As the trends of nutrition take shape in the modern world, many people are now more conscious about the health of their furry friends as well as their own. Gone are the days when dog food meant anything with a hint of nutrition and was uneatable by humans. Leading pet experts like those at Dog Tales now recommend dog owners to plan a nutritious diet for their pet dogs, as it is the best way to make sure that your furry friend lives a long and healthy life. There are many dog nutrition trends going on, influencing owners to be more careful about what they feed their dogs. Some of them are:
Natural Food Ingredients
The trend of contemplating on ingredients added to food has moved on from humans, and many owners are using this practice to choose the food they choose for their dogs. Many products like the Greenies treats by Dog Tails.
This allows owners to prevent feeding their dogs food including artificial additives, preservatives, or fillers. This has led to a growing trend of awareness, which has helped improve the lives of dogs all over. This trend has also forced food manufacturers to be more transparent about their manufacturing processes and the ingredients they use.
Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods
Just as it is seen in human nutrition, there is a huge interest in the rise of interest in functional foods for dogs. Functional foods are food products made to provide health benefits ahead of basic nutrition. This means that pet foods and treats contain supplements like probiotics, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants that help improve the digestive health, skin health, and overall immunity of your dogs. Nutraceuticals, which also serve the same purposes, include vitamins and other supplements designed specifically to address different health issues such as the stiffness of joints, anxiety, or other health concerns. These are also gaining popularity fast, as owners are looking to give their best friend the best they can!
Sustainable and Ethically Sourced Diets
As awareness on the impact of packaging on the environment grows, so does the trend of dog owners looking to buy pet food from brands that promote packaging that is biodegradable, recyclable, or compostable. This has then shifted owners of pet food brands to pay attention to this trend and change their way of packaging. Locally sourced ingredients are also a major game changer when it comes to consumers looking to buy food for their dogs. Dog owners would rather buy food sourced locally, which promotes freshness and sustainability. Talking about sourcing of ingredients, dog owners are also paying attention to where the brands they buy source their ingredients from, and how ethical that is. This approach makes sure that the pet foods are as kind to the earth as they are nourishing.
Personalized Pet Diets
The customization and personalization of pet diets is now seeing a major high in trends, as many dog owners are now focused on feeding their dogs food that suits their needs. This includes factors such as taking age, weight, allergies, and health conditions into account, making sure that the diet suits all needs of the dog. Advancement in technology has made it possible for dog owners to check the specific ingredients they are looking for on the packaging on the dog food, allowing them to set the diet of their pet according to the requirements of their diet.
Raw Diets
Taking a more natural approach, dog owners are now adding raw food to the diets of their pets as well! This approach aims to keep the diet as similar as it can be to the ancestors of the dogs, allowing them to take on a healthier diet. The raw ingredients include raw meat, vegetables, fruits, and raw grain, just as one would expect to find out in the wild. This approach may be healthy, but pet owners are still recommended to consult their vet before starting this as each dog may have a different reaction to the diet.
The Use of Veterinary Nutritionists
With the complexity of dog diets increasing over time, dog owners are recommended to consult a veterinary nutritionist as the wrong diet may prove to be harmful. With a range of options containing different types of nutrients, it is very easy to disrupt the health of your pet if you do not pay thorough attention. These specialists play a vital role as they act as a compass in the sea, guiding you to the right and healthy choice for both you and your dog. They are often considered compulsory if the dog faces certain health issues as the wrong diet could prove to be very dangerous.
Final Note
Dog nutrition trends are a growing factor in today’s world, leading many pet owners to be more conscious about the type and amount of food they give to their dogs. To make sure that you do not go overboard, it is highly important to be in touch with your vet, and to always check the ingredients of whatever food you give to your dog.
