A Protein Your Pup Can Gobble Up

Every month, we look for national holidays and observances we can celebrate with our dogs. You can imagine our surprise when we found out that June was Turkey Lovers’ Month! Wouldn’t you think such an observance should happen in November? But the fact of the matter is that turkey is a lean, healthy protein that can be served and celebrated all year long. In particular, turkey is one great protein option for your dogs’ food. 

Turkey is near the top of the list alongside chicken and beef as one of the most popular proteins found in dog foods. Natural dog foods with turkey should offer your dog the full spectrum of nutrition without being overloaded with fats and fillers. Pawsitively Pure turkey food also includes sweet potatoes, green beans, and carrots to pack in lots of vitamins and minerals at every meal. Turkey offers great nutritional value as part of your dog’s balanced diet.

The Benefits of Turkey for Dogs

Like chicken, turkey breast is a lean protein that helps your dogs build healthy muscles. Well-made dog foods use breast meat, avoiding the fatty dark meat that can be too calorie-dense for your dogs to maintain a healthy weight and active lifestyle. Many pet parents choose turkey-based dog food as an alternative if their dogs are sensitive to chicken or beef. 

Turkey has a few nutrients that are particularly important for your dog’s energy levels and immune systems. This protein is a great source of riboflavin, a vitamin that helps transform proteins and carbohydrates into energy and also stimulates the production of red blood cells, helping your dog stay active every day. It also includes a good deal of phosphorus which supports your dogs’ kidney function and helps flush away toxins. 

Before you throw your dog a couple turkey scraps from your dinner or your deli meat sandwich, though, there are a few tips you should keep in mind to maximize the health benefits from this protein. 

What to Know Before You Feed Your Dog Turkey

Turkey for dogs should be prepared separately from your meal

When we prepare turkey for a big roast dinner, we often pack the skin with salt, herbs, onions, and garlic to enhance the flavor. Onions and garlic are among the most dangerous human foods for dogs to eat as they can damage a dog’s red blood cells in serious cases. What’s more, excessive salt intake can cause seizures, dehydration, vomiting, and other troubling issues. Basically, it’s the protein that’s good for dogs, not the dressing. 

When you do give your dog turkey, be sure you prepare a portion of turkey just for them with no extra herbs or spices. Be sure the turkey wasn’t brined before cooking, as well.

Skip the deli meat

It’s so easy to reach into the fridge and toss a turkey slice to your dog, but we’re here to tell you that that’s not a healthy habit. Deli turkey and other similarly processed meats are major sources of nitrates, which can lead to weakness and tremors in dogs. As a rule of thumb, avoid giving your dog access to processed foods as they don’t promote the healthy nutrition your dog really needs. 

Be sure to avoid the bones

Poultry bones are much more brittle than beef bones, especially when they’re cooked. These brittle bones can splinter easily and cause serious damage to your dog’s mouth, esophagus, and/or stomach. They can also be serious choking hazards. When you feed your dogs turkey, make sure you’re only feeding them the meat and not a big chunk of breast or thigh. 

Ready to Try Turkey for Your Dogs?

Here at the Pawsitively Pure kitchen, our dogs are big fans of our gently-cooked turkey and vegetable meal. At every life stage, it helps them maintain their energy levels and promotes healthy skin and coat. We specifically formulate our dog food with complimentary vegetables to give your dog a nutritionally balanced diet. When you’re ready to order, head over to our online shop or stop by and see us at one of our weekend farmers’ markets. 

Your Dog’s New Favorite Food is Just Down the Street

One of our favorite parts of owning a local dog food shop in Orlando is getting to meet all of the fun, furry friends who love our food and treats. Every weekend, we attend several farmers’ markets around Central Florida where we get the chance to interact with Orlando’s wonderful pet parents and their dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds. We love being able to share our nutritional knowledge and getting to know your stories, as well!

Many dog parents are embracing the benefits of shopping at their neighborhood pet stores instead of big box stores. According to PetBusiness magazine, independent and neighborhood pet stores are critical to the pet supplies industry overall since they have more direct interaction with local clientele and are often early adopters of awesome new dog food, supplements, and health and training techniques. Beyond that, there are so many great reasons to visit your local farmers’ markets or independent pet supply stores when it’s time to fill the food bowl, and we’re here to talk about them!

The Benefits of Shopping Locally for Dog Food & Treats

Save on shipping costs, save the environment

Every smart shopper wants to save money and find the best deals wherever they can, right? By shopping at local stores and markets for your dog food and treats, you’ll save those extra dollars you would otherwise spend on shipping costs! Lots of pet supply stores offer a few different options for local dog moms and dads to get their supplies; Pawsitively Pure offers free doorstep delivery for Central Florida pups, and we have food and treats available for you to take home at several farmers’ markets each weekend!

