6 Super Seeds Your Dogs Will Love!

Finding healthy dog food and appropriate treats can be an exercise in frustration, and carefully scanning labels for hidden nasties or unwanted filler. But when you’re asking yourself ‘what can dogs eat?’ did you know that some of the most nutritious and enriching ingredients that appear in human health recipes are also superfoods for dogs.

In this blog, we’re going to have a look at six super seeds which provide incredible benefits for both humans and dogs.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are packed full of nutrients that are useful as part of a healthy diet for your dog, including – iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, omega fatty acids, Vitamin B, calcium, and fibre.

The seeds are rich in antioxidants, and with the benefit of the nutrients listed above, they are useful for maintaining your dogs:

• Immune system
• Joints
• Brain growth (and maintenance)
• Eye development (and maintenance)
• General growth
• Skin and Coat

The presence of Omega-3 in the seeds is also said to help reduce inflammation. If you’re looking to provide your dog with a healthy, balanced meal, a spoonful of chia seeds and one of our carefully formulated meal toppers can give your pup a fantastic boost of essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre.

With any new food, you should introduce it into your dog’s diet slowly – and with the chia seeds, you should monitor the amount your dog eats – as they are quite high in fibre with a calorific content of roughly 486 calories per 100g (a tablespoon serving generally provides 69 calories and 4.9g of fibre).

As with any small food item, care should be taken when feeding your dog, to ensure they don’t choke or find themselves in distress when eating them. It’s often recommended to soak the seeds first to make them easier and safer for ingestion.

Flaxseed

High in fibre and nutrients, flaxseed comes from the flax plant (Linum Usitatissimum) and can also be known as linseed. Of all the super seeds, flaxseed is known as one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acid (linolenic acid ALA). The seeds also contain Omega-6 and Omega-9 and is a great source of protein.

The seeds contain lignans, which is believed to improve overall cardiovascular health, and help to fight cancer. The seeds are also said to help your dog with:

• Improved kidney function
• Healthy skin and coat
• Lower blood pressure

The anti-inflammatory properties of the ingredient are also said to be useful for easing the symptoms of canine arthritis.

Because these seeds are high in fibre, it’s important not to give your dog too large a portion, as it may give them a stomach upset. If you’re planning on using flaxseed in the form of an oil, you should make sure it’s stored correctly and checked before use – as once opened, the oil can turn rancid quite quickly!

Flax is differently one of the more versatile plants on the list, with the seeds providing a high fibre food, and the plant its self being used for materials and more – our Soapy Tails Short and Smooth shampoo bar even makes use of flax oil in its list of natural, beneficial, and deliciously scented ingredients!

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin flesh is often a go to for dog owners when their pups are struggling with constipation, but did you know that you can feed your dog pumpkin seeds? Surprisingly, you can – it’s often recommended that they’re prepared beforehand (cleaned, peeled, roasted, and ground up) as the seeds can rapidly spoil and go rancid – but they do make for an excellent addition to your dog’s diet.

As with the other seeds on the list, pumpkin seeds contain fibre and omega-3, but they are also known for acting as a natural de-wormer, have been associated with helping dislodge kidney stones (and preventing them from reforming), supporting red blood cell health with the iron content, and generally being a gut-friendly superfood.

The seeds contain approximately 125 calories per ounce, and this portion contains roughly 5 grams of protein and 15 grams of carbohydrates, along with 5 grams of dietary fibre.

When feeding your dog pumpkin seeds, it’s important to keep an eye on them (small foods can be a choking hazard), and to be careful of the portion size, as too many can cause soft stools or diarrhoea.

Adding pumpkin seeds to your dog’s diet can be done easily by roasting them for snacks or grinding them up and baking them in their snacks. Our Homegrown Vegetable Meal Topper already contains pumpkin, so your dog can benefit from all the wonderful nutrients and health benefits without the hassle of preparing them!

Hemp Seeds

Another super versatile plant, hemp can be used for a whole range of products (including our fantastic Natural Hemp Shampoo Bar Saver) and the seeds provide a fantastic array of health benefits for your pup.

Containing Omega-3 and Omega-6, zinc, magnesium, iron, and calcium, hemp seeds have been reported to benefit dogs by:

• Improving skin and fur quality
• Decreasing inflammation
• Improving heart health
• Boosting the immune system

And the calming properties of the seeds have been associated with helping treat pain, cognitive disfunctions, arthritis, anxiety, reducing the risk of cancer and more.

