Dogs and treats go together like cake and ice cream. If there’s a dog in your household, chances are you love giving them treats as a way to show affection. But are those treats actually healthy?
More specifically, are they gut-healthy treats? Just like with food, the treats we give our dogs should contribute to their overall health and digestion. If you’re already mindful about your dog’s diet, why not make sure their treats support their well-being too?
Before diving into gut-healthy treats, let's consider why we give dogs treats in the first place. The reasons vary, but here are some of the most common:
Of course, sometimes we give dogs treats just because we enjoy making them happy. Since treats are a regular part of many dogs’ diets, it’s important to choose options that promote their health.
Everything a dog eats has some effect on their overall health. While an occasional indulgence isn’t harmful, consistently giving low-quality treats can contribute to digestive issues, allergies, or weight gain.
Healthy treats provide benefits such as:
Dogs, like humans, thrive when they eat nutritious foods. By choosing healthy treats, you can ensure every bite contributes to their well-being.
If you’re going to give treats, why not make them gut-healthy? A treat that supports gut health helps maintain a balanced microbiome, promoting digestion and overall wellness. A small change—like switching to
gut-healthy treats—can have a big impact on your dog's health. Whether for training, bonding, or just because, make sure the treats you give compliment the food in their bowl.
When you choose Nextrition, you're choosing healthy dog food made with the finest ingredients, and sweet potato is one of the key components in all of our recipes. Sweet potato is not only a nutritious option for dogs, but it also offers a range of health benefits that make it a great addition to any dog's diet. Let’s explore why sweet potato is such an important ingredient in Nextrition dog food.
Digestive health is crucial for your dog, and sweet potato is packed with dietary fiber, making it a fantastic choice for supporting gut health. The fiber in sweet potato helps to regulate bowel movements and promotes a healthy digestive system. Additionally, sweet potatoes have prebiotic properties, which means they help to nourish the good bacteria in your dog's gut, further enhancing digestion and nutrient absorption.
Sweet potatoes are a rich source of essential vitamins and minerals that your dog needs for overall health. They provide:
These nutrients help ensure your dog’s body functions optimally, from maintaining a strong immune system to promoting healthy muscles and nerves.
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates, providing your dog with the energy they need to stay active throughout the day. These carbohydrates are calorie-dense, meaning they supply your dog with sustained energy that lasts longer than simple carbohydrates. Active dogs particularly benefit from the steady energy release provided by sweet potatoes.
Maintaining a healthy weight is key to your dog’s overall well-being, and sweet potatoes are an ideal ingredient for managing weight. They are naturally low in fat, which helps prevent excessive weight gain. This makes them a perfect ingredient for high-quality dog foods aimed at weight management.
Sweet potatoes are also an excellent source of antioxidants and phytonutrients. These compounds, including beta-carotene, play a vital role in supporting immune function and reducing inflammation. They are especially beneficial for dogs with inflammatory conditions, and antioxidants help boost overall immune health, keeping your dog in top shape.
Sweet potato is just one of the many health-boosting ingredients we include in Nextrition formulas. If you'd like to learn more about the benefits of our ingredients and how Nextrition can help your dog live a healthier and happier life, don’t hesitate to contact us. We're confident that once you try Nextrition, you'll see why it’s a top choice for your furry friend.
We love sweet potatoes, and so do the dogs who love our food. Combined with real meat, fish, and poultry, sweet potatoes provide your dog with all the nutrients they need for a long, healthy life. Browse our selection of chicken, lamb, beef, and salmon cold-pressed dog food recipes or try out one of our samples to see the benefits yourself.
In recent years, there has been a lot of talk in the pet industry about species-appropriate nutrition. But what does this term really mean? More importantly, does species-appropriate nutrition apply to dogs?
Species-appropriate nutrition is a concept that has evolved alongside our growing understanding of how nutrition impacts living organisms. Just like humans, dogs need food to survive, but the types of food they need and the nutrients their bodies require are different due to their unique biology. This fundamental difference is at the heart of species-appropriate nutrition.
The basic idea behind species-appropriate nutrition is simple: an animal will thrive when it is fed foods that meet its specific nutritional needs. Conversely, if an animal is fed food that doesn’t align with its biological requirements, it can suffer from health issues. This is true for both humans and animals, and it applies to dogs as well.
At Nextrition, we’ve designed our cold-pressed dog food with these principles in mind. Our food is nutritionally dense, promotes gut health, supports weight management, improves digestion, and overall contributes to a dog’s well-being.
