Here at Clean Green Simple, we’ve talked a lot about superfoods that we humans should try to include in our diets. But what about our furry friends?
Just like humans, dogs can benefit from nutrient-dense foods that provide high levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Many of these doggy superfoods, like blueberries and seaweed, are also considered superfoods for humans. But because dogs are carnivores, they benefit more from nutrient-dense animal products, like eggs and fish.
In this article, we’ll look at 8 superfoods for dogs that should be part of your pup’s diet. We’ll also look at 5 of the best superfood dog treats that make giving your dog these superfoods super simple.
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What Superfoods Should You Feed Your Dog?
Superfoods are nutrient-rich foods that help support health and wellness. Because dogs and humans have different digestive systems and dietary needs, not all superfoods for humans are great for dogs to eat. But there’s a lot of overlap in this area, especially when it comes to many of the common animal product superfoods.
Now, if you follow a vegan diet, you probably don’t like the idea of buying meat and dairy products for your pet. But the truth is, dogs and cats need these things to survive. And if you want them to thrive, they need these animal-based superfoods as well.
You can learn more about how to feed your dog ethically and sustainably without jeopardizing their health, here. But for now, let’s look at some of the best superfoods for dogs.
Probiotics
Okay, so probiotics are more of a category of superfoods than an actual food themselves. But, just like for humans, including probiotics in your dog’s diet is vital for their overall health.
Not only do probiotics help maintain healthy digestion, but they also play a huge role in supporting a healthy immune system, mood, and coat. Whether your dog suffers from allergies, anxiety, or frequent diarrhea, adding probiotics to their diet can help.
Humans have a lot of options for probiotics, whether they’re in whole-food form or supplement form. While not as abundant, there are plenty of dog probiotic supplements out there as well. But it can be easier and more cost-effective to increase your pup’s probiotic load by including a few superfoods in their diet.
Specifically, yogurt and apple cider vinegar.
Adding a spoonful of plain dairy yogurt to your dog’s meal is a great way to provide them with millions of live active cultures. Using raw, fermented goat’s milk is an even better option if you can find it. Goat’s milk is easier for dogs to digest and contains extra nutrients and enzymes that can better support digestion.
While not technically considered a probiotic due to natural variations in probiotic load, adding a spoonful of raw apple cider vinegar is another great way to introduce beneficial bacteria to your dog’s system. Most products, especially raw vinegar with the mother, contain millions of live bacteria cultures that will benefit your dog’s gut biome.
Oily Fishes
Oily fishes are a class of small fish that have excess oil in their soft tissues and gut cavity.
These kinds of fish, which include mackerel and anchovies, are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. This special type of fat is exceptional for supporting brain, cardiac, and overall health in dogs.
Additionally, these fish contain DHA, which is important for brain development, and plenty of protein.
Adding whole mackerel or anchovies to your dog’s meals provides these valuable nutrients as well as calcium and joint-supporting chondroitin. Just make sure to purchase plain frozen fish or canned fish in water (not oil).
Salmon
Salmon is another superfood fish species worth including in your dog’s diet.
Like small oily fish, salmon contains plenty of healthy omega fatty acids. In addition to the benefits discussed above, omega-3 is also important for reducing inflammation in the body.
Including salmon in your dog’s dish can be especially helpful for older dogs suffering from joint pain and inflammation. Along with a good glucosamine supplement, feeding salmon or salmon oil can help increase mobility.
The downside to feeding salmon over small oily fish is that it isn’t as sustainable. Additionally, salmon contains higher levels of heavy metals than small fish. If you do feed salmon, make sure to do it no more than once per week and always opt for sustainable, wild-caught options.
Eggs
While eggs are constantly falling on and off the superfood list for humans, they’re unarguably a good option for dogs.
Eggs are rich in many nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamins B2 and B12, vitamin D, selenium, iodine, zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus. The yolk also contains a long list of essential amino acids.
As a vegan human, there are a lot of great reasons to avoid eggs. In terms of health, one constant point of contention is that eggs contain a lot of cholesterol. This is less of an issue for dogs because their systems evolved to run off fat and are better able to process cholesterol.
Blueberries
Many plant-based superfoods aren’t a great choice for dogs because their digestive tracts can’t break them down properly. Or because they contain too much starch or sugar.
Blueberries are one plant-based option that dogs can break down fairly easily (especially when given in blended or powdered form). And, since they contain very little sugar and starch, they won’t cause digestive problems.
Blueberries, like many other berries, are loaded with antioxidants and phytochemicals that can help your dog fight inflammation and free radicals. They also have a good amount of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium.
If your dog suffers from urinary tract issues, cranberries are another great superfood to add to their meals.
Seaweed
Seaweed is another plant-based option that is low in calories and easy for dogs’ systems to utilize.
Kelp, spirulina, and other options can be sprinkled onto your dog’s meals to add vital nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Like blueberries, these sea vegetables are also loaded with antioxidants and phytochemicals.
Another great benefit of seaweed is that dogs typically don’t have or develop allergies to it. If your dog sufferers from food allergies or skin issues, adding seaweed to their diet can help replace nutrients while reducing inflammation and supporting overall health.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a superfood due to its high fiber and beta-carotene content. This combination makes it a wonderful natural treatment for digestive upset in dogs. Carrots are another high-fiber, high-beta-carotene option, but they’re harder for dogs to digest.