Hemp is known to be a complete protein source (which has all the amino acids that are essential for a balanced diet) and can play a beneficial role in providing dogs with a healthy diet. Jean Dodds, DVM and Founder of Hemopet says, “It is considered by many to be the safest, most digestible, balanced, natural and complete source of protein, amino acids, and essential fats found anywhere in nature.”

When feeding the seeds to your dog, a suggested 1 tablespoon per day (1/2 a tablespoon for puppies) is recommended. If your dog isn’t keen on eating the seeds, an appropriate amount of hemp oil (for the size, age, and sensitivity of your breed) mixed into their food or healthy dog treats can be a great alternative.

Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds are great in small quantities, but before you feed them to your dog – make sure to remove the husks, as it’s the kernels that are the edible parts – and eating the husks may cause gastrointestinal distress or severe diarrhoea.

These seeds can provide a great source of extra nutrition as they contain: Vitamin B1, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Copper, Folate, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, and Selenium.

The seeds are reported to assist your dog with:

• Improved skin and coat
• Managing diabetes
• Potentially reducing tumour growth
• Managing cholesterol levels

A quarter of a cup of seeds contains roughly 190 calories, 6 grams of protein, 16 grams of fats, and 4 grams of fibre, so they don’t need huge portions.

Sesame Seeds

Sometimes known as vitamin powerhouses, sesame seeds can help boost your dog’s nutritional levels, and improve their diet.

Whilst reactions and sensitivities are rare, they have been known to occur – so it’s important to introduce sesame seeds slowly to your dog’s diet and watch for any potential reactions – and if your pup has suffered from issues such as pancreatitis, you should avoid feeding any seeds to them as they might struggle to digest them.

Sesame seeds are high in carbohydrates (and subsequently calories – approximately 52 calories per tablespoon), and contain magnesium, calcium, fibre, and iron, making them a healthy option – but in moderation.

The seeds are associated with helping your dog:

• Stay regular (or to ease constipation)
• Lessen joint pain
• Improve bone strength

Similar to hemp, if your dog struggles or doesn’t want to eat the seeds, the oil can be used in appropriate amounts to provide the health benefits.

Of course, it’s important to always supervise your dog when they’re eating treats and foods – and care should be taken to ensure the seeds are suitable for your particular breed (especially if they’re small – medium, have dental issues, or have known allergies that could be triggered by introducing new foods.

To help you on your way to summer snacking, we’ve got a couple of ‘Toro Tested’ healthy dog treat recipes for you to put together and enjoy with your pup!

Yummy Yoghurt Frozen Feast

Ingredients:

• 1-2 tbsp Fat-free Greek Yoghurt (IMPORTANT – Check there is no xylitol [birch sugar] or added sugars, and contains probiotics)
• 1 Slice of Papaya or Melon (Rock / Gala / Honeydew)
• 1 tbsp super seed (of your choice)

Method:

Cut the papaya or melon into small cubes (or if very ripe, use a spoon to mash into a pulp)

Mix together with the yoghurt

Sprinkle the super seeds on top

Transfer to a small bowl or an ice-cube tray and freeze

(Optional Step) Spread the mixture inside a Toppl Puzzle toy before freezing to add to the chewing / licking pleasure

Serve and enjoy!

Gooey Fresh Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

• 1-2 tbsp Fat-Free Greek Yoghurt (Check no xylitol [birch sugar] or added sugars, and contains probiotics)
• 1 slice of Papaya or Melon
• ¼ cup of blueberries
• ½ apple
• 1 banana
• 1 tbsp super seed (of your choice)

Cut the fruit into small cubes, making sure to remove any seeds or pips (especially in melons and apples). If you’re using blueberries, you can leave them whole or cut them in half.

Mix the fruit with the yoghurt

Sprinkle the seeds on top

(Optional Step) Pop the mix in the freezer in an appropriate bowl or ice-cube tray and wait until frozen.

Serve and enjoy!

Just remember, if your dog is overheated, provide them with water and a cool spot to sit – frozen treats are great in moderation, but if you give your dog too much frozen stuff (especially when their body temperature is already increased) it can cause a rapid reduction in their temperature and may cause them to go into shock or have other adverse reactions.

Augmenting your dog’s diet with nutritional supplements and specially developed food topper’s is a great way to give them extra vitamins and minerals, which can help to boost their immune system, increase their energy levels, and keep them happy and wagging for longer.