9 People Foods You Should Feed Your Dog to Improve Their Health

1. Turmeric contains a powerful natural anti-inflammatory called curcumin. When added to your dog’s daily diet, turmeric can help prevent a whole host of problems by reducing chronic inflammation, which is now believed to be one of the major root causes of age-related issues, including joint degeneration, heart problems, declining mental faculty, and even cancer.

Dosage: Add ⅛ teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight daily to your dog’s dinner.

2. Coconut oil is a superfood that has a whole host of benefits, including improved skin and coat condition, better digestion, and allergy reduction, thanks to antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties.

How to administer: Give orally on a spoon (most dogs love the taste) or add a spoon to your dog’s dinner.

Give unsweetened, natural coconut chips as a naturally sweet, crunchy treat dogs love.

Apply directly to the skin and coat to make it softer and healthier.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar. Thanks to its enzymes, gut-friendly bacteria, and a slew of important vitamins and minerals, apple cider vinegar confers a whole host of benefits, including boosting the immune system, improving skin and coat condition (think reducing itchiness, dander, hot spots, fleas), and fighting urinary tract infections. It’s also thought to help with candida (aka yeast).

Dosage: 1 teaspoon for small dogs and 1 tablespoon for medium-large dogs, added to their food once a day. You can add it to your dog’s drinking water if your dog doesn’t mind the taste. Be sure to use organic, unpasteurized (raw), unfiltered, naturally fermented apple cider vinegar. We like Bragg’s. Do NOT use white distilled vinegar.

4. Raw meaty bones have physical, nutritional, and mental benefits for dogs. The gnawing and chewing prevent periodontal disease and improve oral health, while the minerals provided by animal bones are part of a healthy, balanced diet. Plus, chewing on raw meaty bones is tremendously engaging for dogs, providing often lacking mental stimulation.

Are they right for your dog? Many dogs adore their raw meaty bones and thrive with them. But there are also stories of dogs that have chipped or broken a tooth, or swallowed a fragment of bone, which could potentially cause a blockage. Never feed your dog cooked bones, which tend to splinter. Always choose bones with plenty of marrow and connective tissue. Ian Billinghurst, author of Give Your Dog A Bone and The BARF Diet, advises feeding uncooked bony parts of chicken (think necks, wings, and backs), turkey necks, beef knuckles, marrow bones, and lamb bones.

Supervise your dog when he has a raw meaty bone and take it away to dispose of once he’s done with it (don’t leave it sitting out for your dog to return to in another session.) Inspect the bone before you toss it to make sure there are no broken or splintered pieces.

Unsure of what type or size of bone is right for your dog? Ask at your local natural dog store. Many stock raw bones in their freezer and they can help choose the bone that’s right for your dog.

5. Blueberries. Yes, dogs can—and should!—eat blueberries. This superfood makes a terrific, healthy treat; research has shown blueberries to improve the health of animals, from lowering cholesterol and improving cardio health to building stronger bones.

Blueberries pack a lot of nutritional punch: They’re high in fiber, low in calories, and rich in vitamin C. They also contain high amounts of phytochemicals, which have been shown to help fight cancer in humans. Plus, they’re packed with antioxidants, which are key in helping fight the free radicals that cause cellular and molecular damage in both dogs and humans. Bonus for senior dogs: studies have found that adding antioxidants to your dog’s diet can help the aging brain!

Feeding: Small and large dogs alike can enjoy blueberries, which can be fed either fresh or frozen. Remember that all treats should make up no more than 10 percent of your dog’s daily diet.

6. Eggs are excellent for dogs, either as a treat or an addition to their diet. They’re a complete food source and 100 percent bioavailable. A nutritional powerhouse, eggs are high in protein and contain many essential amino acids and fatty acids. They’re a good source of linoleic acid and fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A. They can even help to soothe your dog’s upset stomach, providing easily digestible protein.

How many eggs can your dog eat? Dogs can eat a little bit of egg each day. How much depends on the size of your dog. Keep the 10 percent treat rule in mind.

Feed: Boiled or cooked.

7. Bone broth is a super-charged health elixir. This nutrient packed broth is extremely bioavailable to the body and has a ton of benefits. It improves digestion and helps heal leaky gut, reduces inflammation and helps alleviate joint pain, strengthens bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and more. Furthermore, the glycine in bone broth helps detox the liver and the collagen is great for the skin and coat!

You can make bone broth by simmering bones on low for eight to over 24 hours with apple cider vinegar (find the recipe at moderndogmagazine.com/bone-broth) or you can buy it ready to go! Brutus Bone Broth for dogs is an all-natural, human-grade broth made with high quality ingredients such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and turmeric for happy joints! (from $9, brutusbroth.com)

8. Organs meat and glands are nutritional powerhouses. Think of a lion and their kill—they always go for the organs first for good reason! Dogs can benefit from organ meat such as the liver (builds strength and endurance), kidneys (vitamin A), adrenal glands (vitamin C), pancreas, brain (Omega-3), stomach/tripe (probiotics) and heart (CoQ10) added to their diet. With organ meats, it is particularly important to choose organic and pasture-raised where possible.

Amount: Many commercial diets and those making homemade diets will follow the 80-10-10 rule (80% muscle meat, 10% bone, and 10% organ meats).

9. Small, oily fish such as anchovies and sardines are brain food. Packed with Omega-3’s, they also offer anti-inflammatory benefits, lubricate joints, promote skin, coat and eye health, and more. Visible benefits may include a reduction in shedding, relief from itching, and a softer, shinier coat. Plus, these small fish are “cleaner” in that they haven’t had a chance to accumulate the toxins levels found in large fish like tuna.

Dosage: start low and work your way up. Smaller dogs: start with half a sardine per day. Increase the portion depending on your size of dog. There are also high quality commercially prepared oils available for dogs that make dosage easy. Just measure and add to your dog’s food! We like Iceland Pure’s Sardine Anchovy oil. It contains high levels of EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids, is unscented, and easy to administer! (From $15, icelandpure.com)

*Remember that treats and other additions to your dog’s regular meal should comprise no more than 10 percent of their daily intake. Always introduce new foods gradually to avoid stomach upset. When in doubt, consult your vet.