As 2025 approaches, many of us are reflecting on our goals and resolutions for the year ahead. But resolutions aren’t just for humans – they can apply to our pets, too! If you’re a dog owner, one of the best resolutions you can make is to switch to a healthier dog food.
Just like us, dogs are what they eat. Providing a nutritious diet is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to keep your dog healthy and happy. And if you’re considering a change, Nextrition cold-pressed dog food is a great place to start.
Do People Really Make Resolutions for Their Pets?
Absolutely! According to a 2019 survey, many pet owners take New Year’s resolutions seriously when it comes to their furry friends. Here are some standout stats:
Overall, 71% of respondents agreed: the new year is a chance to prioritize their pet’s health.
Why Food Is the Foundation of Health
For dogs, just like humans, food is the building block of good health. The right food fuels their energy, supports muscle and bone strength, aids in digestion, and helps fight disease and injury.
Choosing a healthy, nutrient-dense dog food means your pet gets everything they need – without the unnecessary fillers or questionable ingredients. Switching to a high-quality option, like cold-pressed dog food, is an excellent way to improve your dog’s overall health.
At the same time, try limiting treats, table scraps, and other “junk food.” Keeping their weight and avoiding processed ingredients can help prevent obesity and long-term health issues.
Don’t Forget Exercise and Mental Stimulation
A healthier diet is a fantastic start, but your dog’s physical and mental health also depend on regular activity and training. In the new year, consider:
Combining better nutrition with consistent exercise and mental stimulation ensures your dog stays healthy, happy, and thriving all year long.
A Fresh Start for You and Your Dog
Whether or not you set New Year’s resolutions for yourself, 2025 is the perfect opportunity to focus on your dog’s health. Start by switching to a nutritious, high-quality food like Nextrition cold-pressed dog food. It’s a simple change with big benefits – giving your dog the fuel they need to live their happiest, healthiest life.
Here’s to a happy and healthy new year for you and your furry friend!
The dog food world can sometimes feel full of gimmicks, but a low residue diet is the real deal. It’s often recommended for dogs with sensitive stomachs or digestive issues like colitis and pancreatitis. If your dog has trouble digesting their food, a low residue diet could be exactly what they need.
This approach is all about reducing the digestive system's workload, giving your dog’s gut time to recover and work more efficiently.
What Is a Low Residue Diet?
A low residue diet focuses on foods that are easy to digest and leave behind minimal waste. Think simple carbohydrates like white rice or sweet potatoes, which are gentle on a dog’s system.
Unlike dry kibble, which can be tough to break down, low residue foods prioritize highly digestible ingredients. This helps dogs process nutrients efficiently without overloading their digestive system.
Key Benefits of a Low Residue Diet
If your dog struggles with digestive distress, a low residue diet can offer some big benefits:
Combine it with prebiotics and probiotics, and you’re looking at optimized digestion and nutrient uptake.
What to Look for in a Low Residue Dog Food
If you’re exploring low residue options, focus on natural, gut-friendly ingredients. Look for foods that meet the following profile:
For raw diet enthusiasts, this often means boiled rice, lean meats, and soft, mashed veggies.
Need an Easier Option?
If prepping a raw diet feels like too much work, Nextrition cold-pressed dog food could be your perfect solution. Our recipes use natural, highly digestible ingredients and a cold-pressed process that preserves the natural nutrients while making the food easy to digest.
It’s ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs or digestive concerns – and even for picky eaters.
A low residue diet could make a big difference for your dog’s gut health. If you think it’s the right move, chat with your vet or start exploring ingredient labels. When in doubt, give Nextrition a try – we’re here to help your furry friend feel their best.
If you are like most people, you have probably wondered how dog food manufacturers can get away with claiming their food is delicious. After all, dogs can't exactly offer food reviews. But it turns out they don't have to. When it comes to taste, it's more about smell for dogs.
1,700 Taste Buds vs. 9,000
An analysis of your dog's tongue would reveal roughly 1,700 taste buds. That may sound impressive, but compared to humans—who have about 9,000 taste buds—dogs have a far less sophisticated sense of taste.
Where dogs win is in their sense of smell. A dog can smell up to 100,000 times better than a human. Their exceptional noses can detect scents we can't even imagine.
