You probably know from experience that if you feed your dog the same meal three times a day, seven days a week, they’re not going to turn it down. And it’s easy to just put the same flavour in the cart when you’re running low. That said, dogs actually love variety just as much as we do – and there are some really important reasons why we should make sure they get it. Here’s how mixing up what goes into the bowl makes for a healthy, happy canine.

Make protein a priority

If you’re already feeding your pet lots of protein, you’re off to a great start. It plays an important part in a healthy, balanced canine diet (which is why K9 Natural high meat diets are naturally full of it). Proteins are made up of amino acids, which are crucial in the process of cell production – helping build muscle, form new skin cells, grow hair, provide energy, and keep the immune system strong.

But, by feeding your pet the same protein day in, day out, they’re more likely to become intolerant to other proteins. Not only will they fuss (because they’re simply not used to it), their bodies are more likely to reject it. Plus, different proteins offer different ratios of essential amino acids to help your pet thrive. That’s why we need to mix it up.

Rotational feeding – a winning formula

Rotational feeding just means changing up your pet’s diet. We recommend doing this every month or two, or whenever you need to stock up on their feed. It’s easy to do. K9 Natural and Feline Natural offer an array of different proteins in our complete and balanced range of sustainable, free-range, grass-fed, grain-free diets, which are all sourced from the human supply chain and made fresh in New Zealand.

King salmon

King salmon is loaded with essential nutrients dogs need to thrive, like omega-3 fatty acids, protein, B vitamins, potassium, good quality fats, and selenium. Selenium is a key component of important antioxidant enzymes, protecting the body from damage. And salmon offers up a whole lot more of it than any land-based animal.

Hoki

Fish is naturally rich in essential omega-3s, and hoki is no exception. Omega-3s will keep your pet’s inflammatory response in check, keeping skin healthy and painful joint swelling at bay. It also makes fur gleam! Plus, hoki packs more protein than your average fish.

Chicken

Chicken always goes down well – literally. It has the highest bioavailability, which means it’s easily digestible, so it’s great for those with sensitive stomachs. And like all the proteins we use, it’ll help build lean muscle. K9 Natural Chicken Feast is our lowest fat option: a protein-packed choice if you need to help manage weight.

Beef

All our beef is grass-fed. Why? To make sure we’ve got the right balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fats. They’re both important, but an imbalance in the two can lead to health problems. Too much omega-6 can cause inflammation – and you’ll find that in meat from grain-fed cattle. But grass-fed beef is high in omega-3, which has anti-inflammatory effects that can also treat chronic itchy skin, degenerative arthritis, and aid in brain development.

Lamb

Lamb has the highest fat level of all our proteins – and that’s a good thing! Fats are a fantastic source of energy, fuelling your pet’s playtime and exercise.

Protein blends

Here’s an easy way to add in a splash of variety: give our fish blends range a go so your pup can sample two flavours in one mouthful. Our hoki and beef and lamb and salmon diets are proving popular, and they’re a simple way to pack in a load of benefits and taste.

But wait, there’s more…

Our entire core diet range is formulated to meet AAFCO requirements for a complete and balanced diet for all life stages. So, no matter what flavour you try from the K9 Natural range, you can always be sure that your pet is getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals every day.

Time to ditch the firm favourite in favor of something a little different? You’ve come to the right place.

Written by Dr. Josie Gollan