Do you ever wonder what sauce can I add to dog food?
Many times, we do not want to add additional calories or fat to our dogs’ diets.
This leads many people to wonder if they should just skip the sauces altogether.
In this article,
I share with you my recommendations for which sauces can be added to dog food as well as why each one is beneficial.
What Sauce Can I Add To Dog Food?
There are a variety of sauces that you can add to your dog’s food.
Some popular options include chicken broth, beef broth, and vegetable broth.
You can also add gravy, Pumpkin Puree, or Goat milk to your dog’s food.
When Adding any kind of sauce to your dog’s food,
make sure to read the label carefully to ensure that it does not contain any harmful ingredients.
You should also make sure that the sauce is not too spicy for your dog.
If you are adding hot sauce to your dog’s food,
it’s best to add small amounts at first and gradually increase the amount over time.
Why Should We Add Sauce to Dog Food?
There are several reasons to add sauce to dog food.
First, it can help make the food more palatable for picky eaters
Second, the sauce can add moisture to dry food,
making it easier to chew and swallow.
Third, the sauce can provide additional nutrients and antioxidants that may be lacking in the dog food itself.
Finally, adding sauce to dog food can make it more visually appealing,
which can encourage dogs to eat more of their meal.
⇒ Sauces to Add To Dog Food
You might be wondering what kinds of sauces you can add to dog food. The answer is that there are tons of different options for sauces that you can use on your dog’s meal. Here are some common types of sauces:
1. Chicken Broth
Chicken broth makes a great addition to dog food.
Chicken broth provides additional moisture and flavor to dry dog food,
and can also help to soften hard kibble.
Chicken broth is a good source of protein,
which helps to build strong muscles and bones.
It also contains important minerals like calcium and phosphorus,
both of which are essential for healthy teeth and bones.
Chicken broth is a good source of vitamin B1 (thiamine),
which can help to maintain a healthy nervous system.
It also contains niacin, another B vitamin that helps convert food into energy.
2. Beef Broth
Beef broth is a great addition to dog food for a few reasons.
First of all,
it’s nutritious and healthy; beef broth contains high amounts of protein and other nutrients that can help your pup stay healthy and strong.
Beef broth also has a nice flavor that will complement the taste of your pup’s favorite foods.
And finally,
beef broth can be added to dog food at any point during processing,
so you don’t have to wait until the end of cooking time to add it!
Beef broth is also high in calcium, which is important for dogs’ health because they need calcium to build strong teeth and bones.
Beef broth also contains vitamins A, B6, B12, and D, which are important for dogs’ health because they help maintain strong immune systems.
When adding beef broth to your dog’s diet, you’ll want to add it in moderation. It’s not recommended that you add more than 1/2 cup per day.
We recommend using homemade beef broth or canned beef broth (beef stock).
You can also use vegetable broth instead of meat if you prefer.
The key benefits of beef broth are:
- Helps with recovery from surgery
- Reduces inflammation in pets’ bodies
- Restores a healthy balance of nutrients
3. Vegetable broth
Vegetable broth is one of the easiest ways to add flavor to your dog’s food.
You can use any kind of vegetable broth,
but white chicken or vegetable broth is most commonly used.
You can also add herbs and spices to the broth, such as parsley and thyme.
Vegetable broth is a great way to add something different to your dog’s meal every day.
It will help them stay hydrated while they eat, and it also adds some veggies into their diet.
The best way to use vegetable broth is to mix it with your dog’s regular food.
You can also add it as a topping or dip after they eat their meal.
You should always make sure that you are using a healthy broth,
such as one made from chicken or vegetables.
If you don’t want to use vegetable broth,
you can also try adding some fresh vegetables.
You can even mix the two together for a more flavorful meal.
For example,
if your dog likes carrots then slice them up and add them to the food.
You could also try adding some beans or peas for an extra boost of nutrients
4. Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin puree is a great addition to dog food because it adds healthy antioxidants,
which helps your dog’s skin and coat look and feel their best.
Pumpkin also contains vitamin A, which helps your dog’s liver work more efficiently and supports eye health.
Pumpkin puree can be added to your dog’s food as an ingredient or as a topping.
You can also add it to the water bowl or give him a small piece of pumpkin as a treat.
You can also use pumpkin in a homemade dog treat.
Adding pumpkin to your dog’s diet can help him maintain a healthy weight and give him a shiny coat.
Pumpkin is also an excellent source of fiber,
which helps keep his digestive system running smoothly.
If your dog has diarrhea, try adding pumpkin puree to his food to see if it helps with constipation or other gastrointestinal issues that may be causing the problem.
The beta-carotene in pumpkin supports healthy eyesight and supports the immune system.
Pumpkin puree can be frozen or canned and is available at most grocery stores.
Be sure to use only 100% pure pumpkin,
not canned pumpkin pie filling that contains sugar and other additives.
