Low Copper Dog Food: Understanding the Benefits
When selecting dog food, many pet parents focus on factors such as protein sources, calorie content, and ingredient quality. While that is crucial, balancing trace minerals can be important as well, and one mineral that often generates questions is copper. For many dogs, low copper dog food can be a smart option, so let’s take a look at this nutrient and why copper levels can be important to consider when selecting dog food.
What Is Copper? Is It Beneficial?
Dogs do need some copper, even copper-sensitive breeds, as this trace mineral does support many bodily functions, including red blood cell formation, connective tissue development, nervous system function, energy production, and even immune system support.
When your dog eats a meal, the digestive system breaks down the proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals into forms that the body can absorb. In some cases, there are more vitamins and minerals in the food than the body needs, so these excess nutrients must be flushed out of the body.
With copper, an excess copper is transported to the liver, and the liver excretes the copper through bile, which is eventually eliminated from the body in your dog’s stool. Some dogs, however, have liver issues that make it difficult for this organ to process copper, and the end result is that the body stores an excess of copper.
This excess potentially can cause issues such as reduced appetite, weight loss, vomiting, lethargy, increased thirst, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or gums), and sometimes abdominal swelling.
There are some dog breeds that tend to be prone to copper storage issues and/or liver issues, such as Bedlington terriers, Labrador retrievers, Dalmatians, Cocker spaniels, West Highland white terriers, Doberman pinschers, and German Shepherds, to name a few. These dogs may benefit from a low copper dog food, as this can be gentle on the liver.
Keep in mind, just because you have a dog whose breed may be prone to liver issues does not mean they will develop any liver problems. Likewise, a dog from a breed not prone to liver problems could still experience liver issues at some point in their life.
In general, as dogs age, organ-related issues increase and dietary requirements can change, which is why it is essential to head to the veterinarian for regular checkups to ensure that your dog is enjoying optimum health and make dietary changes as needed.
Do You Need a Low Copper Dog Food?
While dogs do need some copper, a low copper dog food can be a great option to consider. In general, however, the most important factor when selecting dog food is the quality of the ingredients and the general balance of nutrition.
As veterinarians, we strongly recommend against feeding canned or dry (kibble) food to any dog. These foods are packed with preservatives and artificial flavorings, and often higher in sodium than necessary.
Canned food and kibble also tend to be packed with cheap fillers. These are often cheap carbohydrate sources such as corn, soy, or wheat, and they provide little nutritional value. In general, while dogs do need some carbohydrates, low carb dog food is a better option, and these heavily processed kibble and canned diets are often too high in carbs. These foods also often contain low-value sources of protein, such as poor-quality scraps, sometimes from diseased animals.
In general, we recommend serving fresh dog food that includes only human-grade ingredients without preservatives or artificial flavors or colors. Fresh dog food is lightly cooked, which can make it easier to digest. Raw dog food can be highly nutritious, but some dogs, particularly older dogs, can struggle to digest raw food, so it’s best to find options that are gentle on the digestive system.
While fresh food is best, it’s still important to look at the ingredient list, as some brands still contain cheaper, less nutritious carbohydrate sources, and some contain organ meats, which we do not recommend, especially for dogs that need a low copper dog food.
Organ meats, especially liver, are very high in copper. Additionally, organ meats are some of the fattiest tissues in the body, and high levels of fat have been associated with weight gain and digestive stress.
Lean, human-grade proteins are what we recommend, as these have a lower amount of copper and a lower fat profile. Even better, we encourage dog parents to opt for a holistic food for dogs. A diet that not only contains high-quality ingredients, but ingredients that were chosen to truly support the unique dietary needs of your dog, is the best option.
Chi Dog: Low-Copper, Holistic Dog Food
If you’ve been searching for a low copper dog food, each of our dog diets is low in copper. Our vet developed dog food is also low in carbohydrates and contains no organ meats. Whether you’ve been looking for a low carbohydrate dog food, an anti inflammatory diet for dogs, a low sodium dog food, or a food formulated for another health-related issue, each of our diets has been created to address specific health and wellness concerns.
Each of our diets includes high-quality, human-grade ingredients prepared in USDA-inspected kitchens. Ingredients are gently cooked to preserve nutrients and moisture, as we not only want to support your dog’s nutritional needs but also provide them with proper hydration.
A moisture-rich diet not only helps dogs increase their overall water intake, but hydration also supports the kidneys and liver, as well as promoting healthy digestion and supporting cellular health. If you have a dog with a poor appetite or a dog that does not drink enough, moisture-rich foods tend to have a better aroma, which can encourage eating.
While all of our diet plans are low in copper, our Wood Diet is especially suitable for dogs that might need extra support for their liver health. This diet also is ideal if your furry friend needs a dog food for digestive problems, as it is gentle on a sensitive stomach.
This plan is also ideal for dogs that need a lower-fat diet, and it contains lean chicken, chicken eggs, brown rice, carrots, and broccoli. Chicken and chicken eggs are low-copper, nutrient-dense proteins that supply the body with critical amino acids. These amino acids can be used by the body to repair tissues, including those in the liver and other organs.
Eggs also are rich in choline, which has been shown to help support liver health. Many dog foods add synthetic choline to their foods, but we believe that sources of whole-food choline are safer and more effective for your dog’s health.
Brown rice, carrots, and broccoli provide fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that help support healthy digestion, metabolism, and overall wellness, making them valuable additions to a balanced diet designed to support normal liver function.
While the Wood Diet is an excellent option for dogs that need liver support, if you are searching for a low copper dog food, all our diet plans are low in this mineral. So, if you need to address other health issues, we have supportive diet plans that can provide your dog with the nutrition they need. To select the ideal plan for your dog, simply head to our homepage and click on the Get Started tab, and take our two-minute dog food quiz.
FAQs
1. What is low copper dog food?
Low copper dog food is formulated with ingredients that naturally contain lower amounts of copper than traditional dog foods. These diets are often selected for dogs that may benefit from reduced copper intake while still receiving balanced nutrition from high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
2. Which dog breeds may benefit from a low copper dog food?
Some breeds are considered more prone to copper storage issues or liver-related concerns, including Bedlington Terriers, Labrador Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers, Cocker Spaniels, Dalmatians, West Highland White Terriers, and German Shepherds. However, any dog can develop health issues, so it is important to work with your veterinarian when choosing a diet.
3. Are organ meats high in copper?
Yes. Organ meats, especially liver, are among the richest dietary sources of copper. Dogs that need a low copper dog food are often better served by diets that focus on lean protein sources rather than organ meats. Can a low copper dog food support liver health? A low copper dog food may help reduce the amount of copper the liver must process. When combined with high-quality ingredients, proper hydration, and veterinary guidance, these diets can be a valuable part of a nutritional plan designed to support normal liver function.
4. What should I look for when choosing a low copper dog food?
In addition to lower copper levels, look for fresh, human-grade ingredients, lean protein sources, moderate carbohydrate content, and moisture-rich recipes. Avoid foods that rely heavily on fillers, artificial additives, or large amounts of organ meats, as overall ingredient quality is just as important as copper content.
