When looking for suitable food for your dog, there’s so much information out there that it can be overwhelming - we experienced the same thing when we first started researching healthier options that were suitable for Bruce. 

Below, we’ve compiled some of the main benefits and considerations of some of our alternative healthy food choices so you can make the best decision for your dog. 

What causes an allergy or intolerances in a dog? 

Much like with humans, an allergy or an intolerance can take years to develop. And while it can sometimes be a genetic lottery as to whether your dog will develop intolerances, there are some breeds thought to be more likely to develop these than others, including West Highland White Terriers, Cocker Spaniels and Irish Setters. 

What we do know is that once an intolerance or allergy has appeared, it’s unlikely to resolve itself and the best course of action is to remove the offending allergen from the diet. 

Symptoms of food intolerance in your dog

The symptoms of food allergies and intolerances are wide-ranging and could be anything from gastrointestinal problems and diarrhoea to excessive itching. As with all health concerns, if your dog is displaying behaviour or symptoms that’s out of the normal for them, we recommend seeing your vet to get them checked out. 

If a food intolerance is identified, there are great nutritious recipes on the market that taste great while providing everything your dog needs for a complete diet, such as the ranges you can find here at McDug. 

Benefits of a Grain Free Diet

As well as being free of the allergens that cause intolerances to wheat and cereals, there are a number of additional benefits to choosing a grain free diet for your dog. 

Higher Protein Content

Many cheaper dog food brands use wheat and cereals as filler in their recipes - after all, it’s cheap and is great to bulk out the meal at a low cost. 

When you remove the wheat and cereals from the recipe, there is more room for higher quality protein sources in the form of meat - great for dogs to help them build and maintain healthy muscle tissue. 

Weight Management

Wheat and grains are carbohydrate sources and can lead to excess weight if your dog isn’t getting the chance to burn them off. By replacing the carbohydrates with protein and vegetable sources, your dog gets the recommended calorie intake from nutrient-dense sources without the heavy carb count. 

Nutrition

The addition of vegetables to complement the protein sources in grain free recipes comes with the added benefit of providing a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals to support health and wellbeing in your dog. 

Ready to try your dog on a grain free diet? Shop our range here!

Benefits of a diet rich in superfoods

If you’ve ever investigated the best foods to eat for your own health, you’ll likely have come across superfoods - powerhouses of nutrients and vitamins, these are the superheroes of the nutritional world. 

And it turns out they’re great for our dogs, too!

Our Superfood 65 range has harnessed the benefits of some of the best superfoods to deliver recipes packed with healthy (and tasty!) superfoods. 

Since each superfood delivers its own unique benefits, we’ve listed some of the ones we use in our meals below so you can choose the best for your pooch. 

Carrot

Carrots are a great source of vitamin A which supports healthy vision, as well as beta-carotene which boosts immune health and improves your dog’s skin and coat. They’re also a source of fibre, and help to keep the digestive system working properly.

Green Beans

Rich in protein and iron, as well as vitamins B6, A, C, and K, green beans are a low-calorie and fibre-dense addition to your dog’s diet, helping them to stay full for longer. 

Cauliflower

Good source of vitamin B9 which helps your dog to metabolise essential amino acids.

Tomato

Excellent source of dietary fibre while also remaining low in calories, making this an excellent addition to your dog’s meal.

Courgette

Courgettes add vitamin C, potassium, calcium, beta-carotene and folate to your dog’s diet, supporting strong bones and central nervous system as well as boosting the immune system.

Parsnip

Parsnips contain vitamins C and B6 along with folic acid and potassium, making them great for the metabolism while stimulating healthy kidney function.

Beetroot

Beets contain vitamins and nutrients that are great for your dog’s digestive and immune system, including vitamin C, folate, manganese and potassium. 

Asparagus

As well as vitamins B6, C, E, and K, asparagus also contains nutrients and minerals to support great health in your dog. But just as with humans, it can make their urine smell a bit funny (which is nothing to worry about!)

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is rich in antioxidants; vitamins A, C, and E; calcium; and iron while also being a great source of soluble fibre, helping both with diarrhoea and constipation. Like carrots, it’s rich in beta-carotene so also boosts immune health, supports healthy vision and will improve your dog’s skin and coat. 

Spinach

Spinach is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and is great for your dog’s hair, teeth and bones while the fibre content supports good gut health. 

Fennel

Fennel supports the digestive system, helping with bloating, flatulence and constipation while also helping to keep your dog’s breath fresh.

Love the idea of giving your dog the benefits of some superfoods with their daily meals? Shop our Superfood 65 range here.

If you have any questions about what range is right for your dog? Drop us a line here and we’d love to chat! 

Rab