Interestingly, dogs also have a special organ along their palette called the vomeronasal organ, which allows them to "smell taste." For dogs, smelling food and tasting it are closely intertwined, which explains why aroma plays such a big role in their enjoyment of meals.
Why Dogs Love the Garbage Can
To humans, garbage is just that—garbage. It smells foul, and we want nothing to do with it. But dogs experience the world differently.
When your dog picks up odors from the garbage, he’s essentially tasting with his nose. To him, anything that smells interesting (even if we find it repulsive) must also taste good. This is why dogs will happily scavenge through trash cans, countertops, or leftovers.
For dogs, smell determines taste, which is why enticing aromas are key to creating a food they’ll love.
Cooking Methods Impact Flavor
The way dog food is processed and cooked significantly affects its flavor and aroma. For example:
At Nextrition, we combine real meats, healthy grains, fruits, and vegetables with our gentle cold-pressing process to retain maximum flavor and nutrition. The result? A food that smells amazing to your dog—and tastes great too!
Taste Is All About the Nose
For dogs, taste and smell go hand in hand. If food smells good, your dog will most likely think it tastes good too. That’s why feeding a high-quality food like Nextrition cold-pressed dog food, with its natural ingredients and rich aroma, can make all the difference—especially for picky eaters.
Next time you wonder if your dog’s food is really delicious, trust his nose. If he’s eager at mealtime and licking his bowl clean, that’s all the review you need!
One of the perks of making healthy dog food is that we get to answer some interesting questions from dog owners. One question we hear a lot is: “Is there a best time of day to feed my dog?” The answer is both yes and no. We’re not trying to dodge the question—there’s just a little nuance to it. Let us explain.
Yes, there is a “best” time in the sense that you should pick a feeding schedule and stick with it. But no, there’s no universal rule that says all dogs need to eat at 8:00 am sharp. The best time to feed your dog depends on their routine and needs. Once you figure out what works, consistency is key.
Let’s talk about feeding schedules. Keep in mind that these are general guidelines—if your dog has unique health concerns, your vet can help you develop the right plan.
Most vets recommend feeding adult dogs twice a day, ideally spaced about 12 hours apart. For example, if you feed your dog at 6:00 am before heading to work, aim for the second meal around 6:00 pm.
You don’t need to be precise down to the minute. Life happens, and it’s okay if feedings are off by an hour or so. What matters more than exact timing is sticking to a consistent routine.
Feeding twice a day helps maintain dietary stability. It can also prevent issues like nausea, bloating, or your dog scarfing down food too quickly because they’ve gone too long without eating.
While two meals a day works for adult dogs, puppies need to eat more frequently—just like human babies do. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Try to space meals evenly to keep your puppy’s digestion stable. For example, if you’re feeding four times a day, aim for every 4 hours during the day, with a break for sleep at night.
The same goes for senior dogs, nursing mothers, and highly active dogs—they may need more frequent feedings too. If you’re unsure, your vet can recommend the best schedule based on your dog’s needs.
Some dog owners leave food out all the time, a practice known as free-choice feeding. While it works for some dogs, veterinarians generally recommend avoiding this method. Leaving food out all the time can encourage overeating, which can lead to weight gain and health problems over time.
If your dog prefers to graze throughout the day, try portioning out their food and offering it at set times. This way, you can maintain control over their intake while still giving them flexibility.
Feeding your dog isn’t just about keeping their belly full. It’s also about making sure they’re getting the right nutrition on a reliable schedule that works for both of you. Choosing a healthy, easily digestible food—like Nextrition—is one way to support your dog’s well-being.
Nextrition’s cold-pressed dog food is packed with natural ingredients that promote good gut health, and it’s designed to be appealing even for picky eaters. When you combine a consistent feeding schedule with nutritious food, you’re giving your dog the best chance to stay healthy, happy, and energized.
At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the “best time to feed your dog.” But with a bit of trial and error—and some help from your vet—you'll be able to find a schedule that works for your furry friend. Stick to that routine, and pair it with a quality food like Nextrition, and you’ll be on the right track to keeping your dog in great shape.
We may not think about dogs being overweight—it’s more of a human problem, right? After all, animals in the wild seem to manage their weight just fine. But domesticated pets? That’s a different story. Dogs can definitely be overweight—but it’s not inevitable. That’s one of the reasons we’re so passionate about creating healthy dog food like Nextrition.
