While following a healthy diet and improving the overall quality of your health is of optimum importance, you cannot ignore the health of your furry friend. It’s important to know what makes for a healthy dog diet if you intend to ensure their health and happiness. Boosting the release of happy hormones and enhancing the immune system of your dog should be your top priority while choosing dog food. Here are some important points that you should consider to ensure that your dog is healthy and sound:

• Add digestive enzymes
  A dog’s dry food lacks digestive enzymes that are important to help absorb nutrients. You can add yogurt, cottage cheese, and similar moist foods to the kibbles to induce sufficient enzymes. It will encourage your dog to consume the enzymes, aiding in digestion. Make sure the enzymes are plant-based and rich in probiotics, which help promote healthy bacteria in the gut.
• Limit portion sizes
  While it matters what your dog is eating, the quantity also plays an equally important role. Even if it’s healthy and freshly prepared food, feed your dog only in small proportions. Observe how your dog eats and enjoy food, and make changes to the portions accordingly. If your dog is overweight and hence more prone to complications, then serve shorter meals with specific time gaps between each meal.
• Follow the 10 percent rule
  Your dog’s share of proteins and calories from treats and supplements should not be more than 10 percent. It should always consume its regular healthy food in significant quantities to get the maximum amount of nutrition. Make a note of the calories available in the extra treats to ensure a well-balanced meal for your dog.
• Introduce lightly cooked meat and eggs
  Dogs require nearly 50 percent of proteins from their food; and including high-quality meat products or eggs to their diet is a good choice. Cook the meat lightly and serve scrambled eggs to add taste to the food.
• Focus on the numbers
  It’s important to know your dog’s body condition score (BCS) before creating its diet. Check out the BCS obtained from the visual assessment of its shape and size to decide on the right calorie count.
• Say no to gluten
  Numerous dried pet foods contain gluten that has proven to be harmful for dogs’ liver and kidneys. Gluten prevents waste products from being eliminated, and this retention can cause life-threatening complications.
• Include fresh, whole foods
  Whole foods have a sufficient amount of fiber that aids in healthy digestion. They also improve dogs’ stool condition and support their immune system. Serve fresh vegetables and fruits to your dog, and cook the vegetables slightly for better absorption. Vegetables are rich in nutrients that can strengthen your dog’s bones, gums, and teeth.