I am often asked about breakfast, and it’s one of those ‘tweeny’ meals; not vital, but those eyes look at us when we are having our breakfast so something has to go into the bowl.
Breakfast for dogs is, to me, the easiest meal. Mainly because it doesn’t need to be complicated, and let's face it - who has time through the week to make breakfast for ourselves, much less the fur kids?!
My way of thinking, first of all, is that this is a little meal - usually half or less of what they have for dinner - and I focus on a protein source more than carbs or vegetables.
So, let's get stuck in!
– Leftovers are the most obvious and the easiest. I almost always have some tasty smackerels in the fridge, such as cold chicken, beef, lamb or anything that is tasty - including the odd spaghetti dish!
– Eggs are another favourite. Fried, sunny side up, scrambled with a bit of parmesan cheese, hard-boiled, all-delicious, easy and oh so good.
I cook a few boiled eggs at a time, and chopped up they're an easy add to some leftovers or cereals for breakfast in a hurry. I always cook eggs, keeping in mind that raw egg white isn’t good in the long run for dogs, but I usually leave the yolk runny.
– Sardines – preferably in spring-water and no added salt. Fast, easy and great for getting the Omega-3s boost. Any tinned fish is also fine, along with salmon, tuna or mackerel. Before dishing, I always make sure to drain off the water.
I have tiny dogs so I make sure to pick up little one-serve tins to keep on hand for fish mornings once or twice a week.
– Cereals are also great, whether it's rolled oats porridge or Weet Bix, rather than Corn Flakes for better nutrition. Adding milk and boosting the protein (and yum) with cottage cheese or yogurt (or a boiled egg). You can also add in some berries to boost the antioxidant content.
For more information, read our Can Dogs Eat Fruitblog post
– Chicken wings or necks are great if you have some time to spare and are an easy breakfast meal. Remember never to leave a dog alone with a bone of any kind. Wings are quite fatty under the skin, so if fat or weight is an issue for your dog, remove the skin. It comes off quite easily.
– Bones for Breakfast are a weekend favourite for Marley, but not Beanie. Lamb leg bones – raw of course – and visible fat removed are our favourite.
Bones are not for everyone, and there is risk attached, but dogs do need their teeth to have exercise, for cleaning and for oral health and fun, so if bones aren’t on the menu if you can provide other things to ‘chew on’. I only allow Marley to have the bone for 30 mins then it is taken away. That is enough!
– Twigglies are a breakfast favourite addition. One or two along with breakfast is enough for a crunchy start to the day.
– A small bowl of milk is another part of our breakfast ritual. Most dogs don’t have a problem with dairy, but it is easy enough to test. Just give a small amount, and if the runs happen, they are probably not lactose tolerant. Cheese has a lot more fat, so that can be more confusing for tolerance – are they reacting to the fat or the dairy – but milk is straightforward.
– And the most obvious is if you are having a healthy breakfast then share that, your dog usually loves whatever you are having!
Sprinkling Essentials Complete 22 makes the nutritional bridge easy, adding the calcium they need and acting as a micronutrient safety net and that all-important health boost.
