Breakfast Foods for Dogs

We all know that our dogs are almost like living dumpsters. They will try to eat anything and everything they can get their fluffy little paws on. However, we also know that just because they can eat whatever food falls into their lap, doesn’t mean that they should eat it.

There are lots of foods out there that are less suitable for our four-legged companions, but that doesn’t mean that they’re all toxic. All it means is that certain meals have less nutritional value than others.

That being said, we’ve compiled a list of good foods to include in your canine’s first meal of the day. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

How Often Should I Feed My Dog?

Much like humans, our dogs need lots of vitamins and minerals for them to keep active and to keep their owners on their toes. However, it’s best not to provide all of their nutrition in one meal at the start of their day, it’s good to give your dog a well-balanced diet.

We recommend that you see that your dog is fed at least 2 times a day, approximately 12 hours between each sitting. Of course, everyone’s schedules are different, so it’s best to shape it around your day. The more time and effort you can put into your dog’s breakfast, the more love they receive in their bowl.

However, much like with their owners, dogs can benefit from a healthy schedule of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s good to have a routine and a bit of structure to your pup’s day so they know when they’re going to be eating their next meal.

On top of playtime and exercise, it’s one of the most enjoyable parts of their day. Feeding your dog only once a day can be harmful to their wellbeing, causing vomiting out of hunger – so be sure to keep their bellies full!

What Does my Dog Need for a Healthy Breakfast?

When it comes to giving your dog a healthy meal, you can choose from a plethora of ingredients and foods that have different benefits to them.

For example, it’s been recognized that eggs have great nutritional values and are a great source of protein. Eggs can be ideal because if you love having some yourself for breakfast, you can make one or two more than usual and feed them to your dog.

Eggs are a balanced food that provides great taste to your dog’s palette and also provides them with fatty acids and vitamins. However, it’s useful to remember that eggs are only as good as the chickens that they come from, so buying higher-quality products or organic eggs can provide your dog with lots of benefits.

It’s useful to add egg whites to some breakfast combinations like chicken and white rice to give them a mixed start to their day. It’s important to cook eggs fully to avoid potential harm to your pup. Much like with us humans, raw eggs can cause health problems. In dogs, it can cause biotin deficiency, which can lead to symptoms such as dry, flaky skin, loss of fur, and poor quality of hair.

Of course, it’s obvious that you can buy packaged meals for your pooch from the local store or online, that are used specifically for breakfast-time. Although these tend to be cheaper and can save you a lot of time and effort, they can hinder your dog’s growth if they’re at a young age. On top of this, your pup can sense the love and effort that you’ve put into their meal when it’s homemade.

It can also help to include vegetables in your dog’s breakfast, to provide them with the vitamins and minerals they need for their active lifestyle.

Adding some protein like ground beef and some brown rice can fill up your dog’s stomach and keep them full of energy. Rice doesn’t have much with regards to nutritional value, but it fills out the size of the portion for your dog’s breakfast, making sure that they have enough in their bowl.

When accompanied by ingredients with vitamins and protein, rice can be of great use.

Can My Dog Eat Bacon for Breakfast?

The simple answer to this question is no. Pork can be harmful to our furry friends and can cause internal damage.

Because of bacon’s incredibly fatty and salty nature, it’s deemed very unhealthy for dogs. The salt can cause dehydration, which can set your dog back before getting on with their day.

On top of this, the fat from the bacon can cause pancreatitis, which can kill dogs if not spotted early. Bacon is a rich food in which dogs can’t handle digestion, so best to steer clear. 

It’s a similar situation with sausages. Although they don’t have visible fatty streaks, like bacon, sausages are rich and high in fat and salt. This can make digestion hard for your dog and causes problems with their digestion.

However, a few little scraps here and there as a treat can’t cause too much harm. In moderation, a lot of pork can be seen as okay but it’s recommended that it isn’t a frequent feature in your pup’s diet.

Can My Dog Have Chicken for Breakfast?

You can feed your dog chicken for breakfast, it won’t make them ill, but that doesn’t mean that it should be fed to them every day.

Chicken tends to be quite a bland choice to have in a dog’s breakfast but can fill their stomach for the upcoming day. When paired with vegetables, either cooked or raw, they form a balanced meal. With rice being used to fill up the bowl, this can be a strong foundation for the first of three balanced meals throughout the day. 

As previously mentioned, we don’t recommend that you feed your dog chicken every day. It is good now and then, but there are a lot more foods out there that offer much more to your dog’s health and lifestyle that you can get from your local grocery store or pet shop.

Like with eggs, it’s important to make sure that chicken is cooked thoroughly and properly before feeding to your dog, otherwise, you can make them very sick. Whether it’s poached, roasted, grilled, or boiled, the chicken needs to be cooked and served hot or saved in the refrigerator for later use.

Final Thoughts

There are lots of different options when looking to feed your pup, but it’s all about finding the food that suits their diet and needs best.

As long as you start by feeding your pet at least twice a day, then you’re on the right track. Making sure that you cook food thoroughly is one of the most important things that you need to consider.

If you have any doubts or questions then it’s always best to research before jumping into the deep end. A simple Google search or asking other dog owners questions can make a huge difference in keeping your dog fit and healthy.

A lot of people forget that not all dogs like the same food when cooked from scratch, so make sure that you’re finding room for their taste buds to have a nice meal too. The key is finding the balance between healthy foods and a range of flavors. If you can do this, then you’re bound to have one healthy canine.