I am a big fan of the NY Times Wirecutter, and randomly found a really excellent Wirecutter article on dog food this morning that I want to share — you can find it HERE. It is worth the read. Note what they have to say about grain-free, pulses (e.g., lentils and peas), and also the lack of research independence in the field of veterinary nutrition.
The article also mentions an excellent site titled, Pet Food Manufacturer Evaluation Report. Super interesting.
I wanted to share one of the recipes that I am using for the puppies. It is an Instant Pot version, which is my preference for making dog food just because it is fast and easy. This recipes makes enough for a couple of days.
My dogs do eat some kibble — but not the puppies. Why? Because I am trying to help them develop a diverse gut microbiome to support a strong and well-functioning immune system.
In addition to their diet, the puppies get FortiFlora to support their gut health. FortiFlora is a probiotic specific for dogs but there are other dog-specific probiotics that are also good. Human probiotics won’t necessarily hurt a dog but probably won’t contain the species-specific bacteria a dog needs.
Puppies should get probiotics whenever they have dietary changes or show signs of GI upset (i.e., diarrhea).
I also give FortiFlora routinely to my adult dogs — gut health is REALLY important for a well-functioning immune system, and in Berners, we should care deeply about this.
Another fun day of visiting — and a field trip!
🩷💙💙💙