NUTRITION, FOOD & INGREDIENTS

A quick internet search for ‘can my dog eat garlic?’ can send you down a rabbit hole of conflicting information. There seems to be a general consensus that garlic is toxic to dogs and shouldn’t be consumed under any circumstances. But is that really the case?

Garlic, or Allium sativum, is a vegetable that has been used to both flavour food and cure ailments (human and animal) across various cultures for centuries. As part of the Allium family, garlic is related to onions, chives leeks and shallots – this is where much of the confusion regarding its toxicity stems from. Garlic is high in inulin, amino acids, sulphur, zinc, potassium and phosphorus. It also contains vitamins A, C and B-complex, calcium, magnesium, manganese, selenium and germanium. Perhaps most importantly, garlic also contains bioactive Allicin and Ajoene.

Why not consider mushroom supplements for your pet. Their health-supporting properties, with  their ability to support the immune system as well as antioxidant properties

For thousands of years mushrooms have been valued by many cultures around the world, especially in the Far East, for their therapeutic as well as nutritional properties and increasing evidence is confirming their benefits for animals as well as humans.

In addition to immune-supporting beta-glucans and related polysaccharides, which help support a healthy immune response. Mushrooms are also rich sources of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal compounds. 

Boil and Broth are a British bone broth manufacturer and producer of fermented drinks including water kefir juice and apple cider vinegar. Bone Broth is a fantasic way to incorporate a variey of rich nutrients to your dogs diet to help improve their over all health. In this blog, we'll explore the many advantages of bone broth for dogs and why it's become a popular addition to their diets.

Rachel Down founded Boil and Broth back in 2018 and they are the only UK Bone Broth Manufacturer to hold a dual license to sell Bone Broth for both human and pet consumption. Rachel started the business from one slow cooker in her house making bone broth and kefir water for friends

How to help a fussy eater

There are times when your dog may be off their normal food, which of course can be of great concern. There can be a number of reasons to explain why your dog has changed its eating habits. All too often we assume this must be because they are feeling unwell, but this isn't always the case, as this could be for a number of reasons. It is important to find out what is behind the change in food preferences and hopefylly this blog will give you some informationto you need. 

When your dog is off its food, there may be other reasons, other than not finding their food appealing. There could be underlying health reasons.

Here at Adored Beast, we talk a lot about how we can provide our animals with the healthiest diet possible. A healthy diet is paramount for overall health, as it not only provides our animals with various energy sources and nutrients, it also gives the body the tools it needs to stay healthy and the immune system the power to keep the body strong.

But one of the things that pet parents sometimes forget about is rotational feeding for dogs. It’s easy to create a healthy diet and feed that diet – but you also want to make sure that diet provides variety – and lots of it.

Creating a healthy diet (meaning both food and supplements) should always include rotation.  Why? Let’s explore…

This is a question that we frequently get asked as pet parents are concerned their dogs or cats may be constipated. 

It is always a good idea to keep an eye on your pet's bowel movements and observing their poop. What your dog is fed / eats will affect your pet's poop. Sometimes it may be drier; at other times looser. If your pet is not allowed to evacuate when the urge is there, they may develop a habit of holding their stools. If your pet is straining when passing stools / the stools are hard and dry then this could be a sign of constipation.    

Many factors can contribute to constipation including diet and inactivity. Manx

How to add supplements to your pets food.

This is a question we frequently get asked as some dogs and cats may be fussier than others. Whilst some canine companions will dutifully eat their food with supplements added to their dinner, some may need more encouragement! 

So here are some suggestions to hopefully make the process more pleasant for everyone involved!

Adding Powdered Supplements to food

The easiest way to add powdered supplements is to mix them into your dogs wet food. Sometimes, however you may need to add some extra moisture. This could include simply adding some water

Do you use a quality omega-3 fish oil for dogs and cats?…could this be the missing ingredient to support your pet’s optimum health?

Omega-3’s cannot be produced by the body, so cats and dogs must obtain them through diet or supplementation. Fish and its oils can support the health of your pet’s skin & coat, immune system, kidneys, heart, eyes, joints and many more.

Omega-3 fatty acids can originate from both plant-based and marine sources as follows:

• ALA, a short-chain, plant based omega-3 is found in seeds such as flaxseeds and nuts
• EPA

I often recommend the ‘healthful’ benefits of home-made bone broth, which makes a fantastic base for stews and soups, as it is full of nourishing substances. Well dogs and cats love it too and it makes a super nutritious and inexpensive treat or an additional source of nourishment...

Why is bone broth so good for our pets?

Bone broth, which is easily digestible, essential, anti-inflammatory, gut healing nutrients such as amino acids the building blocks of protein, easily absorbable forms of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sulphur, silicon, phosphorus and chondroitin, glucosamine & gelatin which have been released into the water as the bones have been simmered.

Probiotics can support the healthy bacteria in your dog's gut supporting a healthy immune system, but which probiotics are best for your pets?

The short answer is yes. A more complete answer is yes, but human probiotics is not the best treatment to maintain your dog’s gut health. And over the years various studies have confirmed that probiotics can support the healthy bacteria in your dog’s gut, contributing to a healthy immune system. Just like they do in us.

But not all probiotics are created equal. Can you give your pets human probiotics for example? Although giving your dog human probiotics won’t do them any harm, it’s unlikely to have any significant benefits for their digestive system.