Chia For Dogs

Chia is a flowering plant native to southern mexico and central america. It was cultivated by the mayans and aztecs and was one of the main foods of their diet and was even used as trade currency. Aztec ~ warriors and runners are said to have sustained themselves on just a tablespoon of chia seeds a day, providing them with abundant energy and endurance. As food, chia seeds are incredibly beneficial to humans and are often found in healthy foods for various reasons, but what about your dog? Can your dog have chia seeds too? Could they benefit from the same advantages chia seeds offer to humans?

The answer is yes - they can! These seeds are proven to contain above-average levels of antioxidants, which trap free radicals, proteins, fibre, vitamins, and minerals, all of which have positive effects on the immune system and metabolism.

Veterinarians in canada and the united states have used this super seed for quite some time now to treat diseases like diabetes and for gastrointestinal problems and animals at risk of heart disease. A study by nsri massachusetts (usa) namely showed a blood-thinning effect, which regulates blood sugar levels and is said to minimize the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Benefits

Chia are nutrition bombs!

• calories: 138

• protein: 4.7 grams

• fat: 8.7 grams

• alpha-linolenic acid (ala): 5 grams

• carbs: 11.9 grams

• fibre: 9.8 grams

This nutritional profile is particularly impressive considering that it’s for just a single serving of about two tablespoons.

High In Antioxidants

Antioxidants are key cancer-fighting components in food. They fight free radicals, which cause damage to cells, proteins, and dna. With chia seeds being high in antioxidants, it just makes sense to add them to foods as much as you can.

Antioxidants are important for dogs because our dogs are exposed to far more toxins than we are, which makes antioxidants vital for proper health. How do our precious pets get exposed to an overload of environmental toxins? Here are just a few ways that you may not have even thought of:

• lying in, rolling around in, playing in, and especially eating grass that may have been treated with lawn chemicals

• licking every surface they can find, indoors or out (think: household cleaners, remnants of deicer or commercial cleaners on the blacktop, environmental toxins outside, flowers that have been sprayed with pesticides)

• toxins that may have settled in their coat or on their paws after a day outside (remember that these will remain on your dog until you bathe them) • • closely breathing in flame-retardant chemicals while lying on the carpet or sofa day after day

For this reason, your dog needs resources to mitigate these daily toxins. Their defence, much like yours, will come in the form of antioxidants.

Chia seeds are good for bones.

they have more calcium than whole milk. Combined with phosphorus and magnesium, these minerals aid in bone development as well as healthy bone maintenance in dogs.

Promisingly, animal studies have found that chia seeds may improve insulin sensitivity. Chia seeds support normal insulin function as well as blood sugar regulation and glucose tolerance- a must for diabetic or pre-diabetic dogs.

High in protein

while chia seeds aren't a primary source of protein, they do have high protein properties for a plant source. But the real magic happens when combined with meat proteins: their collective protein helps build muscle mass and preserve muscle tissue and health.

Satisfies hunger

Because a single chia seed absorbs water up to ten times its own weight, helps dogs feel full and satisfied for longer periods. This is especially helpful for dogs who tend to overeat or need to lose weight.

Great for digestion.

Just when you thought they were all about the omegas, chia seeds bust out the fiber-an essential part of keeping a dog's digestion train chugging along and absorbing important nutrients along the way.

High fibre content

chia seeds are a rich source of dietary fibre, helping to regulate your dog’s digestive system and potentially relieve constipation. The fibre in chia seeds can also slow digestion, helping to regulate your dog’s blood sugar.

High in omega 3 fatty acids ala

Chia seeds are a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids, contributing to canine cardiac health by strengthening the very cells that makeup the heart. Though it's important to note that the form of omega 3 is ala not epa/dha - your dog cannot easily convert ala and as a result, not much ala gets converted to the fatty acids your dog needs.

Aid in lowering inflammation

those same omega-3s help control inflammation within the body: dogs with osteoarthritis experience improved mobility and reduced pain in their joints with a regular daily dose of chia seeds.

How To Feed Chia;

When buying chia seeds, look for organic but do your homework on the company brand you are buying from as

A lot of companies will use "Natural" and "Organic" as marketing terms. We buy ours from seven hills whole foods via amazon prime.

To feed them to your dog, I always recommend that you soak them for 24 hours in the fridge beforehand. Soaking chia seeds make them easier to digest, and we (and our dogs) can absorb more nutrients.

Soak chia seeds in a 1 to 10 ratio with water;

This means you'll need to soak 43g of chia seeds in 590ml of water. Soak for as little as 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. When your "Soak" is complete you'll have more of a gel mixture which many refer to as a chia egg.

How Much To Feed?

Chia stores very easily for long durations, unlike its competitor flaxseed. There is no taste or scent for even the pickiest of dogs to turn their noses up at, and so many dogs will eat chia happily.

1 teaspoon for small dogs

2 teaspoons for large dogs

Or 1/2 teaspoon for every 10kg of your dog's body weight.