nutrition

Water is an essential nutrient, as it’s required for normal body functions and survival. Exactly, how much water a dog needs depends on several factors, but clean fresh water should be readily available to your dog. Water makes up more than 50% of a dog's body weight. However, they still are limited in their ability to store water, and lose it via normal daily activities (panting, walking, relieving themselves) — thus it is critical that they regularly consume enough water each day.

A dog’s daily energy needs are individualized and change throughout their life, and are influenced by many elements. Beyond just calorie requirements, dogs have specific nutrient requirements, but lucky for pet owners most foods in the US are designed to meet those standards. However, available nutrition can vary greatly between food types. Giving your dog the best nutrition possible gives them the best health possible.

Next time your movie night snack gets spilled all over the couch, is it okay if your dog manages to get a few pieces before you can clean it up (as if you could really stop him)? The short answer is yes — but you should avoid feeding your dog popcorn in large quantities, especially if it’s flavored with butter, salt or sugar. With minerals like magnesium, zinc and phosphorus, plus dietary fiber and relatively few calories, plain, unbuttered popcorn certainly isn’t the worst thing your dog can get his paws on.

Luckily, watermelon is a perfectly safe (and delicious) treat for your dog, as long as you take a few precautions first. But, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to feeding your dog watermelon.

Sugar means many things to many people. To most of us, it’s how we sweeten our coffees and bundt cakes. To scientists, it’s the carbohydrate that all living things need to function. To dogs, sugar is both a necessary part of their diet and a mouthwatering danger.

Tangy and sweet, smooth and silky, persimmons are packed with essential vitamins to support dog health. But while the fruit of a persimmon is safe for your dog to eat, the seeds and pit of a persimmon can cause intestinal blockages, so you should make sure they’ve been carefully removed before feeding a persimmon to your dog.

If you’re wondering if your dog can enjoy a tasty cucumber at your next summer barbeque, the short answer is: yes — as long as it’s in moderation and part of a well-balanced diet.

We have potatoes to thank for tons of our favorite foods, from mashed potatoes to french fries to roasted potatoes with a pinch of garlic and rosemary. But are potatoes okay for your dog to eat? The short answer is: yes, in moderation, as long as the potatoes are cooked.

While you shouldn’t feed your dog anything in excess, cooked rice is about as harmless as it gets — and in some cases, quite helpful. It’s why some of our recipes even start with it. Cooked rice mixed with a protein can even be a good option for settling your dog’s tummy if he has an upset stomach.

Yes. Scrambled eggs prepared properly are perfectly safe for your dogs to eat.