Dogs are classified as true carnivores, which means they rely heavily on animal proteins for their nutrition. Their digestive system is specifically adapted to process and utilize animal-based proteins efficiently. Because of this, species-appropriate nutrition for dogs focuses on the following:
The primary ingredient in Nextrition food is always meat, fish, or poultry. This high meat content ensures that dogs receive the protein necessary for muscle growth, energy, and overall health. Their digestive systems are optimized for breaking down animal proteins, making it essential for their diet.
In the wild, dogs practice whole-prey consumption, meaning they don’t just eat muscle meat but also consume bones and internal organs. A species-appropriate diet for domesticated dogs reflects this, which is why organ meats and bones are beneficial. They provide essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that support a dog’s health.
While carbohydrates can be part of a dog's diet, they should be limited. Dogs don't have the digestive enzymes required to process a wide range of carbohydrates effectively. Therefore, a species-appropriate diet focuses on minimizing carbs, while still providing those that are easy to digest, such as sweet potatoes or certain grains.
Dogs, as carnivores, do not derive significant nutritional benefits from plant-based foods. While some fruits and vegetables—such as apples or sweet potatoes—are excellent sources of fiber and vitamins, they should make up no more than 10% of a dog’s diet. The bulk of their nutrition comes from animal-based ingredients.
At Nextrition, the concept of species-appropriate nutrition guides everything we do. We choose high-quality, animal-based ingredients as the primary source of protein for our recipes. When you look at the ingredient list of any of our formulas, you'll find that meat, poultry, or fish is always the main component. We supplement these with a small amount of non-meat ingredients to ensure a balanced and well-rounded diet that is perfectly suited to your dog's nutritional needs.
If you're searching for a healthy dog food that is easy to digest, packed with essential nutrients, and designed to support your dog’s health, look no further than Nextrition. Our cold-pressed dog food offers more nutrition per bite, so your dog can eat less and still receive the benefits of a nutritionally dense diet. It’s a better alternative to traditional kibble, helping to prevent bloating and digestive discomfort while keeping your dog healthy and happy.
Species-appropriate nutrition is key to your dog’s health, and at Nextrition, we’ve made it our mission to create the best food for your furry friend’s needs. Whether they prefer
beef,
chicken,
lamb, or
salmon - we’ve got your pup’s next gut-healthy meal ready to be delivered straight to your door.
Choosing the right food for your dog involves considering many factors, including their age, weight, size, and breed. That's why commercial dog food manufacturers often include feeding charts—because a dog's nutritional needs are specific to these characteristics. Whether you're feeding your dog cold-pressed dog food, traditional kibble, or a raw diet, it's crucial to understand how these factors influence your dog's diet.
At Nextrition, we believe that cold-pressed dog food is the best choice for most dogs. However, there are exceptions. Let's break down how each factor affects your dog's nutritional requirements.
Just like humans, a dog’s nutritional needs evolve with age. As a dog ages, it goes through biological and physiological changes that impact the type and amount of food they require.
Here are the key life stages:
Understanding the specific nutritional needs for each age group helps ensure your dog is getting the right balance at each life stage.
A dog’s weight plays a crucial role in determining its nutritional needs. For example:
A careful balance based on weight ensures that your dog maintains a healthy weight without the risk of over- or under-feeding.
Size influences a dog’s metabolic rate. The general rule is:
Smaller Breeds: Smaller dogs have faster metabolisms and require more calories per pound of body weight. They benefit from energy-dense foods that are easy to chew and digest.
Larger Breeds: Larger dogs, on the other hand, require less energy-dense foods. Too much energy could cause rapid growth in puppies or obesity in older dogs. Therefore, large breeds need a more controlled, less calorie-dense diet.
Each breed has unique characteristics that affect its nutritional needs:
Different breeds have different nutritional requirements based on their physical attributes and activity levels.
There isn't a "one-size-fits-all" dog food. It's important to consider your dog’s age, weight, size, and breed when determining their optimal diet. As a company specializing in healthy dog food made with natural ingredients, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian to determine the best nutrition plan for your dog. If Nextrition meets your dog’s needs, we would love for your pup to get a sample of our
chicken,
beef,
lamb or
salmon cold-pressed dog food recipes.
