Dog Care 101: Tip #176: Protein & Grains to Share With Your Dog

Are you a meat and potatoes kind of person? Maybe your dog is a meat and potatoes kind of dog! Best Bully Sticks isn’t saying you should give your dog steak and potatoes, but that there are a good many protein sources and grains that your dog can benefit from. A good meal is a balanced meal, so take our Fruits To Share & Veggies To Share and now our Proteins & Grains To Share and create a great supplements for your dog. These boosts to your dog’s regular food diet can fine-tune your dog’s health and well-being. Talk with your vet about any major food changes or questions you have about supplementing your dog’s diet.

Protein Sources
Your dog does need protein to maintain a healthy diet. Learn about ways you can supplement your dog’s diet with protein sources, sometimes from unexpected sources.

Peanut Butter
If you haven’t figured it out by now, dogs love peanut butter. This creamy treat is high in protein and it’s always fun to watch your dog lick it out of the inside of a toy, off the end of his nose or right out of an empty jar!

Lean Meat
Chicken, beef and pork without visible fat, sauces or seasonings are great for your dog’s diet. Used as a training treat or food supplements, lean meats are full of B Vitamins, which provide the energy for metabolism and amino acids, which help keep your dog’s muscles healthy.

Salmon/Tuna
Fish are tasty treats for your dog that also have a lot of great health benefits. Fatty fish like Salmon and Tuna are full of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are amazing for your dog’s skin, coat and even brain functions! It’s even been suggested these fish can help with arthritis, allergies and other chronic dog ailments. When feeding fish, make sure it’s cooked. You can even pick canned tuna or salmon; just make the fish is packed in water without salt added. You can add this directly to your dogs food, or if your grilling tuna or salmon, make a piece for your pup!

Eggs
Incredible and edible, eggs are full of all sorts of great nutrient and vitamins your dog can benefit from! Any way you cook them (and always make sure they’re cooked) your dog will get protein, riboflavin, selenium, calcium, Vitamins A & D, folate and healthy fat. But remember, no salt or pepper! Eggs can even help with an upset stomach. Even finely ground up eggshells are great for your dog because they are almost 100% calcium.

Yogurt/Cottage Cheese
Another great source of calcium and protein, yogurt and cottage cheese are two treats your dog is sure to love. When picking a yogurt, make sure it has live active bacteria and no sugars or artificial sweeteners. Cottage cheese doesn’t have much flavor at all, but is great added to your dog’s food. Both yogurt and cottage cheese can be used to disguise any of your dog’s medicines, too! Some pups are going to have sensitive stomachs when it comes to yogurt and cottage cheese, so start off with small bits of these foods in the beginning.

Offal
If you’ve never heard of offal, you’ll be surprised by what it is but more importantly by the “wow-factor” of what offal can offer your dog. Offal is organ meat, like liver, kidney, heart, stomach, lungs, tongue and spleen. Best Bully Sticks definitely knows the benefits of offal, because it’s the majority of what we offer to our customers! Liver is the most commonly fed organ meat and jam-packed with Vitamin A, B & K. It’s also a great source of iron. Simply put: offal is awesome. However, don’t overfeed your dog liver! (No more than 1g of liver per Kg of body weight a day.)

Grains
Carbohydrates are a source of energy for your dog and if your dog is active, supplementing grains into your dog’s diet will be beneficial.

Flaxseed
These seeds are a great way to add healthy fatty acids and fiber to your dog’s diet. Omega-3 fatty acids help with your dog’s coat and skin while fiber keeps your dog’s digestive system healthy. The best way to feed flax seed is by purchasing whole seeds, then grinding them before feeding. However flax also comes in oil and pre-ground forms. Oil has a higher concentrations of omega-3 fatty and doesn’t have any of the fiber. Both ground seeds and oil need to be kept in the fridge in an air-tight, dark container

Rice
If your pup ever has an upset stomach, make your dog a rice meal. Rice provides dogs the energy that carbohydrates give and is easily digestible. Try brown rice. Compared to white rice, it is higher in protein and lower in fat.

Oatmeal
Eating oatmeal is a great way to make sure your dog stays “regular.” Oats are full of fiber and can even serve as great alternative to wheat. Never give your dog sweetened or flavored oatmeal.

Brewer’s Yeast
You would never give your dog beer, but brewer’s yeast is a great tasty treat for your dog! Note: this is NOT the same as bakers yeast. Brewer’s yeast has a tangy taste and smell that dogs love and is full of B Vitamins, which is great for the coat and skin. Some dog owners even swear by brewer’s yeast as a flea preventative! You can buy brewer’s yeast at health food stores, or check out Cohiba Beer Bones! These great dog cookies use brewer’s yeast as the main ingredient.

If you're looking for more great foods to share with your dog, check out Fruits To Share With Your Dog and Veggies To Share With Your Dog. If have any more questions about supplementing any new foods into your dog’s diet, talk to your vet to make a comprehensive plan so your dog gets the most out of his food.