In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 50% of domesticated dogs in North America are overweight. If your dog is carrying around 10-20% more than their ideal weight, they’re considered overweight. Anything above 20%? That’s considered obese.
Why It Matters
Feeding your dog a healthy diet in the right portions is one of the most important ways you can help them maintain a healthy weight. But does it really matter if your dog carries a little extra weight? Absolutely. Just like with people, being overweight can cause serious health problems in dogs—starting with heart disease.
Excess weight adds stress to your dog’s cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of heart disease. It can also lead to high blood pressure (hypertension), which makes the heart work harder than it should.
Some other health issues linked to excess weight in dogs include:
While there’s no concrete proof that obesity causes cancer, studies show that overweight dogs are more likely to develop certain types of cancer.
On top of all that, excess weight affects your dog’s quality of life. We all want our pets to live happy, healthy lives—so keeping their weight in check is a simple way to help them thrive.
What You Can Do to Help Your Dog
If you suspect your dog is overweight, the first step is to schedule a vet appointment. Your vet can assess your dog’s health and let you know if they need to shed some pounds. If your dog does need to slim down, here’s how you can help:
Once your dog reaches a healthy weight, it’s important to stick to good habits. Avoid falling back into old routines that may have contributed to weight gain. A consistent, healthy lifestyle will help your dog maintain their ideal weight for the long haul.
The Nextrition Difference
Nextrition cold-pressed dog food is an excellent choice for most dogs. Our natural, nutrient-dense formula is easy on the stomach and packed with the nutrition your dog needs to stay healthy and active. Plus, it’s designed with optimal gut health in mind—perfect for dogs of all ages and sizes.
Have questions about Nextrition? We’d love to help. Reach out anytime to learn more about how our food can support your dog’s health and well-being.
Grain free dog food has been available to pet owners for over a decade. Perhaps not-surprisingly, the grain-free trend started from a marketing campaign. The campaign said that because dogs are the ancestors of wolves that they should eat a similar diet, and wolves don’t eat grains. The reality is that dogs have evolved over many generations of being domesticated so that they are omnivores vs. carnivores like their wolf relatives.
In a general sense, a grain-free diet isn’t automatically healthy or unhealthy for dogs. The more important thing to look at is which ingredients are used to ensure each ingredient is being used to provide necessary nutrition. Some grains are rich in nutrition and others are less so. If you decide to go grain-free, you’ll still need to make sure your dog is getting all the nutrients they need.
Most dogs can absorb the nutrients from grains in their diet without any issues. And when it comes to allergies, genuine grain allergies are pretty rare among dogs.
Here at Nextrition, we include some healthy grains in our diets but only use high-quality, nutrient-rich ingredients. Our number 1 ingredient is real meat with a blend of grains with fruits and vegetables to create a well-balanced dog food that’s gentle on sensitive stomachs, good for gut health, and avoids common allergens. Plus, our food is cold-pressed to lock in maximum flavor and nutritional value.
We believe the best approach is to focus on feeding your dog healthy food made with natural ingredients, preferably cold-pressed. It’s better to take a broad view of food and pet health rather than getting caught up in a single issue like grain-free, unless your pup has a grain allergy.
There is lots of information out there claiming that dogs being fed a grain-free diet could have a higher chance of developing a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The truth is that all research so far has not shown a connection between grain-free diets and DCM. Despite that, many vets will recommend staying away from grain-free foods to be extra cautious.
We think Nextrition is an excellent choice for just about any dog. But we also understand that it’s not the only choice. You want to give your dog a healthy, delicious, and easy-to-digest food. Here’s our advice: if you’re considering going grain-free, talk to an expert before making the switch.
Your vet is the best person to help you decide what’s right for your dog. If the two of you determine that grain-free is the way to go, that’s awesome. If not, why not give Nextrition cold-pressed dog food a try? It’s a fantastic option for sensitive stomachs and common food allergies.
There’s nothing quite like rewarding your dog with a quality treat. Whether Rocco just nailed that new trick or Misty’s been extra sweet today, giving your dog a treat feels great. But here’s the thing: while treats are awesome, they should be just that—a treat, not a staple.
