Why you should start a clean dog food diet in the spring

As your dog’s calorie intake and appetite start to naturally decrease in the spring, this season makes for a great time to reassess their entire diet.

Diet plays a big role in your pup’s overall health, which is why you want to ensure that they’re being offered a clean dog food diet. If this is your goal, unfortunately, kibble doesn’t quite hit the mark:

• Kibble is cooked at high temperatures that remove naturally occurring nutrients, which must be replaced

• Kibble uses powdered meat and artificial colors

• Kibble uses hard-to-pronounce preservatives so it can stay on the store shelf for way too long

Instead, you should look for a diet that emphasizes quality ingredients, such as 100% natural farm-raised proteins, fiber-packed garden veggies, and antioxidant-rich fruits. You’ll also want to take into consideration how these ingredients are cooked. Ideally, you choose one that uses gentle cooking processes that maintains the quality and digestibility of essential amino acids from protein. This method ensures our pets get more of the natural benefits from high-quality ingredients.

The good news is that if you’re committed to finding a clean dog food diet, Freshpet is a great choice. By making the switch to a clean dog food diet consisting of Freshpet recipes, your dog will benefit from:

• Healthier skin and coat

• Better digestion

• Weight management

• Allergy relief

• Maintenance of high energy levels well into their golden years

To learn more about the benefits of making the switch to fresh food, take a look at this blog.

Take advantage of seasonal veggies

A fun way to mix up a clean dog food diet is by adding fresh, seasonal veggies to their regular meals. Fresh veggies are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants and the majority are completely pet safe! If you want to add some veggies to your dog’s clean diet, consider these spring favorites:

• Spinach: This leafy green is rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E and magnesium

• Green beans: These crunchy veggies are high in vitamin K and calcium.

• Carrots: These bright orange veggies are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin K1, fiber, potassium, and antioxidants.

• Broccoli: Broccoli is one of the most beneficial veggies to eat raw as they are rich in vitamins like A, C, and E, as well as dietary fiber and, surprisingly, protein.

• Artichokes: All parts of an artichoke are safe for dogs to eat, which is great because it is high in potassium, magnesium, fiber, vitamin C and folate, which is a B vitamin that has been shown to reduce the inflammation that causes allergies and asthma.