Your dog needs a diet high in natural meat and organs – the foundations of nutrition for carnivores. However, like all mammals, dogs also have a need for vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that can’t be provided by meat alone. Parsley is a great source of those nutrients, which is why we use it in so many of our recipes.
Why is parsley so beneficial for dogs?
Parsley is well-known to have beneficial effects on reducing “doggy breath,” due to its high levels of chlorophyll, which has antibacterial and deodorizing properties. This alone would be a great reason to include the herb in pet food, but parsley is also a powerhouse of vitamins, including high levels of:
- Vitamin C – antioxidant which provides support to the immune system
- Vitamin A – antioxidant which supports the immune system, promotes good vision, assists with organ function and reproduction
- Vitamin K – maintains healthy blood clotting, promotes liver health and has anti-inflammatory properties
How else can parsley help?
Parsley is high in dietary fibre, which promotes healthy digestion by keeping food moving through the digestive tract, and acts as a diuretic, removing excess fluid from body tissues to promote urinary and kidney health.
Additionally, many pets suffering from arthritis have shown significant improvement when parsley is added to their diets. This is due to the promotion of fluid movement and the anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin K in parsley.
Regardless of their breed or life stage, parsley is an excellent, healthy addition to your dog’s diet. Look for it in one of our ZIWI Peak Recipes.
