Feeding Your Dog Natural Foods Without Grains or Preservatives

Feeding your puppy a high-quality, grain-free diet is an excellent way to start them off to a long and healthy life. But, organic foods, for example, are not always inexpensive. However, the least processed dog food you can provide for your dog, the healthier they will be over the course of their lifetime within your family. Even if you are unable to provide the most expensive of high-quality dog foods, there are things that you can look for to give your dog a nutritious diet and the best chance at keeping diseases at bay.

Finding Balance

With meat as the first listed ingredient, find a dog food with the right balance of protein, necessary fats, and carbohydrates. Keep your dog's energy high, their proper weight maintained, and their body strong with a grain-free and preservative-free diet. Carbohydrates you feed your dog should come from a vegetable source rather than grains. Grains are more difficult for your dog to digest than the alternative vegetable carbohydrate foods.

Commercial Options

Commercial dog foods are available in lean protein varieties without grains or additives and preservatives. Some of the best brands of grain-free, high-quality dog foods may use natural preservatives instead of chemical preservatives. 

Many grainless food brands are not only high-quality, but they are also filled with nutritionist-recommended ingredients providing antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals your dog needs as well as fiber required for a healthy digestive system. Because these foods are well-rounded, you may find your dog eating less because they will feel more full much quicker. You will not find fillers or additives in high-quality dog food as might be found in some less expensive grain-based dog foods.

Try DIY

A natural diet is a diet you can provide for your dog by cooking from home. Raw foods straight from your garden, or even the grocery store, can provide your dog with the nutrients they need without the added fillers or grains. Offering your dog lean proteins such as cooked chicken and lamb, or fish with a side of vegetables and healthy oils and fats, are good alternatives to purchasing expensive grain-free dog foods. 

If you plan to give your dog a diet of people food, be sure to become educated on what your dog can and cannot safely eat. There are people foods such as avocados, grapes, and cherries that your dog's body is unable to process. Before instilling a home-cooked feeding regimen, consult your vet for information on foods that are hazardous to your dog, as well as how to make the DIY diet a complete one.

Plenty of Choices

Now that you have the information to get you started on transitioning your dog to a grain-free food, remember that no matter whether your choice is to go with commercially prepared or DIY food, there are excellent supplemental options. Adding these nutritious foods to your pet's feeding regimen will benefit your dog and treat them with a little bit of tasty variety in the dish. Start small, and consult your vet first if you think your dog may have digestive issues with the change.

• Yogurt
• Kelp seaweed
• Oily fish like sardines
• Coconut oil
• Bone broth
• Eggs
• Organ meats like liver

As a pet owner, you want to do what's best for your dog always. Starting with a healthy diet, your dog will be set for life, defending against illness and disease as they grow. Even with a tight budget, you can find dog foods that are nutritious without chemical processing, additives, and preservatives as well as unwanted grain fillers. Be sure to search the ingredients of the foods you choose for your dog to ensure it is grain-free, with meat listed as the first ingredient.