Alice White
Amaranth is one of the oldest useful plants of mankind but was still an insider tip for a long time. The grain has long since found its way into the kitchen because the small grains are a real superfood. Dogs also benefit from the pseudo-grain: Amaranth contains numerous nutrients that are good for your four-legged friend. Here you can find out what makes the grain so healthy and how you can best prepare amaranth for your dog.
Why is Amaranth so Healthy for Dogs?
A balanced diet is important for the health of every fur nose. When putting together the dog food, you should make sure that the dog is supplied with all the important vitamins and minerals. Amaranth is particularly suitable as a supplement in dog food. Contrary to what is often assumed, amaranth is not a grain, but a so-called pseudo-grain: The small grains are actually the seeds of the amaranth plant. Not only are they gluten-free and therefore suitable for dogs with grain intolerance, they also contain more nutrients than most types of grain.
Superfood Amaranth: These nutrients are included
- The particularly high protein content saturates the dog for a long time and supports muscle building.
- Essential amino acids contribute to a healthy metabolism.
- Health-promoting peptides lower the risk of chronic inflammatory diseases and diabetes.
- Dietary fiber lowers cholesterol levels and prevents cardiovascular diseases.
- The minerals zinc, potassium, and phosphorus strengthen muscles and bones.
- Iron contributes to blood formation and a healthy supply of oxygen to the dog.
- Vitamins A, C, and E are important for the immune system and act as antioxidants.
How Can You Prepare Amaranth for the Dog?
So that the small gluten-free grains are well tolerated by your fur nose, amaranth must be prepared correctly. Raw, grains are difficult to digest and can lead to digestive problems. Therefore only feed your dog cooked amaranth, puffed grains, or flakes. When you baref your dog, you can easily mix a small amount into the food. The pseudo-grain is also suitable as an ingredient in healthy treats, for example as an ingredient in homemade dog biscuits.
How Much Amaranth Can Dogs Eat?
Like all grain and pseudo-grain varieties, amaranth should never be used as a complete feed, but only in small amounts as an additive in dog food. To ensure that the ratio between meat, vegetables, fruit, and other additives is balanced, a proportion of four to ten percent is recommended. In the beginning, it is better to only add a little amaranth to the usual dog food to test whether your fur nose can tolerate the small grains well.
Which Dog Food contains Amaranth?
An alternative to homemade amaranth as a feed additive is ready-made dry or wet dog food, which contains grains as a valuable ingredient. Some feed manufacturers do not use grain as an ingredient at all. Instead, many varieties contain small, well-tolerated amounts of pseudograins such as quinoa or amaranth. The addition of amaranth rounds off the various menus and contributes to the dog’s balanced diet.