Here’s another bonus to avoiding shipping: shopping locally is better for the environment. When you order dog food or treats that need to be shipped over long distances, they often require air transportation, truck transportation, and beyond. Each of these uses a great deal of fuel and in turn creates harmful emissions that damage the ozone layer. Local pickup also reduces the need for packaging which may create additional waste.

Support your community

Makers and retailers in your community deserve your support! Not only does shopping locally directly financially support members of your community, it also goes a long way to help support other institutions in your community as well. Financially supporting a small business can give them the opportunity to expand their operations and eventually hire other individuals from your community. Additionally, local businesses may donate to local charities and foundations, like our very own Orange County Animal Services here in the Orlando area. 

Get tips directly from the maker

When it comes to the big-box pet food companies, it can be hard to get in touch with the people who make the food to answer your questions and give you nutrition advice. When you shop with a small local business, however, you’ll be able to meet the people behind the products and get their insights on how their food can help your dog. They can also offer you tips to get the most out of your dog’s diet and how to tailor your food and treats to your dog’s age, breed, and stage of life. It definitely comes in handy when you have a burning question!

Enjoy the “freshness factor”

Small-batch, locally sourced dog food is created with the freshest ingredients. You can rest assured that your dog’s locally made food wasn’t made with a bunch of fillers to help offset costs. Gently cooked dog food like the food we make at Pawsitively Pure is made with nothing but the good stuff and is formulated with dogs’ health in mind. We have seen firsthand how much our dogs’ lives have improved since we moved to wholesome dog food and we want to spread that joy to our community!

Start Shopping Locally Today!

There’s never been a better time to find a locally owned dog food and treat company that can fulfill your dogs’ nutritional needs. The team at Pawsitively Pure is always available to answer questions about our products. Fill out our contact form on our website or send us a message on Facebook or Instagram! 

You Are What You Eat

Here in the United States (and all around the world), dietary health is a hot topic for a huge number of adults. According to Statista, the second-most popular New Year’s resolution for 2022 is healthier eating, with 44% of resolution-setters naming this as their top goal. As they say, “you are what you eat,” and improving your diet is a great way to improve your overall health from head to toe. Whether you realized it or not, the same goes for your dogs. 

Providing your dog with a healthy diet is one of the most effective ways to improve his quality of life. But as you search for a healthy diet for your dog, you may wind up with more questions than you had when you started. What exactly is a healthy diet for your dog? What’s the best way to implement a healthy diet? 

What is a healthy diet for your dog? 

The biggest question you need to answer when choosing the right diet for your dog is whether you’ll feed them dry food or wet food. There are benefits to each depending on your lifestyle, but for the most part, fresh, natural, wholesome meals present a healthier option than kibble. Many natural dog foods are appropriate for dogs at any age and life stage and are easy to customize as needed. 

Once you choose between wet (raw or natural) and dry food, it’s time to start reading the label! Choose a food that has ingredients you can see and understand without a lot of extra grains, carbohydrates, and other such fillers. You want to make sure your dog is getting an appropriate amount of protein, calcium, phosphorus, and other nutrients. The right amount of each nutrient will depend on a number of factors including your dog’s age, breed, weight, activity level, and more.

How a Healthy Diet Can Change Your Dog’s Life

Now that you’ve chosen an appropriate food for your dog’s needs, it’s time to start feeding! In certain aspects, feeding raw or natural food does require a little extra effort on the humans’ part – you’ll have to schedule regular feeding times, measure out portions, and perhaps prepare the food by warming it up (i.e. bone broth). Are the benefits worth the extra effort? 

All signs point to yes, according to any pet parent who’s fed their dogs with Pawsitively Pure. Here are just a few of the reasons why a healthy diet is the key to a healthy dog: 

Keeps gums and teeth healthier

Dogs are notorious for having stinky breath, but it might not be all their fault! Most commercial dry dog foods are made with an abundance of starch and carbohydrates, which both break down into sugar. As we all know from our dentists’ warnings around Halloween, too much sugar can cause tooth decay which leads to bad breath. 

Some experts have argued that crunching on kibble can scrape away some of the buildup around your dog’s teeth and gums, but according to Dog Food Advisor, that scraping action doesn’t remove tartar from the critical zone nearest to your dog’s gums. Prevention is the best method to keep your dog’s teeth healthy, and providing your dog with a diet that’s low in sugar and carbohydrates is a great place to start. 

Boosts the immune system

Speaking of prevention, a healthy immune system is the ultimate prevention against illness and disease. Think about it: how much better do you feel when you stop ordering fast food and start eating fresh fruits and veggies? All the vitamins and minerals found in your dog’s meal help keep their metabolism moving smoothly and help them stay fit and healthy well into their golden years. 

Supports healthy muscle tone

Protein is the foundation on which every cell in your dog’s body is built! That’s why wholesome, complete proteins are such an important part of your dog’s diet. Many commercially produced dry dog foods are made with meat by-products that include bone meal and other “scrap” parts of the protein. Fresh, gently cooked food is made with nothing but the good stuff. 

