New Year Dog Detox.

 

If, like us, you want to kick-start the New Year with a health boost for you and your dog, you’ve come to the right place! Read on for some Holidays4Dogs information and motivation to start a new year dog detox.

 

As the new year beckons, many of us will be thinking about how to make beneficial changes to our daily lives. It’s never too late to make better health choices which will have a positive impact on our well-being. Our canine companions should be no different – after all we want them to be around us for as long as possible.

It is an unfortunate fact of life, that we live in a world full of toxins. There are lots of things that are not good for us and, unfortunately, the same goes for our pets too. In fact, in some ways, it is worse for pets. They have little choice about their health or well-being. However, while we are embarking on a new year detox – our pooches can join in too.

Every day we are exposed to;

Food additives.

Medicinal drugs.

Heavy metals; (mercury, aluminium, lead etc).

Herbicides.

Pesticides.

New year – new dog detox diet.

Pets in the UK – dogs in particular – indulge in as many luxuries as humans do. This includes enjoying food treats. These might be goodies made specifically for dogs – (which aren’t always healthy). Or, human foods – which could be particularly bad for dogs.

There has been a significant rise in the number of dogs in the UK suffering from obesity. One might argue this could be related to amount of additional dietary treats dogs are given, many of which contain ingredients that aren’t always good for dogs.

A study carried out by Pets at Home last year discovered that more than 22 per cent of Britain’s pet dogs were overweight and this is largely down to people feeding their dogs too many extra dog treats on top of their daily meals.

Anything you feed your dog should be made of high-quality ingredients. You could also consider adding vitamins and supplements to your dog’s diet. Here are some things to consider for you dog’s new year detox;-

Many people are considering natural raw meat diets and there is a lot of evidence to suggest this has some major positive health benefits for dogs. It’s often good for dogs who are picky eaters too. In addition, raw meaty bones can help keep dog’s teeth clean.

Herbs are potent antioxidants. Curcumin, ginger and turmeric are super foods for people and dogs. Likewise, green leafy vegetables like spinach can reduce inflammation and heal the gut.

Amino acids found in fish and eggs are also important for detoxification of the body.

Probiotics help restore healthy gut bacteria. Kefir, or fermented vegetables are ideal probiotics.

Exercise and fresh air.

The combinationdog sitting, pet sitting of too many goodies and reduced exercise over long winter days can have a significant impact on health and well-being. Not just for us, but for our pets too.

As well as avoiding too many treats, it’s important to keep up a healthy exercise regime too. While there is the argument for providing certain dogs with too much exercise; (yes, we were surprised too!), there is a bigger problem of dogs not being exercised enough.

Providing a dog with a couple of good walks a day, helps him to stay supple and healthy physically. In addition, it can address a dog’s mental health too, by providing him with socialisation and stimulation. As well as this, daily walks with your dog are good for us too – both mentally and physically.

Final thoughts on new year’s dog detox.

While a January detox is common for people, it’s far better to maintain a healthy balance over the whole year. However, the new year is a traditional time to start banishing that lethargy and reducing the pounds piled on over the festive period.

As the new year approaches many of us feel motivated to get in shape. We can get fitter while keeping those tails wagging too!