Healthy Kibble Additions for Your Dog

Pumping Up Your Dog's Kibble For Better Nutrition

In recent years people have become much more interested in making sure their dogs are eating healthy. Many studies have been done on dog nutrition, and it is pretty widely accepted now that “all kibble, all the time” may not actually be the best diet plan for your dog. 

Many dog food companies have started to include more healthy ingredients, like veggies and a wide variety of proteins, in their kibble recipes. However, at the end of the day, they’re still dry, processed kibble formulas—not exactly what you could call “fresh.”

But that doesn’t mean you need to stop feeding kibble to your dog. Many people have found plenty of advantages in switching their dog to a fully raw food diet, but that’s simply not practical for everyone. Fortunately, you can pump up the nutritional value and health impact of your dog’s kibble by supplementing it with fresh food. 

Here are several different ways you can supplement your dog’s kibble to help them live out a long and healthy life.

It’s also important to consider serving size. If you’re supplementing with other things, you’ll probably need to cut back on the amount of kibble your dog gets, so they don’t just start packing on the pounds from eating more food than usual. It’s always best to introduce new foods slowly and only introduce one thing at a time so you can monitor your dog for allergic reactions.

healthy kibble additions mother nature

Raw Food

When feeding raw diets first became popular, many people claimed it wasn’t safe to mix raw food with kibble due to the risk of cross-contamination. In reality, it is safe and a healthy way to improve your dog’s diet, as long as you follow safe handling practices for raw meat.

Safe handling means if your dog doesn’t eat all their food within 10-15 minutes, pick it up, cover it, and refrigerate it. If they don’t finish it within two days, discard it. Wash their bowls after every meal. Wash your hands after handling the raw food. Don’t use the same utensils to scoop kibble and raw meat. 

Raw is an excellent supplement for kibble because it is minimally processed compared to kibble, and it contains lots of moisture, which kibble lacks. Because of the high protein content and low water value, straight dry kibble can dehydrate your dog and put unnecessary pressure on the kidneys.

Adding raw allows you to take advantage of natural health benefits without the expense or hassle of going fully raw. It also means if you have to travel and aren’t able to access raw, your dog will likely not have any digestive issues if they have to eat just kibble for a few days (although they’ll probably let you know that they wish you had brought raw food).

Supplementing with raw food has become super easy because many different mixes are available now. Most of them aren’t just meat, either. They usually contain a healthy ratio of meat and vegetables. 

We rarely hear how important vegetables are for total canine health, but they are! Recent studies have shown that adding veggies to a dog’s diet can drastically reduce their risk of developing cancers. Many dogs don’t love to eat veggies, though. Like with kids, grinding the veggies up and mixed with something they do like is a great way to sneak them in. 

healthy kibble additions mother nature

Bone Broth

Bone broth is very nutrient-dense and has lots of essential vitamins and minerals. It’s super easy to just pour some onto their kibble. It gives them that extra moisture content, plus lots of immune-boosting nutrients while making your dog’s meal tastier.

 

Freeze-Dried

Freeze-dried food is another excellent choice. It has nearly the same nutritional value as raw because it hasn’t been exposed to heat. It is shelf-stable and doesn’t need to be refrigerated. It’s lightweight and doesn’t take up much space, so it’s great for travelling or camping. It’s also convenient and mess-free. 

Freeze-dried food supplements don’t have the ick factor that some people experience with raw meat. You can feed it with kibble dry or wet, but remember that moisture content is critical to keep your dog properly hydrated. It is better if you mix it into the kibble with some room temperature or slightly warm water. This has the added benefit of intensifying the scents and flavours and coating the kibble, making it more appealing for picky dogs. 

 

Dehydrated Food

Similar to freeze-dried, dehydrated food is also great, but it does receive a bit of heat in the drying process. Dehydrated food usually mixes up into a porridge or gravy-like substance. It should be served rehydrated, not dry. Rehydrating adds that all-important moisture level and coats the kibble to make it all much tastier for your pup. 