Protein especially aids the production of healthy muscles, which can in turn help support your dog’s joints. Healthy muscle tone can help your dog stay active and healthy at every stage of their life. It also helps your dog recover from injuries more easily!

Improves digestion

One of the major things pet parents tend to notice after they switch to fresh food is that their dog’s poops are often smaller and less frequent. While this is more convenient for us humans, it’s also a good sign that your dogs are getting the nutrition they need. With a fresh diet, dogs usually have smaller poops because their bodies are more easily able to absorb the nutrients from their food, leaving less waste behind. 

Supplement your dog’s fresh diet with some delicious dog-friendly bone broth and you’ll be giving their digestive system a double dose of support! Bone broth is packed with healthy gelatin, which effectively coats the digestive tract and protects it from injury and disease.

Start Feeding Fresh Today

Many pet parents are hesitant to switch their dog’s diet, especially if their dog has sensitive stomach issues. We’re here to let you know that transitioning to fresh food isn’t as hard as it may seem! As you make the transition, gradually replace your dog’s old food with a portion of their new fresh food until their whole bowl is filled with fresh food. Take it slowly and monitor your dog’s reaction to their new dinner. 

If you have other questions about feeding fresh, we’d love to help! Head over to our website and leave us your questions and feedback on our contact page.

“Eat your veggies” is a commonly uttered phrase at the dinner table, but is it one you should be uttering to your dog? As you know, our Beef & Vegetables, Chicken & Vegetables, and Turkey & Vegetables dog foods wouldn’t be the same without the vegetables. We use cooked carrots, green beans, and sweet potatoes in each of our wholesome and delicious dog food flavors. Today, we want to focus on carrots.

You and I know carrots as tasty orange root vegetables that are delicious and slightly sweet when raw or cooked. If your dog has a hankering for carrots too, there’s good news! Carrots safe for our furry friends and even offer a number of nutritional benefits, including: 

• Plenty of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is the nutrient in carrots that helps maintain our vision, and it offers the same benefits to dogs! Furthermore, vitamin A is essential for your dog’s skin, coat, muscles, and nerves, according to the National Animal Supplement Council. If your dog has a vitamin A deficiency, they note, they may become night blind, and/or have deteriorating quality of skin and coat. 

• Lots of potassium. Potassium is essential for maintaining a lot of your dog’s organ functions, including the heart, the kidneys, and the muscles. A dog lacking potassium in its diet may experience stomach issues, muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, and general weakness and lack of energy.

• Nutritional fiber. Fiber isn’t the most exciting nutrient to talk about, but we all know how important it is. Fiber helps keep your dog’s digestive system working smoothly, helping to prevent constipation and diarrhea. Keeping our dogs safe and comfortable is our top priority. Including fiber with an ingredient like carrots is a much healthier option than the “cellulose” you may see in commercial dog foods. Often, this ingredient is made from shredded paper. 

We include responsibly-sourced carrots in our human-grade dog food as a great source of vitamin A, potassium, and fiber for your dog. We want you and your dog to live long, healthy lives together. For more healthy tips for you and your dog, be sure to follow us on Instagram. Shop for dog food, treats, and bone broth!

Feeding “people food” to dogs has long been a controversial topic. Across the internet, you’ll find a variety of posts telling you which foods are safe, which foods should never be fed to dogs, and which foods are hotly contested. All this information becomes even more confusing when you consider that many dog food companies that produce human-grade, raw dog food are hitting the scene. Are dogs supposed to eat human food or not?!

Everyone is different with their dogs’ behavior standards. While some people are laxer with table scraps, others have more rigid rules about where and when their dogs can eat people food. Whichever way works for you is fine! If you have questions about what human foods you can feed your dog, here are some quick tips:

• There are a number of human foods that have nutritional value for dogs. Human foods and dog foods aren’t as mutually exclusive as you may have initially thought. Lots of our whole, natural foods provide the same nutrients for dogs as they do for us. As a rule of thumb, processed human foods should not be added to your dog’s diet. Stick to whole nutrition as much as you can.

• Some foods are absolute no-gos. While a lot of human foods are fine for dogs to eat, they don’t process all foods the same way we do. To that end, there are a handful of foods you should keep away from your dog at all costs. These include chocolate, avocado, grapes, onions, and xylitol. The ASPCA has a helpful list of foods to avoid when it comes to feeding your pup.

• Snacks should never replace your dog’s regular diet. Never rely too heavily on snacks as dietary supplements for your dog. You should only be giving your dog table scraps on occasion. If you’re concerned or confused about the best treat-giving schedule for your dog, have a conversation with your veterinarian. No matter how healthy your table scraps are, your dog should get the majority of their calories from their dinner.

Human food generally isn’t as bad for dogs as people make it out to be, but it shouldn’t be your dog’s main source of nutrition. Feed your dog treats in moderation! If you want human-grade food that you know will be good for your dog, grab a bag of Pawsitively Pure dog treats. Browse our shop now and bring some home!