A couple of spoonfuls of pumpkin in your dog’s dish can help reduce diarrhea and ease constipation. It’s a great option for maintaining healthy stool during periods of stress or diet change.
In addition to helping the gut, pumpkin is also loaded with many micronutrients. When served in puree form, these nutrients are highly available to the doggy digestive tract and more easily absorbed than from other plant-based superfoods.
Just be sure to get plain pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling, which contains spices and sugar.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is loaded with a special kind of fat known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). These kinds of fats provide energy and support a healthy coat, help kill bad bacteria in the body, and support joint health.
Because dogs’ digestive systems were made to utilize fat and protein, coconut oil is easily digested and absorbed.
Adding a spoonful of this superfood to your dog’s bowl can help support a healthy weight(1). It can also be used topically to fight fleas and soothe hotspots and infected wounds. Coconut oil can also be used on dogs’ teeth to help fight bacteria and bad breath.
Best Superfood Treats for Dogs
There are a lot of wonderful superfoods out there that are worth including in your dog’s diet. But we all know it can be challenging to eat enough superfoods ourselves. Making sure our dogs get them too can be a lot of work.
Luckily, there are some amazing dog treat companies out there that make feeding your dog superfoods easy.
Here are 5 of our favorite superfood treat brands that dogs love so much they’d never guess they were good for them.
Top Choice: Healthybud Superfood Treats and Toppers
Healthybud is a dog food and treat company that believes in the power of superfoods. The company came to be after the founders’ dog died suddenly of cancer. Believing their pet’s sudden decline was related to a poor diet, they set off on a mission to create better, healthier food options for pets.
Today, Healthybud has a long line of treats and food toppers that contain human-grade superfoods. These products are loaded with antioxidants and natural vitamins and minerals.
For sensitive dogs, they offer simple chews with only one ingredient, including beef and cod options.
But it’s their superfood toppers that really pack a nutritional punch.
Their Turkey Gut Booster contains prebiotics and superfoods like blueberries, cranberries, kale, and coconut oil. They also have a Beef Joint Booster with green-lipped mussel and turmeric. And a Duck Calming Aid with adaptogens and hemp oil.
Each of these can be added to meals or fed as a tasty, healthy soft snack.
Healthybud also has a line of freeze-dried meals made with free-range meats and health-boosting superfoods.
Best Chews: Superfood Science Organic Chicken Dog Treats
If you’re looking for a superfood chew treat your dog will devour, look no further than Superfood Science’s organic chicken treats.
These healthy meat chews contain USDA organic chicken and are made without grain right here in the USA.
In addition to premium meat, each chew contains turmeric, organic apple cider vinegar, organic sweet potato, and organic flaxseed.
Clean, superfood ingredients mean you can feel good about rewarding your dog with these treats. We like to feed the full sticks as a special treat or cut them into smaller pieces and use them during training sessions.
Best Fish: The Honest Kitchen Superfood Cod Crisps
Too many dog foods lack omega-3 and DHA. And those that include them often see the nutrients destroyed during processing. Rather than relying on your dog’s food to provide these valuable compounds, why not use these superfood cod crisps from The Honest Kitchen?
Each of these large, coin-shaped crisps is made of gently dehydrated cod and fresh blueberry juice.
Because they aren’t heated or overprocessed, they retain the powerful antioxidants and fatty acids your dog needs. And best of all, they have a natural, fishy flavor that dogs go crazy for. Even picky eaters won’t be able to pass on these crispy, chewy superfood treats.
The shape and texture of these treats make them a great option for special rewards or for use in puzzle bones.
Best Supplement Treat: Ruji Naturals 6 in 1 Superfood Dog Supplement
If you’re looking for an excellent superfood treat that you can add directly to your dog’s meal to provide the most benefit, Ruji Naturals has you covered.
This treat-style supplement includes a long list of superfoods selected specifically to support six targeted areas: the immune system, joints, skin and coat, blood sugar, digestive tract, and healthy aging.
Organic moringa makes up the base of this supplement. This lesser-known superfood is loaded with fatty acids and antioxidants. It’s highly anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial.
Additionally, each Ruji Naturals chew contains flaxseed oil and coconut oil. And they’re flavored with real cheddar cheese, which dogs seem to love.
The chews can be given as special treats or measured and mixed in with your dog’s meals.
Best Training Treats: Pet Naturals Superfood Dog Treats
Want to take your training sessions to the next level? Try swapping out your old training treats with this awesome option from Pet Naturals.
These small superfood treats are the perfect size for rewarding behaviors without overloading your dog with calories.
Each tiny chew contains five superfood ingredients: apple, kale, blueberry, pumpkin, and spinach. These high-antioxidant powders are mixed with oat flour, brewer’s yeast, and liver flavor to create tasty treats your dog will be willing to work for.
Pet Naturals’ Superfood Dog Treats aren’t as nutritious as others on this list, but they’re much better than the unhealthy training treats most companies sell. Plus, they’re fairly affordable and feature a cute bone shape that’s easy to split in half to maximize treat numbers during training sessions or for use with small dogs.
The Bottom Line of Superfoods for Dogs
When it comes to maximizing your dog’s nutrition, adding superfoods to their meals is a great way to go. Nutrient-dense options like oily fish, seaweed, and blueberries, are a great way to support your dog’s health naturally.
But if you want an even easier route to better pet health, check out the many food, topper, and treat options from Healthybud. These dog products use clean proteins and functional superfood additions to keep your dog feeling and looking their best without the extra work!