We've all seen it: your dog approaches you with those big, sad puppy eyes while you're sitting down to eat, making it hard to resist giving them a little treat. But have you ever wondered what’s really behind that heart-melting look? It turns out, research suggests that those sad puppy eyes might actually be a learned behavior, not something hardwired into dogs' biology.
Here at Nextrition, we make cold-pressed dog food that's ideal for dogs with fussy eating habits, food allergies, and digestive issues. No matter whether your dog is giving you the sad eyes or not, offering them a well-balanced diet with high-quality ingredients helps keep them healthy and happy. But let’s dive into the research that explains the science behind those sad puppy eyes.
From a biological standpoint, the “sad puppy eyes” are caused when dogs raise their eyebrows, which makes their eyes appear bigger and more doe-like. To us humans, this expression looks pitiful, which is why we tend to respond by giving them attention. But is this reflexive behavior? Is it genetic? Or could it be something they’ve learned over time?
Researchers at the University of Portsmouth in the UK wanted to find out. In 2017, they conducted a study with 24 dogs of various breeds and ages to determine whether this behavior was innate or learned. Each dog was separated from its owner by about a meter and subjected to different distractions, including food. The team closely monitored the dogs’ facial expressions to see how they responded when the owners paid attention to them versus when they were distracted.
The results of the study showed that the dogs' facial expressions changed depending on whether their owners were paying attention to them. When the owners focused on the dogs, the dogs displayed more expressive facial gestures, including raising their eyebrows and sticking out their tongues. These actions were found to grab the attention of their owners, leading researchers to conclude that dogs use facial expressions like these to get our attention.
In other words, when your dog looks up at you with those sad eyes, it’s not just a coincidence—it’s a deliberate attempt to engage you, especially when you’re eating.
As pack animals, dogs naturally look to their human companions for leadership, protection, and comfort. This emotional connection is at the heart of why dogs give you their best "sad puppy eyes" routine. They want your attention because they thrive on the bond they share with you. And when you're eating, it’s likely that your dog wants you to share that moment with them too.
Those sad puppy eyes can also be a clever invitation for your dog to score some of your food. Dogs know that showing a bit of vulnerability and affection can sometimes get them a tasty bite of your meal.
Rather than viewing those sad puppy eyes as manipulation or deception, it’s best to see them as a sign of a loving bond between you and your dog. They love you and want your attention. Just remember, while it’s okay to give your dog a little extra love, it’s important not to overindulge them with human food. Feeding your dog healthy, balanced meals—like Nextrition cold-pressed food—is the best way to keep them happy and healthy. We also recommend our chicken or beef tummy treats for those times where you just can’t say no to those puppy dog eyes.
As dog owners, we all have experienced those moments when our dogs become overly excited at meal time. Whether they’re jumping around, barking, or wagging their tail uncontrollably, a certain level of enthusiasm for food is expected. However, if your dog doesn’t share the same excitement, that’s okay too.
For some dogs, meal times trigger a rush of excitement. But why does this happen?
While some dogs are naturally eager for food, others are more laid-back. This could simply be their personality or a sign of age. Older dogs often show less excitement during meal times.
As long as your dog is eating all of their food and staying healthy, whether or not they show excitement at meal time is not a cause for concern. It’s essential that your dog is maintaining good health, regardless of the enthusiasm they display at meal time.
While excitement at meal time is normal, excessive excitement can become problematic. If your dog is overly impulsive, there are ways to manage it.
No matter how excited your dog gets at meal time, ensuring that they’re eating healthy food is the top priority. Nextrition cold-pressed dog food is an excellent choice, made with natural ingredients to support your dog’s health. Whether your dog is excited or laid-back, they’ll enjoy the flavor and nutritional benefits of our carefully crafted recipes. Browse our beef, chicken, lamb and salmon or try a sample of our cold-pressed food now.
As dog owners, we all want to make the best choices for our pets, especially when it comes to their nutrition. A healthy, balanced diet is essential for maintaining your dog's overall well-being, and that includes providing them with the right amount of meat. But when it comes to meat, there is some debate: should your dog be on a high-meat diet, or is an all-meat diet better?
At Nextrition, we prioritize high-quality meat, fish, or poultry as the main ingredient in all of our formulas. Whether it's beef, chicken, turkey, or fish, animal protein serves as the cornerstone of a dog's diet. Meat provides essential amino acids that are vital for muscle development and repair, and it’s also more easily digestible than plant proteins.
