10 Super Foods For You and Your Dog (2024)

You’ve heard about “superfoods” for humans (lookin’ at you, salmon and blueberries). But what makes a food “super” for dogs? Canine superfoods deliver the maximum amount of nutrients with minimum calories. And as it turns out, lots of superfoods for dogs are good for humansopens in a new tab, too.

The nutrient-packed picks below will help your dog (and you) fight disease, boost energy, and maintain good health in general. They make great additions to your dog’s diet — whether you feed them packaged dog food or home-cooked mealsopens in a new tab. Just be sure to introduce these foods gradually and in proper portions — and run them by your vet first if your dog has any dietary or health issues.

10 Superfoods for Dogs

1. Kale

This supercharged leafy green contains loads of vitaminsopens in a new tab, including A, E, and C. Kaleopens in a new tab is a good source of antioxidants and helps the liver detoxify the body. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. If your dog has bladder stones or kidney diseaseopens in a new tab, ask your vet before feeding your dog kale; it may need to be avoided.

See Also

Freeze-Dried vs. Dehydrated Dog Food: What's The Difference?Is Freeze Dried Food Healthy? An Expert Weighs In | EZ-PreppingCan Dogs Eat Sweet Potatoes? Are Sweet Potatoes Good for Dogs?Fruits & Vegetables Dogs Can and Can't Eat

2. Carrots

Crunchy and naturally sweet, carrotsopens in a new tab are loved by most dogs. They’re loaded with carotenoids, fiber, vitamins C and K (which aids in blood clotting to help wounds heal), as well as potassium. They also have magnesium, manganese, most of the B vitamins, and phosphorus, which is required for energy production, among other things.

Meet the Kin. A new app for 24/7 pet parent support.

Nutrition question or concern? Subscribe now and connect with licensed experts immediately. For under $5/month.

Ask an Expert

3. Pumpkin

Low in calories and high in soluble fiber, pumpkin opens in a new tabhelps maintain a healthy digestive tract. It is low in sodium and exceptionally high in carotenoids, potassium, and vitamin C; it also has some calcium and B vitamins. Cannedopens in a new tab organic pureed pumpkin can be found at grocery stores but be sure that it is pure and not a pie filling — it should have no sugar or spices added.

4. Sweet Potatoes

These tuberous root veggies are rich in beta-carotene and boast 150% more antioxidants than blueberries. Sweet potatoes opens in a new tabare also super high in heart-healthy vitamin A and packed with vitamin C to keep your dog’s immune system strong.

5. Fish

Oily fishes like herring, salmon, sardines, mackerelopens in a new tab, and anchovies are bursting with omega-3 opens in a new tabfatty acids. Omega-3s can do wonders for your dog’s skin, coat and brain; it can also inhibit inflammatory processes that cause arthritic painopens in a new tab and other chronic canine conditions. (If your dog has any of these conditions, ask your vet if fish oil in capsule form might help too.) Fish are also an excellent protein source, with many essential vitamins and minerals.

See Also

One veterinarian’s experience with owners who are feeding raw meat to their pets

6. Nori (dried seaweed)

Dried edible seaweed is a Japanese staple. Often associated with sushi, nori is available in some supermarkets, especially those that stock Asian food items. It has protein, galactans (a soluble fiber), vitamins C, E and all the Bs, and minerals such as zinc and copper. It also contains some lesser-known sterols and chlorophyll, which may help regulate metabolism. Nori may also aid in fat metabolism, immune function, and anti-tumor responses. Be sure to buy low-sodium nori to keep your dog’s salt intake in check.

7. Chia seeds

The seeds of this traditional grain have several of the same benefits as the more well-known “super seed” flax. But unlike flax seedopens in a new tab, you don’t need to grind them to reap the health benefits. You can simply sprinkle seeds onto your dog’s meals. The nutritional benefits of chia include fiber, omega-3 fatty acidsopens in a new tab, calcium, antioxidants, and even protein. They are also highly absorbent, which means they can help hydrate the body.

8. Quinoa

Commonly considered a grain, quinoaopens in a new tab is actually a seed related to spinach. It’s a complete protein, supplying all eight of the essential amino acids and is a good source of fiber, folate, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, and many phytochemicals. One of the few vegetable opens in a new tabsources of complete proteins, quinoa is a potent antioxidant and helps reduce the risk of diabetes.

9. Yogurt

Yogurtopens in a new tab contains active cultures known as probioticsopens in a new tab (aka, healthy bacteria), which help keep bad bacteria away. It may improve gut functionopens in a new tab, contains a number of nutrients, including protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B12, potassium, zinc, and iodine. It is also a fair source of other B vitamins, such as riboflavin and pantothenic acid (required for enzyme action and energy production, as well as other cellular functions).

10. Blueberries

Loaded with phytochemicals, blueberriesopens in a new tab are a great treat for your dog year-round (you can buy them fresh or frozen). The deep blue color comes from anthocyanidins, which are potent antioxidants; blueberries also supply vitamins C and E, manganese, and fiber. It’s best to give your dog small quantities since gorging on this tasty fruit can adversely affect canine (and human) bowel movements.

A Few Other Healthy Foods For Dogs

In addition to these superfoods, there are many natural, fresh, wholesome foods that dogs and humans can thrive on, including applesopens in a new tab, green beans, papaya, leafy greens, liver and hearts, eggsopens in a new tab, oats, bananasopens in a new tab, wheat grass, cranberries, nuts, pumpkin seeds, coconut oilopens in a new tab, parsley, wheat germ, apple cider vinegar, and many more. For dogs, animal protein such as chicken, turkey, duck, lamb, goat, rabbit, pork, beef, fish, and venison should also be an integral part of their meals.

• dogopens in a new tab
• dog healthopens in a new tab
• dog nutritionopens in a new tab
• new dogopens in a new tab
• senior dogopens in a new tab
• dog foodopens in a new tab
• can my dog eat this?opens in a new tab