What do we mean by that? We mean that your dog shouldn’t be filling up on treats instead of getting their proper nutrition from their regular meals. Treats should be a supplement to their diet, not a replacement, and they should fit within their daily calorie needs. You should also check the ingredients of the treats you are feeding to ensure you are avoiding ingredients like corn, wheat, soy and animal by-products.
If you’re giving out treats left and right without adjusting your dog’s meals, you might end up with a pup that’s overweight. Just like humans, when dogs take in more calories than they burn, they start packing on the pounds. And we all know that carrying extra weight isn’t good for either people or dogs. It’s best to avoid that altogether.
If you’re new to the world of dog parenting, the first thing to understand about treats is that they’re not a substitute for a healthy, balanced diet. The best place to start is by making sure your dog’s main meals are packed with the right nutrients.
That’s where Nextrition comes in. We recommend our cold-pressed dog food made from natural ingredients. We carefully select and proportion our ingredients for a proper balance of nutrients, then use a cold pressing method that keeps all the good stuff intact. This means your dog can eat less while still getting all the nutrition they need to stay healthy.
Keeping your dog at a healthy weight isn’t as tricky as it sounds. Once you have quality food, it’s all about knowing how many calories your dog needs each day and feeding them accordingly. For example, if you’ve got a large-breed dog that needs around 1,400 calories a day to stay fit, feeding them more than that could lead to weight gain. On the flip side, feeding them less might cause them to lose weight.
Of course, this is just a general guideline as every dog is different. Several factors can influence how many calories your dog needs, including their weight, activity level, and any health issues they might have.
You can get a recommended number of daily calories by getting a personalized feeding plan from Nextrition. You can also check the feeding guidelines on any package of dog food. The label should tell you how much to feed based on weight as a good place to start, and it might also list the calorie content. From there, it’s just a matter of doing a little math and/or adjusting the amount you feed on if your dog is gaining or losing any weight.
You can also consult with your veterinarian to get a starting place on how many calories to feed. They can assess your dog’s weight and overall health to give you a baseline number. Once you have that, you can figure out how treats fit into the equation.
A common rule of thumb is the 10% rule—no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories should come from treats. So, if you’re giving treats every day, you’ll need to reduce their regular meals by about 10% to keep their overall calorie intake in check.
We’re big fans of quality treats here at Nextrition. They’re fantastic for training and for showing your dog some extra love. But remember, treats should be supplemental. Keep that in mind, and your dog will stay healthy and happy.
With summer winding down and fall on the horizon, it’s almost time for hunting season—an exciting time for working dogs who love getting out there and putting their natural instincts to work. But when it comes to feeding these hard-working dogs during hunting season, should you be doing anything differently?
Common sense tells us that just like human athletes, dogs need more fuel when they’re more active. But there are a few more things to consider than simply adjusting their diet for increased activity.
Every dog is a little different and the right answer on how much extra to feed your pup during the hunting season and the off-season can vary every year. We can share some general guidelines but you will know your dog the best and may need to adjust how much you feed depending on how your dog is acting. You can always chat with your vet for personalized advice.
We’ve done some digging to find tips from those who know working dogs best. While some advice varies, a few key tips kept popping up. Here are some of the most common recommendations:
The top tip we found is to adjust feeding based on your dog’s activity level. It makes sense—your dog will burn more calories on a full day of hunting than on a day spent lounging around. The general advice is to increase food volume during the hunting season and then scale back during the offseason.
Another common tip is to tweak the timing of your dog’s meals. Many working dog owners recommend avoiding feeding immediately before or after hunting. Instead, they suggest feeding once a day during the hunting season, usually in the evening.
Working dogs tend to get more exercise during hunting season, which is why many owners suggest upping the fat and protein content in their food. Adding more protein and fat to their existing diet or switching entirely to a high-performance dog food with higher fat and protein levels can give your dog the extra energy they need for those busy hunting days. Just remember, if you’re switching foods, do it gradually to avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach.
It’s important to keep an eye on your dog’s weight and body condition during the season. If your dog seems to be losing weight or isn’t in optimal condition, you might need to increase their daily food intake. Some owners recommend adjusting the volume based on whether it’s a hunting day or not.