 

Canned Food

Canned food is very convenient because it’s available almost anywhere, and there are many different varieties and brands. Canned food stores well, and it adds in more moisture, though it could still benefit from more. If you stir it in well, it will also coat the kibble well, making it more appealing for picky eaters.

mother nature healthy dog kibble

“People Food”

For a long time, the consensus has been that dogs shouldn’t eat human food. But recent studies have actually found that dogs benefit as much as we do, if not more, from a varied diet that includes many of the same fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins we eat. If you’re going to supplement your dog’s kibble with fresh food, it’s extra essential to make sure you’re giving appropriate amounts of safe foods. 

The following fruits and vegetables are safe for dogs to eat, but it’s still important to be careful. Make sure always to wash fruits and vegetables, remove pits, seeds, and stems. Some pits, seeds, and stems may contain substances that will make your dog sick.

mother nature healthy kibble additions

Fruits are generally much higher in sugar, so don’t give too much fruit to your dog. Here are some fruits that are ok for dogs to eat: 

  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Banana
  • Blueberries
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cranberries
  • Mango
  • Orange
  • Pear
  • Pineapple
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries
  • Watermelon
  • Tomatoes

Fruits like mango, bananas, pineapple, and melons are relatively high in sugar, so err on the side of only a little bit of those. Fruits like blueberries and raspberries are low in sugar but high in antioxidants, so they’re ok to have a bit more often.

Healthy kibble additions mother nature

Many vegetables are safe for dogs to eat, and all those vitamins and benefits we get from eating them are also good for our dogs. Here some safe vegetables for dogs: 

  • Asparagus
  • Bell peppers
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Cucumber
  • Green beans
  • Lettuce
  • Peas
  • Pumpkin
  • Spinach
  • Sweet potato
  • Zucchini

Veggies like bell peppers and green beans are an excellent alternative to treats if your dog likes them, and they need to go on a bit of a diet. Vegetables like pumpkin can be beneficial for your dog’s digestive system, so it’s safe to add to their food every day if you have a dog with a sensitive tummy. 

Meat is great for dogs; in fact, it should make up at least 50% of their diet. But, that doesn’t just mean just any meat. Giving your dog the fat trimmings, lots of bacon, or chicken skin is not healthy and could actually cause pancreatitis. When you’re adding meat to your dog’s meals, it should be lean or extra lean. While raw bones can be a great treat, never give your dog cooked bones, as some of them can splinter and cause serious injuries, internally or externally.

BC healthy kibble additions mother nature

If you’re going to supplement your dog with people food, veggies or meat, it is better to prepare separately from your food. Food for your dog should have no additions like salt, spices, or sauces. If you prefer to give your dog raw meat, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands and sanitize surfaces before touching your food. 

Some dogs also don’t do well with whole raw veggies, so it may go down a little easier if you lightly steam veggies first and chop them into bite-size pieces. If you cook food for them, make sure you allow it to cool completely before serving it with their kibble. 

Dairy is controversial. Small amounts of items like kefir or plain yogurt can be good for gut health, but dogs shouldn’t have too many dairy products. 

You should NEVER feed your dog: 

  • Grapes
  • Raisins
  • Currants
  • Onions
  • Wild mushrooms
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Green tomatoes
  • Rhubarb leaves
  • Products with xylitol (found in gum, candy, toothpaste, and some peanut butters) 

You should also avoid feeding your dog lemons, limes, grapefruit, persimmons, avocado (high fat, skins and pit can cause stomach upset), garlic, nuts (high in fat and some are poisonous), or corn (a common allergen).

Carbohydrates like pasta and rice are also really not great for dogs. When dogs are sick, your vet may recommend plain boiled chicken and rice for a while. This should help their stomach calm down and get back to normal, but you shouldn’t keep up the daily rice. Carbs like processed pasta and white rice should never be more than about 5% of your dog’s diet. 

If you would like to start supplementing your dog’s diet, stop by Mother Nature and talk to Donna—she’s our in-house dog nutrition expert, and she can help you choose the best option for your dog! If you’d like to read more about making your dog’s meals, look for the books “Feed Your Best Friend Better” or “CHOW” by Rick Woodford.