The Well Dog Place

Dr. Ken Tudor Holistic Veterinarian

Dog Food Bowl, should be filled with healthful ingredients, but "Super Foods" are a myth

Dog Nutrition 06 | “Superfoods” for Dogs

There are no superfoods for people or dogs! Only in the world of unicorns and leprechauns do such foods exist. In fact, there is no legal definition or standards that distinguish “superfoods” from other foods. There isn’t even an agreed-upon list of which foods are superfoods. If it weren’t for Hollywood hype from celebrity actors or doctor talk shows, the notion of superfoods would probably not exist.

What is a superfood?

A superfood is a food believed to be so rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, omega- 3 fatty acids, and unknown cancer-fighting chemicals that daily servings will result in miraculous health. Greek yogurt, quinoa, blueberries, pumpkin, kale, chia seeds, kelp, and spirulina are just a few examples of supposed superfoods.

But rich is a relative term. Rich only means that it contains more of a nutrient than others in its class. It does not mean that it is concentrated with that nutrient. Kale, for example, is sometimes included in homemade dog food diets to help meet the calcium needs of dogs. But kale only contains 11 more milligrams per ounce than spinach. And an average size dog would need 15 cups of kale per day for its daily calcium needs! And she still wouldn’t get her calcium because dogs don’t chew so the calcium would be locked in the kale and pass through the intestines into the poop.

Superfoods are not supercharged! They contain good stuff but not in magical quantities. And if they are fed in raw form, dogs can’t even digest or absorb any of the magical goodness.

Author

Ken Tudor DVM

Dr. Ken Tudor, Holistic Veterinarian

Dr. Ken Tudor is a recognized expert and leader in the field of pet nutrition and fitness. He has developed a pet weight management program and served on the American Animal Hospital Association task force to develop their Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. He is also a frequent guest on the Pet World Insider radio show and a popular guest on the televised Pet Ex Talks-Pet Experts Empowering Pet Parents show.

Dog Nutrition 06 | “Superfoods” for Dogs

Dog Nutrition

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NEW - If you don't live close enough to visit our office...

If you are too far away to see Dr. Tudor in person, but still wish to make your own balanced dog food at home using Dr. Tudor's exclusive nutrient powder, omega 3 oil and recipes, we now offer two options for you:

Healthier Homemade for Dogs

When you need or want custom recipes that are personalized for your fur family, our sister site Healthier Homemade can help you out. Because this service is remote, we are unable to give medical advice or diagnosis, so we work with your veterinarian to make sure your fur family is well cared for.

At Healthier Homemade, we offer Medical Recipe Programs for 14 different conditions. See them in detail here.

There are an assortment of recipe formulations for dogs with diagnosed Food Allergies. They include, High Protein, Instant, and Economy options.

If you have all Normal Adult Dogs in your fur family and wish to have more control over the formulations of your recipes, we offer Economy, Instant, High Protein, and Ultra-High Protein (including a few all meat options).

With all of our custom recipes you may include up to 4 dogs (with the same health profile) and you may choose cooking frequency from every day to once a week. We do all the math, we even calculate serving size for each dog! We also have detailed tutorials for each step of cooking, mixing, and storing.

Hearthstone Homemade for Dogs

If you are an experienced cook, like flexibility, have a normal adult dog, and just need general guidelines, Hearthstone may be right for you. Before purchasing a Starter Kit, you can see a complete list of ingredient options that can be used.

Our EZ Meal Planner gives you a great starting point. You still get to pick out wholesome ingredients at the grocery store and you still get "The Well Dog Nutrient Powder" to make sure your dogs' meals are balanced.

The Getting Started page gives you a great road map for what you need to equip your kitchen, preparation, transitioning to a new food, and more.