggest the right diet for them.
Hi Tina,
We will reach out to you directly via email to discuss options with you, an email should come from [email protected] shortly. :)
My dog is 7 years old, a little overweight and has problems with her anal glands. She has a lot of wet food, meat based. Would adding dry food to her diet help with her anal glands? If so which would you recommend? Many thanks.
Hi M Smith,
Anal gland trouble can have a few causes including chronic diarrhoea, food allergies, obesity, lack of fibre, lack of exercise, body shape etc. To try to prevent them, we’d ideally figure out what may be causing anal gland issues, and go from there.
It could be beneficial here help your pooch reach a healthier Body Condition/weight through their diet and exercise. Dry food may help if for example it contains more fibre (such as our Health & Digestion Dry Food), but may not help if the dog suffers with constipation, and this would depend on dog and their individual needs. For emptying anal glands, we want the dog to pass a solid stool at least once daily.
We would advise consulting with your vet and if you would also like any further specific advice please do contact the team at [email protected] where they will be more than happy to help :)
Do you do small bite, i always buy that as my 15 year old tiny Yorkie has very few teeth but manages to eat it mixed with wet food, also My 11 years old parsons will only eat small stuff but her teeth are fine, i would buy the senior if its as small as the small bite i use, Thank you.
Hi Yvonne,
We do indeed have our Small Dog Complete Superfood which is a smaller sized kibble and suitable for dogs over 1 year old. We do also have a range of dry foods which are also a smaller sized kibble, and if you would like any further tailored advice, please do reach out to us at [email protected] :)
My dog has just had a tooth extraction, he normally enjoys your adult complete kibble – does this soften with added water? He’s on royal canin gastrointestinal wet food for the first 24 hours but can go back to soft food for 6-10 days. I have tried to soften his kibble but it still seems quite firm after an hour, how long before it breaks down fully?
Hi Gina,
Oh I do hope he is doing ok and recovering well! Our dry food can indeed be softened with water, we would advise warm water to help soften this (of course letting it cool first) and leaving for around 30-60 minutes. This should be sufficient, and the kibble will soften more the longer it is left.
We do also have a range of wet foods which you could feed alone or use as a topper if needed. If you would like any further specific advice at all then please do just reach out to the team at [email protected] :)
My 14 year old dachshund is diabetic and has been on P & M Health and Digestion with wet food as a topper, would it help her to change to senior or stay with Health & Digestion
Hi Victoria,
From our range of dry foods, our Health & Digestion Dry Food and Senior Complete Superfood may both be good options. We would want high protein, moderate to high fibre, low fat and low carbohydrate. With your dogs age, it could indeed be ideal to transition over to our senior complete superfood as this is designed specifically for older pooches, with all of the necessary nutrients needed.
It is worth these foods are not designed specifically with diabetic dogs in mind and we would always advise consulting with your vet beforehand as to what is most suitable for your individual dogs requirements :)
Leave a comment