FINLAND — A recent study conducted by the University of Helsinki in Finland suggests that your puppies or young dogs should have a diet of unprocessed meat, dinner table leftovers, and raw bones to help protect from stomach disorders later in life. The study was published Thursday in the journal of Scientific Reports.
Their research found that these are the best diets for your pups:
- Non-processed meat-based diet. This diet included raw red meat, organs, fish, eggs, and bones, but also vegetables and berries. When puppies were fed the diet a couple times a month or more, they were 22% less likely to develop the digestive problems (CE) later in life, as adult dogs. As adolescent dogs, they were 12.7% less likely, researchers found.
- Leftovers and table scraps from dog owners’ plates (not spoiled food). Owners who said they gave their puppies leftovers regularly were 23% less likely to report CE development, researchers found. When young dogs were given leftovers that also led to a 24% less likelihood of CE development in adolescent years and as older dogs.
- Berries. Feeding berries to puppies, especially wild blueberries, for example, decreased CE risk later in life by 29%, researchers said.
While researchers have found that leftovers and table scraps are good for your fur baby, some foods should be avoided:
- Ultra-processed carbohydrate dog food. Puppies fed a diet of highly processed dried kibble food were 29% more likely to have developed CE later in life. When young and adolescent dogs were given the diet, they were 15% more likely to have developed CE then and as they aged, researchers said.
- Rawhides. Rawhide chews are often made from dried animal skins, according to the American Kennel Club. When the chews were given to puppies, they were associated with a 117% increased risk of CE in adult dogs, researchers said.