A high-meat diet offers several benefits for dogs:
While meat is essential for dogs, an all-meat diet presents several risks:
Dogs absolutely need meat, but they also need other nutrients to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. For most pet owners, a nutritionally balanced food like Nextrition cold-pressed dog food is the best option. Our beef, chicken, lamb and salmon formulas provide the right balance of meat and other ingredients, ensuring your dog gets all the nutrients they need without the risks of an all-meat diet.
In conclusion, high-meat diets are beneficial for dogs, but an all-meat diet can lead to nutritional imbalances and health risks. A balanced approach is the best way to keep your dog healthy, happy, and thriving.
In a previous post, we explored how feeding schedules can affect housebreaking a puppy. But did you know that feeding schedules can also influence your dog's sleep patterns? It's true! A dog's eating routine plays a significant role in its ability to rest, making it important for pet owners to pay attention to mealtime timing.
It might seem like your dog is always sleeping, and you're not wrong to think so. Dogs tend to need more sleep than humans, partly because they get less REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.
While humans spend about 25% of their sleep in the REM stage, dogs only reach REM about 10% of the time. To make up for this, they need to sleep more often to achieve adequate rest.
Dogs thrive on routine. In the wild, their ancestors followed a consistent daily rhythm, which modern dogs have inherited. Feeding schedules play a crucial role in maintaining this rhythm and can influence your dog’s sleep quality in several ways:
The type of food you feed your dog also impacts how well they rest after meals. Digesting standard kibble can be harder on a dog’s system, particularly when they lie down shortly after eating.
Cold-pressed dog food, like Nextrition, is made with natural ingredients and pressed together at low temperatures into easily digestible pieces. This type of food supports smoother digestion and better nutritional absorption, reducing discomfort that could interfere with your dog’s sleep.
To help your dog get the best rest possible, consider these tips:
Like humans, dogs benefit from consistent routines that align with their natural circadian rhythms. By combining a healthy feeding schedule with a high-quality, easily digestible diet, you can help your dog sleep better, stay more active, and lead a healthier life.
If you're ready to optimize your dog's feeding and sleep habits, consider trying Nextrition cold-pressed dog food. It’s a delicious and gut-healthy option that promotes digestion and overall well-being.
Ensuring your puppy is fed healthy dog food is essential for their growth and overall well-being. However, there’s more to feeding than just nutrition. Did you know your puppy's feeding schedule can play a crucial role in housebreaking? Establishing a proper feeding routine can make the challenging process of house training much smoother.
One of the biggest hurdles in housebreaking is teaching puppies something that doesn’t come naturally. According to the American Humane Society (AHA), dogs instinctively avoid relieving themselves where they sleep. Beyond that, any location can feel appropriate to them.
For puppies, the connection between eating and needing to “go” is direct and immediate. They lack the bladder control and understanding to hold it until they're outside. Training them to wait and go outdoors becomes a top priority—and a consistent feeding schedule can help.
Feeding schedules have a direct impact on housebreaking because feeding equals elimination. Free feeding, where food is available all day, can lead to unpredictable elimination patterns, making housebreaking much more difficult.
A regular feeding schedule, on the other hand, helps regulate your puppy’s digestive system. This predictability allows you to anticipate when your puppy may need to go outside, giving you more control over housebreaking efforts.
Every puppy is unique, but there are best practices to help streamline the process of linking feeding to housebreaking:
The type of food you choose can also affect housebreaking. Whether it’s kibble, raw food, or cold-pressed dog food, a high-quality diet with natural ingredients supports a healthier digestive system. At Nextrition, we recommend cold-pressed dog food for its nutritional value, digestibility, and appealing flavor. Our food is formulated to be for all life-stages so you can start feeding it to your puppy and continue as they become more mature.
A healthy diet combined with a predictable schedule minimizes digestive upset, promotes regularity, and makes housebreaking easier for both you and your puppy.
Housebreaking your puppy requires patience and consistency, but a regular feeding schedule can make a big difference. By connecting meals with predictable elimination times, you give your puppy the structure needed to succeed.
Remember: eating equals elimination. If you pair a regular feeding routine with positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior, you’ll have your puppy housebroken in no time. For additional guidance or food recommendations, consult your veterinarian—they’re always a helpful resource!
At Nextrition, we often highlight how our cold-pressed dog food is ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs and certain allergies. Digestive issues are a common concern among pet owners, and in some cases, the food a dog is eating could be the culprit. When that's the case, transitioning to a more suitable food can make all the difference.