As a company focused on canine nutrition, the best advice we can offer is to monitor your dog’s weight and body condition daily. There are no hard and fast rules for feeding during hunting season—every dog is different, even within the same breed. Keeping a close eye on your dog will help you make the best decisions for their diet.
And, of course, we invite you to give Nextrition cold-pressed dog food a try. Since cold pressing preserves nutritional value, most dogs can eat less by volume while still maintaining optimal health. Nextrition could be the perfect gut-healthy dog food for your working dog during the busy hunting season.
We humans have a lot in common with our dogs. For instance, our dogs can have food allergies – just like us. Food allergies can make life miserable for a dog and its owner. Avoiding such misery is what motivates Nextrition to make dog food that avoids ingredients that are common allergies. While our recipes aren’t 100% hypoallergenic, the limited ingredients make it easy to pick a recipe that fits your pups diet.
You might be wondering how to tell if your dog has a food allergy. Well, you’re in luck. That’s exactly what we’re going to dive into in this post.
Allergic Reactions: The Basics
When we say that a dog has food allergies, what we really mean is that the animal has an allergic reaction to certain foods or ingredients. An allergic reaction happens when the immune system goes into overdrive, reacting to something it sees as a threat, even though it’s not dangerous.
Imagine a dog allergic to certain types of protein. The protein in her food is perfectly fine and healthy, but her body overreacts to it in a way that can cause trouble.
Common Symptoms of Food Allergies
You need to know if your dog has food allergies before looking for a food that avoids those ingredients. So how do you figure that out? By paying attention to your dog’s behavior and looking for symptoms.
Some common symptoms of food allergies in dogs include:
Dogs with food allergies might also lose their appetite and have less energy. They might even avoid eating, leading to noticeable weight loss. However, many signs of food allergies are also associated with other conditions. So if you suspect food allergies, your best bet is to take your dog to the vet for an expert opinion.
Diagnosis Through Trial and Error
A vet who suspects food allergies will often use a trial and error approach to diagnose the issue. This might sound old-school, but it’s the best way to figure out what foods are bothering your pet. Typically, this involves an 8-12 week elimination diet.
Initially, your dog is fed a diet consisting mainly of a novel or hydrolyzed protein. Then, different foods are introduced to see how the dog reacts. By the end of the trial, the vet should have a good idea about what your dog is allergic to.
One last thing to note is that food sensitivities are far more common in dogs than actual allergies. Your vet can explain the differences. Either way, the limited but high-quality ingredients in Nextrition cold-pressed dog food make it a great food for dogs with many of the common allergies and sensitive stomachs. Consider giving Nextrition cold pressed food a try – we’re confident you and your canine companion will be pleased!
Hey there! At Nextrition, we’re all about keeping our furry friends in tip-top shape. That’s why we craft all-natural dog food that’s perfect for pups to reach peak digestive health. But did you know that good dog food does more than just keep tummies happy? It can also work wonders for your dog's coat!
Nutrition is key to just about everything related to your dog's well-being. Just like how eating right helps us feel our best, the same goes for your dog. Good nutrition means optimal health for both body and mind.
When it comes to a healthy coat, your dog needs it to stay comfy and look great. But a shiny, healthy coat doesn't happen by chance. Your dog's body needs the right nutrients in the right amounts to keep that coat looking fabulous.
Fatty Acids and Essential Oils
For a healthy coat, your dog needs healthy skin. Omega fatty acids and essential oils are superstars in this department. They keep your dog's skin hydrated, which in turn helps maintain a shiny, healthy coat.
Sure, your dog can get some fatty acids and essential oils from standard kibble. But cold-pressed dog food from Nextrition is packed with these good things. Cold-pressed means it’s cooked at lower temperatures, preserving all the important stuff – including those fatty acids and essential oils.
Proper Absorption of Food’s Nutrients
Getting enough fatty acids and essential oils is just one part of the puzzle. The other part is making sure your dog’s body actually absorbs these nutrients. If your pup’s digestive system isn’t up to snuff, all those good nutrients won’t do much. This can lead to a dull, unhealthy coat.
Many dog owners notice a big improvement in their dog’s coat after switching to Nextrition cold-pressed dog food. But why is that? What’s so special about cold pressing?
