Boost Your Dog’s Wellness With Bowl Boosters

By Kara Hanrahan, CPCN, CHPHC, AGNP.

Introduction

What we eat has a tremendous impact on our overall wellness on many different levels, from the daily grind to lasting effects later in life. The best way to set our bodies up for success in the long run is to focus on eating a fresh, varied diet that has minimal processed foods or chemicals, and instead is packed full of superfoods that boost our bowls, and our health to the next level. The same is true of our dogs!

What is a superfood?

You may this term thrown around a lot, and it likely has different meaning to different people. To me, I consider a superfood to be a food that provides a lot of benefits in a small serving. A true powerhouse of nutrients and benefits all packed into a little morsel that you add to the diet with ease. The knowledge that you can take your dog’s wellness to the next level with the addition of some of these bowl boosters is so empowering, and something that every pet parent can achieve no matter what the base diet is.

Moisture

Now, I know that moisture isn’t a food, but there are a few foods that fit within this category and the reason WHY they’re so super is partially because they provide moisture, so bear with me.

1. Raw Goat Milk- I am such a fan of raw goat milk, with emphasis on the word raw. When you feed raw milk, you’re providing the gut, that all important organ that has such an important role in immune support, with a plethora of microorganisms. These organisms help make necessary substances for the body such as neurotransmitters (serotonin, the happy hormone!), enzymes and short chain fatty acids which are needed to transport molecules throughout the body.
2. Bone Broth- broth provides glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen which are incredibly important for joint health, gut health, skin health and health health! Literally, it’s great for your overall health and wellbeing, and once again it adds hydration to the bowl. I recommend making your own bone broth- it’s easy, affordable, and you know exactly what is going into it.
3. Water- I know that water technically isn’t a food, but I do want you to remember that you should always be providing fresh, clean water for your pets throughout the day. This means avoiding those gross plastic jugs that have filters and only get filled up every few days. There is no way to keep them clean and they’re a breeding ground for bacteria. Plus, no animal wants to drink out of a slimy, dirty bowl which then promotes water avoidance and increases the risk for dehydration.

Fish

I like using fish as a bowl booster because it can be really tough to get enough omega 3’s, which are the anti-inflammatory ‘healthy’ fats, in the diet. It’s especially important if you’re feeding kibble, because kibble in inherently pro-inflammatory and there are no ingredients in kibble that provide this essential fat. There are several categories of fish I like to feed, which provide different additional benefits.

1. Small fatty fish- this includes anchovy, sardine, mackerel and herring. I also like to feed salmon although it isn’t small. The smaller the fish you feed, the less likely it is to have accumulated toxins or heavy metals such as mercury which unfortunately is a risk given ocean pollution. However the benefits of the omega 3’s in these fish outweigh any downsides in my opinion, as long as you’re focusing on the smaller fish and avoiding those big boys such as tuna or catfish. I’m especially partial to sardines and mackerel because they’re high in vitamin D, which is quite possibly the vitamin that most dogs are deficient in.
2. Shellfish- shellfish are always present in my diet as they pack a huge punch in a tiny package. Oysters are high in zinc, and mussels are high in manganese. Specifically green lipped mussels (GLMs) are one of the best foods you can feed for joint health.

Berries

I love a juicy, slightly tart, wild berry as a snack, treat or topper for the meal. Berries are full of antioxidants and vitamin C, which help combat the normal stress associated with aging, as well as the added stress of exposure to chemicals and toxins throughout our daily lives. Anthocyanins are the pigments that make some berries blue or purple, and are spectacular at protecting against that oxidative stress as well as supporting heart and brain health. Plus berries are low in sugar, so they’re also not going to cause an issue for dogs or people with diabetes when eaten in appropriate amounts.

Eggs

Eggs are considered one of mother natures most perfect and complete foods. Egg yolks are full of healthy omegas, as well as vitamin D and choline. There are also a variety of eggs to choose from including chicken, turkey, duck, goose and quail. One important thing to remember when choosing eggs however is that you truly want to try to get pasture raised eggs. Chickens who are pasture raised and allowed to forage end up producing much better eggs in terms of nutrient profile. I personally would rather buy pasture raised eggs than any other egg that isn’t pasture raised but says organic on the carton.

Fermented Foods

Overall, fermented foods are spectacular for supporting gut health and thus immune health. Fermented foods may include raw kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, pickled vegetables and more. These fermented foods introduce a variety of good organisms into the gut which then go to work creating those important substances we spoke about above. My favorite fermented food to feed is probably kefir.

Mushrooms

I saved my favorite for last. I almost would say that I’m obsessed with all the benefits that mushrooms have to offer. These fantastic fungi support the immune system in so many different ways.

1. Mushrooms act as prebiotics, which means they feed the probiotics, or the good organisms, in the gut. When you feed these organisms, they product important substances for your overall health and wellness, so it’s important to feed them and keep them happy.
2. They are an excellent source of nutrients. In fact, if you get a package of button mushrooms from the store and slice them into several pieces and lay them out in the sun for a few hours, the amount of vitamin D present will increase by tenfold!
3. They act as antioxidants as they’re rich in glutathione and ergothioneine which help fight free radicals.
4. Mushrooms are well known to have anti-cancer and anti-aging properties. Different Asian cultures have been using turkey tail mushrooms to treat cancer for hundreds of years, and the positive effect of lion’s mane mushroom on memory and cognition is well studied.

When it comes to mushrooms, you want to cook them to release those important compounds that make them so beneficial, so be sure to steam or bake them prior to feeding. There are so many more benefits of mushrooms but here is only so much time in the day and so much space on this page!

YOU can do it!

Now you know that there are many options to boost the bowl and elevate your dog’s wellness. And the best part is that everyone can do it, no matter what you feed! If you’re feeding a shelf-stable food, I would consider the moisture additions to be the most important ones for your dog. Across the board, mushrooms are my go-to for increasing longevity and the abundant benefits. Remember to rotate, provide variety, and always think about how you can elevate that bowl to boost your dog to the peak of health.

Kara is a Nurse Practitioner turned Holistic Canine Nutritionist who is passionate about pets and empowering pet parents. Her approach to wellness is deeply rooted in the importance of nutrition and trusting that nature provides the answers we need for health. She just released a free mini webinar (https://rawpawadventures.myflodesk.com/lost-in-the-crunch) about the evolution of kibble and the impact on our pets, and will be launching her ‘Back to the Basics – Transition Your Dog to Fresh Food’ course this December!