It's important to recognize that not all digestive problems can be solved with a simple food change. A variety of factors can disrupt a dog's digestion, including:
Some dogs may experience a combination of these issues, making it even more challenging to identify the root cause of their digestive troubles.
Being aware of the signs of digestive issues can help you address problems early. Common symptoms include:
A particularly serious sign to watch for is abdominal distension, or swelling in the abdomen. This can indicate a more severe underlying condition and requires immediate veterinary attention.
If digestive issues are linked to your dog's current food, a gradual transition to a new diet may help. Follow these steps for a successful switch:
At Nextrition, we take pride in offering a gentle, nutritious alternative to traditional kibble. Whether your dog is struggling with food allergies, a sensitive stomach, or just a picky palate, our
cold-pressed recipes could be the solution you’ve been looking for. Start the journey to better digestion today!
Pancreatitis can be a distressing condition for dogs, just as it is for humans. If your dog has experienced this painful inflammation, you may be concerned about preventing future episodes. While diet isn’t the sole factor in pancreatitis, it plays a significant role in both its onset and management. Making thoughtful dietary changes can help your furry friend stay healthy and avoid further complications.
Pancreatitis refers to inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by the organ's own digestive enzymes activating prematurely. Normally, these enzymes are released and only activate in the intestines to help break down food. But in a dog with pancreatitis, they become active while still in the pancreas, causing it to inflame and even digest itself.
Pancreatitis in dogs can be acute or chronic:
Diet is a primary factor in canine pancreatitis. A high-fat diet is one of the biggest contributors, especially if a dog consumes large amounts of fatty foods in a single sitting. Other risk factors include:
Given how closely diet is tied to pancreatitis, modifying your dog's meals can be key to managing the condition.
Here’s how to adjust your dog’s diet to promote healing and reduce the likelihood of future episodes:
Always consult with your vet before making significant changes to your dog’s diet, especially after a medical condition like pancreatitis. Your vet can provide specific recommendations based on your dog’s health, age, weight, and breed.
Managing pancreatitis in dogs is largely about reducing triggers and promoting gut health. A carefully curated diet featuring low fat, easily digestible ingredients, and portion control can go a long way in protecting your dog's pancreas.
Nextrition cold-pressed dog food is a great choice for dogs recovering from pancreatitis or those prone to sensitive stomachs. It’s formulated to be nutrient-dense, gentle on digestion, and free from unnecessary fillers. With the right food and a consistent feeding routine, your dog can enjoy a happy, healthy life without the shadow of pancreatitis.
As a dog owner, you want the best for your furry friend. That means choosing a dog food that balances high nutritional value, flavor, and texture—while meeting your dog's specific needs, such as gut health, hypoallergenic ingredients, or sensitivity to certain foods. At Nextrition, we’ve designed our cold-pressed dog food with these priorities in mind.
But what about the quality of ingredients? How does cold-pressed dog food compare to traditional kibble? Let’s explore how they differ and why ingredient quality matters so much.
Nextrition cold-pressed dog food is made using a patent-pending process that presses ingredients together at low-heat. This method works great with high-quality, natural ingredients like real meats, fruit, vegetables, and healthy grains. For instance, at Nextrition, we carefully select ingredients that are packed with nutrients and free from unnecessary additives.
On the other hand, kibble is often made with processed meats, byproducts, and artificial additives, including preservatives and flavor enhancers. While kibble can still provide the nutritional requirements set by AAFCO, the reliance on these lower-quality ingredients can affect both the nutritional value and how well your dog’s body absorbs nutrients.
Cooking methods play a significant role in ingredient quality and nutrient retention:
Digestibility is another area where cold-pressed dog food stands out:
While nutrition is key, let’s not forget taste and aroma. Cold-pressed dog food retains the natural flavors of its ingredients thanks to its low-temperature process. The result? An appetizing meal that even picky eaters are drawn to.
Kibble, by comparison, often relies on flavoring sprayed onto the pieces of food after cooking to make it more palatable.
When comparing cold-pressed dog food to kibble, the difference lies in:
At Nextrition, we pride ourselves on offering a cold-pressed dog food that delivers exceptional quality, flavor, and nutritional value. Whether your dog struggles with sensitive digestion, allergies, or pickiness, cold-pressed food can make a world of difference.
Why not make the switch and see the difference for yourself? Nextrition cold-pressed dog food offers your pet a nutritious, tasty, and easily digestible alternative to traditional kibble.