Cold-pressed dog food is easier on the stomach and retains more of the natural nutrients and flavors that traditional kibble burns off when its made. Nextrition helps maintain a healthy gut microbiome, which means a stronger and healthier gut and digestive system. So, your dog gets more nutritional value from every meal, leading to a healthier, shinier coat.
Less Skin Irritation
Still not convinced? Consider this: good nutrition means less skin irritation. Traditional kibble often contains preservatives and fillers that can mess with your dog’s skin health, leading to scratching and itching.
Cold-pressed dog food, on the other hand, gives your dog all the nutrients needed for healthy skin without the fillers and preservatives that can cause issues. This means fewer skin problems like rashes and infections, less scratching, and a healthier coat.
Food Is a Building Block
Bottom line: food is a building block for your dog's body. A healthy coat comes from getting the right nutrients in the right amounts. A well-balanced diet with high nutritional value supports good gut health, good skin health, and a beautiful coat. It’s as simple as that!
New to the dog parent scene? Welcome to the pack! You might've stumbled across the term "feeding chart" and wondered what all the hype is about. Think of a dog feeding chart as your ultimate cheat sheet for figuring out how much to feed your furry buddy each day. Even seasoned dog owners find them handy, especially when switching up foods or noticing changes in their dog's health or eating habits. Our cold-pressed dog food comes with its own feeding guide.
So, what’s the deal with a dog feeding chart, and why should you use one? Let’s dig in. First off, remember there’s no one-size-fits-all chart. Each manufacturer has its own version tailored to their recipes. Always stick to the chart that comes with your dog food brand.
Why bother with a feeding chart? For starters, dog food brands aren't created equal. Nextrition’s cold-pressed dog food is light-years ahead of the usual dry kibble. Our unique ingredients and cold-pressing process retains more of the natural nutrients and flavors that kibble burns off and is more nutrient dense than traditional kibble.
The dog food you buy should come with a feeding chart right on the packaging. Once you get the hang of it, you might not need to check the chart often. But if you switch foods, even within the same brand, always check the new chart.
Feeding charts help prevent underfeeding or overfeeding by considering your dog's weight and size. For example, an overweight dog needs fewer calories. A feeding chart guides you on the right amount to feed based on weight, helping you maintain a healthy balance.
These charts are flexible tools. By keeping an eye on your dog's weight and condition, you can adjust feeding amounts as needed. Just remember, feeding charts are general guides. Your dog might have special dietary needs not covered by the chart.
If you’re ever worried about overfeeding or underfeeding your dog, don't hesitate to consult your vet. They can provide personalized advice, whether you’re feeding Nextrition cold-pressed dog food or another top brand of dry kibble.
Ready to join the feeding revolution? Embrace the goodness of Nextrition and keep your dog's bowl brimming with the best. Because your furry friend deserves nothing less!
Iron is an essential nutrient for dogs. It plays a vital role in various bodily functions, from transporting oxygen in the blood to supporting the immune system. That’s why your dog’s diet should have a healthy amount of iron-rich foods.
Luckily, many delicious food options are safe to incorporate into your dog's diet. Below, we have listed seven foods that are a rich source of iron:
Organ meat, especially the liver and kidneys, contains a lot of iron. These animal tissues have significant amounts of iron which is easily absorbed by the dog’s body. Additionally, these organs are an excellent source of other nutrients, including vitamins A, B, copper, and zinc.
You can easily add organ meat to your dog’s diet by serving it raw or preferably cooked (to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria). Just chop or dice the meat into small bite-sized pieces and then mix those in with their regular food to elevate the nutritional content of their meals.
Many varieties of fish, including tuna, sardines, and salmon, are also good sources of iron. They also offer other essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality protein, and various vitamins and minerals.
Including a fish in your dog's diet can help provide them with a well-rounded nutritional profile, which will help improve their skin and coat health, cognitive function, immune response, and much more.
Lean cuts of beef, chicken, and turkey are good sources of iron. These meats provide iron, high-quality protein, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Due to their savory taste, texture, and aroma, lean meat will also appeal to your dog's instincts. However, offering your dog cooked lean meat is best to avoid the risk of bacterial contamination.
Green leafy vegetables, such as kale and spinach, are excellent plant-based sources of iron. Although they contain non-heme iron, they’re also packed with vitamin C, which can significantly boost iron absorption in your dog’s body.
