Most of us feed our dogs the same kind of diet. We tend to choose a kibble from our vet, the pet shop or supermarket, and stick to it. We might supplement this with other foods: a bit of our own dinner; fresh fruit and vegies; scraps while we’re cooking. Sometimes, we might be advised to choose specific foods based on health needs or stage of life, such as puppy or mature-dog foods.
But an ideal dog diet could look quite different – even a bit more like our own. And the health benefits can be profound.
Dr Matthew Muir is an integrative vet and a co-founder of Lyka, an Australian company that makes fresh, wholefood, human-grade dog food. Each vet-formulated recipe contains meats and vegetables that are prepared in much the same way as we would cook our own food.
What does a balanced diet mean for dogs?
“As a vet, ‘balanced’ to me looks like a diet that is derived from fresh ingredients in their wholefood form, like meat and offal with colourful vegetables and a variety of bioactive superfoods such as fish oil and herbs,” Muir says.
He says our dogs’ daily diets should contain moderate amounts of quality animal protein – from meat and offal or eggs – as well as omega 3 fats, for example from fish, a rainbow of vegies, and some wholefoods dense in vitamins and minerals, such as kelp.
Are wholefoods important in a dog’s diet?
The benefits of wholefoods reach further than we might realise, Muir says. “Skin and gut issues can have flow-on effects including arthritis and anxiety. I would recommend avoiding canned and ultra-processed food like kibble, as much as possible, prioritising wholefood instead.
“While proportions and quantities of specific nutrients matter, it’s the ingredients that matter most. Wholefoods are not just sources of essential vitamins, minerals and macronutrients – their flavours and colours are also nutrients. Phytonutrients, if we’re going to get technical.”
Take the humble blueberry, a nutrient-packed nugget of goodness that’s great for dogs. A 2022 study found puppies that ate blueberries significantly lowered their risk of chronic digestive problems in adulthood – one of the most frequent reasons for trips to the vet.
“Simply, wholefood decreases risks and ultra-processed food increases risks,” Muir says.
What should we be looking for on an ingredients list?
As a vet specialising in gastroenterology at The Vet’s North, Dr Anna Dengate sees first-hand the impact of food choices. When it comes to ingredients, she says we should look for a few key words.
First, look for the protein source. “When you’re looking at the [ingredients] table and it says 30% protein, look for what sort of meat they’re using and where they’re sourcing it from,” Dengate says.
Protein that comes from meat, she says, is more usable than protein derived from soy products, for example.
Muir agrees. “Meat should come first on the ingredient list,” he says. He suggests taking a more critical look at other ingredients, too: for example, he says, some foods contain superfoods such as berries or turmeric, but if they are listed after salt, this usually indicates that they are not at levels that are likely to support health and are purely there for marketing.
“If you’re unsure, I recommend calling pet food providers to discuss. They should have a technical vet on the team that can help navigate and give you guidance on the ingredient in question.”
Should we ditch the dinner scraps our dogs love?
Who hasn’t slipped a piece of chicken or dreaded broccoli under the table to their canine vacuum cleaner? Muir says we can keep doing it, as long as we’re mindful of what we’re sharing and how much.
“Safe table scraps can usually form up to 10% of a balanced diet without disrupting dietary balance,” Muir says. “Just like blueberries as a nutritious snack or meal topper, table scrap feeding to puppies can actually help to reduce lifetime digestive issue upsets.”
It’s important to note, he cautions, that not all foods that are safe for humans are also safe for dogs. Chocolate, onions and grapes are examples of ingredients we find delicious but that could make our pets sick.
How can we tell if our dog is living their best life?
When it comes to what we’re feeding our dogs, there are some giveaways when the balance is not quite right. Dengate says: “Coat quality and shininess is a giveaway, but that takes a while to develop.
“Another thing you might look for is inconsistent stool consistency. If some days are quite runny and some are quite hard, or if they’re going to the toilet more than three times a day, it’s probably a sign that the bowels are a little bit imbalanced.”
Dengate says she’s seeing an increase in the number of dogs with bowel problems, and that food plays an important role in their recovery. “They often do really well without the additives and preservatives that it takes for most dog food to be stable for months on the shelf. Those dogs really benefit from a wholefood diet.”
Lyka uses high-quality, locally sourced ingredients to create wholefood meals. Customers can jump on the website, fill in some details about their dog’s life stage, breed, activity level and health needs, and Lyka will create a customised meal plan to suit.
Muir is confident that a wholefood diet can improve the wellbeing of many dogs.
“This may indeed be Lyka or another commercial or home-prepared wholefood strategy to meet their individual health needs,” he says.
“For the latter, I would recommend seeking the guidance of a Board-Certified veterinary nutritionist or veterinarian experienced in wholefood nutrition to ensure your dog is getting all the required nutrients.”
Get the balance right, he says, and every dog has the chance to thrive. “I believe every dog deserves the opportunity to shine on a wholefood diet.”
Get 20% off your first Lyka box with the code: GUARDIAN20
Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and is available to first-time customers only.