5. Gravy
Gravy is a great addition to your dog’s diet.
It adds flavor, and it adds moisture. It can also help to thicken the consistency of the dog food.
You can make your own gravy by adding ingredients such as water, flour, and seasonings.
You will need some liquid to stir into the flour so that you can make a smooth paste.
There are many different recipes that you can use with gravy,
but we recommend using a simple one because it’s easy to make and the ingredients are inexpensive.
Also Read: Can Dogs Eat Salami? Is Salami Bad For Dogs?
6. Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter is a great addition to dog food. It’s high in protein and fat, which can help your pet’s metabolism and increase its energy level.
Peanuts are also a good source of fiber, which helps lower cholesterol levels in dogs.
Peanut butter can be used in place of meat with some of your dog’s favorite recipes like chicken and rice or turkey and rice.
Peanut butter can be added to dog food as a supplement or in place of meat.
Peanut butter contains high levels of fat, carbohydrates, and protein, which makes it a great source of energy for dogs.
It also contains several vitamins and minerals that help maintain healthy skin and coat.
Peanut butter is a good source of vitamin E, magnesium, and niacin.
It can also help prevent heart disease in dogs by lowering cholesterol levels and reducing blood pressure.
7. Goat milk
Goat milk adds a unique, slightly milder flavor to dog food.
It can be used as an ingredient in wet dog food,
with or without water.
Goat milk is also a great addition to dry dog food; it can be added in the form of gravy, cheese sauce, or yogurt.
Goat milk contains all the essential nutrients a dog needs to stay healthy.
It has high levels of calcium and phosphorous, along with vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B12 and biotin.
Goat milk is also rich in minerals such as magnesium and potassium.
8. Kefir
Kefir is a fermented milk product that is rich in probiotics and can be added to dog food to promote gut health.
It is also a great source of protein and calcium, which can be used to help support your dog’s bone health.
Kefir can be added to dry food or mixed with wet food.
Kefir is a fermented milk product that is rich in probiotics and can be added to dog food to promote gut health.
Kefir contains beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Streptococcus thermophilus that help maintain healthy digestion by keeping bad bacteria at bay.
Also Read: Can Dogs Drink Lemonade? The Truth About Dogs And Lemonade
⇒ Sauces Not to Add To Dog Food
There are some sauces that should never be added to dog food. These include:
1. Soy sauce
Soy sauce is an ingredient that should be avoided in dogs’ diets because it can cause gastrointestinal problems. Soy sauce contains salt, which can be harmful to dogs.
Ingesting a large amount of soy sauce can also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration in dogs.
Soy sauce is made from fermented soybeans, which are toxic to dogs.
The fermentation process converts the isoflavones in soybeans into phytoestrogens that can cause infertility and other reproductive problems in both male and female dogs.
2. Pasta Sauce
Pasta sauce is made from a combination of flour and water, which means it’s high in carbohydrates.
If you’re feeding a dog that doesn’t get enough carbs from its regular diet, pasta sauce could be a good choice.
If your dog has trouble digesting carbs, though, or if you’re just not sure about the effect on their health, then pasta sauce might not be a good idea for them.
Pasta sauce can also contain salt and preservatives that aren’t good for dogs’ systems.
This is why we recommend only feeding small amounts at first
you don’t want to overload your pet with too much food!
3. Tomato sauce
Tomato sauce is not for dogs.
The acidity can cause an upset stomach, and the sweetness can attract pests.
Tomato plants are toxic to dogs.
If your dog eats a tomato plant, it can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and even death.
4. Do NOT use human sauces
Do not use human sauces on your dog food.
If you’re a human, chances are you have a few go-to sauces that you add to anything from eggs to hamburgers.
You might even have some that you’ve been using for years, maybe even decades.
But…
if your dog ever finds out about those sauces, they could be in trouble!
Also Read: Can Dogs Eat Rambutan? The Truth Behind This Fruit
The problem with these products is that they can contain ingredients that are not safe for dogs’ digestive systems.
For example, if someone adds ketchup or hot sauce to their dog’s meal, the digestive enzymes in the sauce will break down the carbohydrates in the food and make it more digestible for your pup—and tastier too!
But…
this also means that your dog could get sick if they eat too much of these foods.
In addition to being unhealthy for dogs’ digestive systems, human condiments can actually start to smell weird on their own over time.
It’s just what happens when something sits on top of another substance for a long period of time!
So if you want to keep your pet healthy and happy, don’t add any human condiments to their meals
even if they look tasty!
Conclusion
Only you can decide if that’s a risk you feel comfortable taking with your dog, but there you have it.
We hope that we’ve been able to answer some of your questions about dog food, which is important to know even if you’re not going to go out and buy a box of commercial kibble.
At the end of the day,
hopefully, the next time you’re at the grocery store you’ll avoid some of these commercial brands it’s just not worth it.
