When you want to get good food for an American bulldog, you need to consider its digestive system and anatomy. The digestive tracts of dogs have not evolved significantly since they were wild wolves. Hence, their diets are best kept fresh and high in protein.
Additionally, the stomach of dogs isn’t anatomically fit to digest, as well as ferment carbohydrates, which is the major kibble ingredient. Even kibbles that are grain-free still contain a high level of starchy carbohydrates, lentils, peas, and legumes. Hence, you will put your dog’s system under great pressure by feeding it carbs. You can read this article to learn more about your dog’s system and carbs.
Without any doubt, canines are resilient, and irrespective of what they eat, they will still survive and adapt for a while. But that does not mean that you should not feed them the appropriate diet. Feeding your bulldog raw food that is protein-rich will improve their well-being.
Benefits of Feeding Your Dog Raw Food
The following are benefits of feeding your dog raw food:
1. Healthy Gut
A healthy gut implies good health both in humans and animals. On the other hand, an unhealthy system results in poor absorption of nutrients and an imbalanced response to immunity. This will, in turn, lead to inflammation of the entire body, as well as many other health conditions.
Your bulldog’s gut houses a microbiome, a bacteria ecosystem that is also called gut flora. Studies show that the imbalance between harmful and good bacteria in the microbiome leads to various health problems. These problems are independent of calorie intake and genetic factors. They include:
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Anxiety
- Food allergies
- Issues like food intolerances, digestive disorders, allergies, asthma, skin problems, and arthritis, among others.
We can trace many health issues to our gut, which explains why a healthy gut is essential. There is evidence that feeding your dog raw food compared to processed meals can promote balance in the microbiome by protecting the good bacteria. Processed foods are filled with chemicals, additives, and synthetics that can disrupt the microbiome’s balance by generating more harmful bacteria.
When there is an imbalance in the gut, it contributes to a condition called leaky gut, where the lining of the intestine is permeated. The intestinal mucosa is a sensitive lining that protects the gut, allowing only digested nutrients to travel into the dog’s bloodstream. This lining serves as a barrier against poisonous substances that try to enter the dog’s system.
However, when the lining is compromised, toxins and food particles will leak through. This activity will trigger an immune response and prompt inflammation, which will make your dog susceptible to illness.
2. Improved Immunity
The body’s natural mechanism for protection is the immune system. It responds to threats, toxins, and pathogens disturbing the health of an American bulldog. Much of the immune system lies within the gut. Hence, the gut is vital for an efficient immune response.
Feeding your dog a raw diet maximizes its natural defense mechanism by keeping the gut well-nourished. It also provides the essential micro-nutrients that boost immunity and ensures that the immune system is always ready to fight against diseases.
3. Healthy Weight
It is important to maintain a healthy weight irrespective of the breed. So, how big can an American bulldog get? And what is a safe weight limit since it appears to be prone to piling on weight? A diet containing biologically appropriate fats and proteins, vegetables containing the necessary minerals and vitamins, and ground bone are vital for optimum performance and health.
When feeding your dog, ensure you pay attention to its physical appearance and weight. the amount of food your bulldog consumes depends on the following factors:
- If you would like the dog to lose, gain, or maintain weight
- The breed and age of the dog
- The current weight
- The frequency of exercise
- The food quality
- The dog’s metabolism
When preparing your raw diet recipes, it is important to know the correct ratio of ingredients to use. Also, when you want to weigh your bulldog, you can do it during your visit to the veterinarian because of the size of your dog. However, you can carry the dog and use these simple steps to weigh at home:
- Step on the scale and check your weight
- Carry the bulldog and step on the scale again
- Calculate the difference between the combined and single weight to get that of your bulldog
Do Dogs Need Supplements?
Switching from processed food to a raw diet is the best thing for your bulldog’s health. Whether you are preparing your own recipes or using one of the recipes out there, dogs are wired to eat bone, organ, and meat, with some vegetables. However, you can add dietary supplements to their nutrition.
Supplements can complement your dog’s meal depending on the individual need of the breed or a specific medical condition. It adds support to nourish, bolster, and fuel your furry friend, as well as fine-tune its nutritional intake.
All canine breeds have specific health conditions that they are prone to. Hence, it is important to note that the appropriate meal, packed with essential minerals and vitamins will help to mitigate and minimize the seriousness of the health condition. You may want to visit https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/dog-vitamins-and-supplements to read more about dietary supplements.
Conclusion
Feeding your bulldog with the right diet is essential and it should comprise high-quality protein and healthy fats. You can consider adding dietary supplements when using a raw diet to ensure that your bulldog does not lack the necessary minerals and vitamins required for healthy living.
