Healthy Rover How To Make The Most Out Of Happy Doggy’s Diet

Table Scraps? Raw Food? Organic? Kibble? The question of which healthy food to serve man’s best friend has perplexed and befuddled many pet owners. The team at Purrfect Paws poured over the research to deliver our customers a raw and unvarnished glimpse at the many facets of the canine nutrition industry.

Human Food

The debate over the most healthy diet for your dog usually begins with whether your fur baby is biologically equipped or compatible with finishing the leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Yes, feeding happy dogs table scraps is the dirty little secret of many pet owners. The rhetorical question that usually flutters to the top of one’s mind while handing down a piece of grandma’s special recipe biscuit goes something like, “Well, if this food is good enough for me, why wouldn’t it be good for him?” Yet, within that exercise in rationalization, an astute pet owner can readily pinpoint the obvious fallacy embedded within – humans are biologically (and digestively) distinct from their pets. In the United States, dog malnutrition is a relatively sporadic phenomenon, mainly due to the wide availability of moderate to high-quality commercial pet food (Rasmussen, 2017).

Where the problem arises in the developed world, the culprit is invariably the well-intentioned owner who mistakenly believes that his healthy dinner can also be shared with happy Fido. The problem with feeding dogs table scraps lies in the makeup of the typical Western diet, which often brings highly processed and nutritionally devoid options to the forefront (Rasmussen, 2017). Additionally, pet owners must stay vigilant when feeding dogs human food, as many common foods like grapes or chocolate may lead to an unexpected vet visit. In summary, a motivated owner can whip up healthy, world-class kibble in the kitchen, but the dangers this may pose, in this author’s educated position, seem to far outweigh the potential benefits.

Raw Or Organic? Healthy?

As more Americans grow increasingly health-conscious, organic and raw food trends are taking over the culinary scene for a large portion of the population, but what about man’s best friend? Researchers at the University of Illinois studied the effects of several healthy canine diets ranging from raw to grain-free to lightly roasted while using a typical kibble diet as a control (Illinois, 2018). All healthy, happy doggy participants were of the same breed (beagles), and they were given their specific diets for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, the healthy grain-free, lightly roasted dog food prevailed, lending to its high level of digestibility and positive effect on body fat composition (Illinois, 2018). The researchers noted that all dog food diets that were tested promoted positive and healthy stool results and that all dogs were considered healthy by the end of the study.

Is Kibble Healthy?

Now comes the section that most of you came here for. Whether it be dry food’s affordability or ubiquity, most of us pet lovers will supply happy Rover with his favorite dry food without hesitation. Yet, needless to say, not all dry foods are equal, and some can severely impact your pet’s health. A majority of veterinarians extoll the idea that for most dogs, a healthy, high-protein diet that is low or absent of grains is adequate and beneficial for your pup’s health (Asp, 2024). Furthermore, the more processed and artificial the kibble, the less of a healthy nutritional punch it will deliver. Additionally, happy dogs are perfectly capable of processing high vegetarian diets, so if you are an environmentally conscious pet owner, then feel free to reach for a plant-based option without fear of canine malnutrition (Asp, 2024). The general point here is that there are many options for dry food, all with varying levels of nutritional bona fides and that your dog can live a happy and healthy life without busting your wallet.

So What’s the Verdict?

After extensive research, our team firmly believes that there are multiple paths to a healthy diet for happy dogs. In terms of affordability and convenience, healthy, high-protein kibble with a low grain content comprising whole or organic ingredients should set your pup up for a long life. Additionally, we urge all pet owners to enhance their dry food with dog-safe veggies and fruits, adding further nutrition to your pup’s meal. Lucky for you, we at Purrfect Paws have scoured the market and identified the market leaders in high-quality and nutritious pet food. We only partner with brands that share our conviction that all animals must have access to only the most effective and healthful ingredients. In every pet box that Purrfect Paws drops at your doorstep, you will find expertly curated assortments of the latest and greatest canine nourishment. We take the guesswork out of it! Lastly, in each box, you will find a list of doggy dos and donts, including an exhaustive list of harmful foods your puppy should avoid.

Check out our Purr-fect “Pup” subscription box to find the highest-quality doggy delights! For more information on your pup’s perfect, happy-inducing diet, check out this site!

Happy Feasting!