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Meow
How to ensure your dog has a balanced and healthy diet
Over 90% of home-cooked recipes are missing key nutrients and even store-bought food can go wrong if you’re feeding puppy chow to an adult dog.
Food is love—but when it comes to dogs, feeding is also science. A shiny coat, strong bones, and endless energy all come from a diet that’s properly balanced. The tricky part? Most pet parents don’t realise how easy it is to get nutrition wrong.
Did you know? Studies show that over 90% of home-cooked recipes for dogs are missing key nutrients. Even store-bought kibble can fall short if you’re feeding the wrong formula—like giving puppy chow to an adult dog, or skipping diets tailored for seniors.
Why Balance Matters
Dogs need more than just protein and carbs. Their bodies rely on a careful balance of:
Protein for muscles growth
Fats for skin, coat, and brain health
Carbs + fibre for digestion
Vitamins & minerals like calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and more
Too much of one thing—or too little of another—can cause long-term issues: brittle bones, dull coats, weight gain, even heart disease.
Common Feeding Mistakes Pawrents Make
Home-cooked without learning to balance properly: Boiled chicken and rice sounds healthy, but long-term it leads to deficiencies.
Overfeeding treats: Too many snacks sneak in extra calories (and kilos).
Wrong life stage food: Puppies, adults, and seniors all have different requirements.
Over-supplementation: Feeding your dog a multi-vitamin while they are on a commercial diet may be overloading on vitamins and minerals.
Tips to Keep Your Dog’s Diet on Track
Check Labels Carefully
Look for AAFCO- approved, FEDIAF-approved, or NRC approved or vet-reviewed complete diets. “Complete and balanced” is the magic phrase.
Measure, Don’t Guess
Use a measuring cup or kitchen scale instead of scooping by eye. Portion creep is real.
Add Fresh, the Right Way
Fresh fruits, veggies, or toppers are great—but only safe options (pumpkin, blueberries, carrots) and in moderation. Remove some kibble when adding other fresh foods.
Match Food to Age & Activity
Growing, unneutered, active dogs need more calories; low energy and/or neutered dogs need less than the recommended; senior dogs need fewer calories, but more low phosphorous proteins.
PawPaw’s Nutrition Support
Feeding your pup right shouldn’t feel like guesswork. That’s why we created the PawPaw Nutrition Plan:
📋 A personalised feeding plan for your dog’s breed, age, and lifestyle
💰 Just $38 for a complete plan you can follow at home.
And if you’re cooking meals yourself, we also offer a 1-hour consult with our PawPaw nutritionist. For dogs on home-cooked diets, this ensures they get the right balance of vitamins and minerals—not just “chicken and rice” on repeat.
book nutrition consult
Final Thought
Your dog trusts you with their bowl—and what you put in it shapes their health for years. By making sure meals are balanced, measured, and tailored, you’re not just feeding them—you’re setting them up for a longer, healthier, happier life.
Because good food is the first (and best) form of love. 🐾🥦
🐶
🐱
How to ensure your dog has a balanced and healthy diet
Over 90% of home-cooked recipes are missing key nutrients and even store-bought food can go wrong if you’re feeding puppy chow to an adult dog.
Food is love—but when it comes to dogs, feeding is also science. A shiny coat, strong bones, and endless energy all come from a diet that’s properly balanced. The tricky part? Most pet parents don’t realise how easy it is to get nutrition wrong.
Did you know? Studies show that over 90% of home-cooked recipes for dogs are missing key nutrients. Even store-bought kibble can fall short if you’re feeding the wrong formula—like giving puppy chow to an adult dog, or skipping diets tailored for seniors.
Why Balance Matters
Dogs need more than just protein and carbs. Their bodies rely on a careful balance of:
Protein for muscles growth
Fats for skin, coat, and brain health
Carbs + fibre for digestion
Vitamins & minerals like calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and more
Too much of one thing—or too little of another—can cause long-term issues: brittle bones, dull coats, weight gain, even heart disease.
Common Feeding Mistakes Pawrents Make
Home-cooked without learning to balance properly: Boiled chicken and rice sounds healthy, but long-term it leads to deficiencies.
Overfeeding treats: Too many snacks sneak in extra calories (and kilos).
Wrong life stage food: Puppies, adults, and seniors all have different requirements.
Over-supplementation: Feeding your dog a multi-vitamin while they are on a commercial diet may be overloading on vitamins and minerals.
Tips to Keep Your Dog’s Diet on Track
Check Labels Carefully
Look for AAFCO- approved, FEDIAF-approved, or NRC approved or vet-reviewed complete diets. “Complete and balanced” is the magic phrase.
Measure, Don’t Guess
Use a measuring cup or kitchen scale instead of scooping by eye. Portion creep is real.
Add Fresh, the Right Way
Fresh fruits, veggies, or toppers are great—but only safe options (pumpkin, blueberries, carrots) and in moderation. Remove some kibble when adding other fresh foods.
Match Food to Age & Activity
Growing, unneutered, active dogs need more calories; low energy and/or neutered dogs need less than the recommended; senior dogs need fewer calories, but more low phosphorous proteins.
PawPaw’s Nutrition Support
Feeding your pup right shouldn’t feel like guesswork. That’s why we created the PawPaw Nutrition Plan:
📋 A personalised feeding plan for your dog’s breed, age, and lifestyle
💰 Just $38 for a complete plan you can follow at home.
And if you’re cooking meals yourself, we also offer a 1-hour consult with our PawPaw nutritionist. For dogs on home-cooked diets, this ensures they get the right balance of vitamins and minerals—not just “chicken and rice” on repeat.
book nutrition consult
Final Thought
Your dog trusts you with their bowl—and what you put in it shapes their health for years. By making sure meals are balanced, measured, and tailored, you’re not just feeding them—you’re setting them up for a longer, healthier, happier life.
Because good food is the first (and best) form of love. 🐾🥦
Hours
Monday – Friday
9am – 6pm
Hours
Monday – Friday
9am – 6pm