It’s also better to cook these vegetables for better digestion and nutrient absorption. If your dog is a picky eater, you can make a broth or a smoothie using these ingredients.
Legumes, such as lentils, chickpeas, and beans, are also good plant-based sources of iron. They can be a great addition to your dog’s diet, providing iron and high-quality protein, fiber, and essential nutrients.
Soak and cook legumes before feeding them to your dog, or buy canned ones with dog-friendly ingredients.
Even though egg yolks contain a relatively modest amount of iron compared to other animal-based sources, they’re still an excellent option to add to your dog’s diet. Egg yolks are a well-rounded source of protein, iron, and many other vitamins and minerals.
You need to be careful about how you feed eggs to your dog. Many veterinarians advise against serving raw eggs to dogs as they might contain bacteria such as salmonella and e. Coli. Also, raw egg whites have an enzyme called avidin, which is harmful to dogs when eaten in large amounts.
The best option is to feed your dog a soft-boiled or fried egg (without seasoning) as an occasional treat.
These tiny but mighty seeds are a rich source of iron and packed with other essential nutrients, including zinc, magnesium, and healthy fats. However, it is advised to avoid feeding your dog pumpkin seeds directly because they could pose a choking hazard. Instead, consider grounding a few pumpkin seeds and sprinkling the powder over your dog's regular meals.
An adult dog needs 0.5 milligrams of iron per kilogram of body weight every day. However, this requirement can change depending on a dog's health condition, age, weight, and breed. That’s why it's crucial to consult with a veterinarian about your dog’s requirements and ensure it receives the right amount of iron and other essential nutrients. Most complete and balanced dog food will contain some iron, although it may not be listed on the packaging. Brands will usually share the amount of iron within certain recipes if asked. At Nextrition, we strive for full transparency when it comes to what's in your pups meals. Whether it's our
cold-pressed lamb recipe,
cold-pressed salmon dog food recipe, or our
cold-pressed chicken dog food recipe you can trust that you're getting the highest quality ingredients.
Avoid feeding your dog too much iron-rich food because this can lead to potential health issues, including iron toxicity.
Pet owners should understand their dogs' nutritional requirements and provide healthy, well-balanced meals. If you feel your dog isn’t getting enough iron from their regular diet you can supplement it with other food such as organ meat, lean meat, fish, egg yolk, legumes, green vegetables, and pumpkin seeds.
However, we recommend you consult a veterinarian if you feel like your dog has an iron deficiency. This will help you understand your dog’s unique needs and customize a plan that aligns with your dog's specific health requirements.
Let’s answer some frequently asked questions about dog’s nutrition and diet:
Various foods contain high amounts of iron that are safe to eat if prepared properly. For example, lean cuts of beef, chicken, and turkey, as well as organ meat, are excellent sources of heme iron. Additionally, egg yolks and fish such as tuna, sardines, and salmon can increase your dog's iron intake.
If you prefer a plant-based source of iron, leafy greens such as spinach and kale and legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, beans, and pumpkin seeds are some great options.
Yes, chicken is a good source of heme iron for dogs. This means that it contains a type of iron that is highly absorbable by your dog’s body. It also delivers high-quality protein and other nutrients that can contribute to your dog’s overall health.
You can give your dog either raw or cooked chicken as part of its balanced diet. However, uncooked chicken can pose a bacterial contamination risk, so you must be careful about handling and hygiene. Cooking the chicken provides a safer option for your dog.
Yes, egg yolk does contain a relatively modest amount of iron. However, it’s a well-rounded source of protein, iron, and many other vitamins and minerals.
However, you should be careful about how you feed eggs to your dog. It’s best to avoid serving raw eggs to dogs as they might contain bacteria such as salmonella and e. Coli. Also, raw egg whites have an enzyme called avidin, which is harmful to dogs. The best option is to feed your dog a soft-boiled or fried egg (without seasoning) as an occasional treat.
You can incorporate iron-rich foods such as lean meats, organ meats, fish, eggs, legumes, leafy vegetables, and pumpkin seeds into your dog's diet. However, if you feel your dog isn’t getting enough iron from its regular diet, it's crucial to consult with your veterinarian. They can help you understand your dog’s nutritional needs and ensure it receives enough iron and other essential nutrients.
