Tasty Ways to Add Variety to a Dog’s Diet

Tasty ways to add variety to your dog’s diet

Is your dog bored of dry food? Making your pet’s meals more appealing is easier than you might think. Try these ways to spice up your dog’s meals: add some banana, flavour it with beef jerky, or provide carrots for an afternoon snack.

GO BANANAS Add about a third of a soft banana to 1½ cups dry food. Slice it, mash it or stir it into the pellets. Not only does it add variety and a bit of healthy sweetness, which most dogs seem to love, but a bit of banana can also settle your dog’s stomach.

HEALTHY SNACKS If you have ever been on a diet, you know all about carrying around baby carrots to satisfy a hunger pang between meals. The good news is that dogs generally love carrots, too. They’re sweet and healthy enough to make them a regular part of his diet in place of a biscuit.

DOGGIE TREAT CARRIERS Save larger plastic yoghurt pots with fitted lids; when you’re taking your dog along on a journey, they are the perfect size for his favourite small treats. Though most dogs don’t like to eat during travel, you can reward him for his good behaviour once you have reached your destination.

FLAVOUR IT Try this safe trick: put a stick of beef jerky into a new bag of dry dog food and reseal it for 24 hours. The scent might make the dry food more tempting to your canine. FOODS TO AVOID ■ Chocolate contains theobromine, which is poisonous to dogs. ■ Thiosulphate, an ingredient in onions, garlic, leeks and shallots, can destroy your pet’s red blood cells. ■ Macadamia nuts and avocado are also off the menu.