Lyka is excited to announce our third recipe release – Grass-Fed Lamb Bowl! Our newest recipe will be the perfect nutritional companion for your dog alongside our Grass-Fed Beef and Free-Range Chicken Bowls. We at Lyka recommend rotational feeding – switching your dog’s meals across our lamb, beef and chicken recipes to provide your dog with a variety of protein in their diet. Not only will it keep your dog excited and interested in their food, but also a rotational diet helps minimise the risk of your dog developing intolerances to a protein. Intolerances commonly arise if pupper sticks to eating a single protein source repeatedly over a long period of time.
Working with our in-house Integrative Vet, Dr Matthew Muir, and implementing the latest information in canine nutrigenomics, Lyka has developed our Grass-Fed Lamb Bowl to support your dog’s health naturally. The lamb bowl, and in fact all of our recipes, are limited protein to meet the needs of dogs who suffer from food allergies and intolerances, while allowing varieties of flavour and mouthfeel preferences.
Lamb is a unique protein that provides numerous nutritional benefits for your dogs. Let’s explore four key benefits of incorporating lamb into your dog’s diet.
1. Rich in zinc and iron
Compared to chicken and pork, lamb has higher zinc and iron content. Iron is required in red blood cell production and distribution of oxygen around the body. Iron found in lamb and other animal proteins is categorised as heme iron, which a dog’s body finds easy to absorb.
Zinc is essential to support your dog’s metabolism and immune system function. It also plays an important role in maintaining your dog’s healthy skin and coat. Zinc deficiency can cause a skin disease known as zinc-responsive dermatosis (ZRD). Spitz-type breeds such as Huskies and Malamutes are particularly at risk. The science is constantly evolving and there are now concerns that ZRD may be the tip of the iceberg surrounding how much zinc and which bioavailable form, is required for different dogs, especially those with skin diseases and in cases of dogs who have copper storage diseases. Building lamb into a dog’s diet is a great strategy for boosting dietary zinc content.
2. An alternative source of omega-3
Omega-3 is associated with a wide range of benefits for dogs as well as humans, such as reducing inflammation. While fish is commonly attributed as a source of these essential fatty acids, lamb can also provide your dog with a high amount of omega-3 fats. The Lyka lamb recipe contains grass-fed lamb which, in addition to its superior welfare, contains twice as much omega-3s as grain-fed lamb.
Not only rich in omega-3, lamb also has a better ratio of omega-6/omega-3 compared beef and chicken (3.2:1). Several studies have shown that a high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 intake can increase the risk of cancer and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Hence, paying attention to the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 of your dog food is more important than the total amount of omega-3 contained.
3. One of a few proteins that offer CLA
Unlike chicken and pork, lamb contains CLA, which is a unique omega-6 fat that has numerous health benefits. Various studies show that CLA can help accelerate wound healing, improve immunity and reduce inflammation. In an experiment conducted by Nunes et al (2008), dogs eating a CLA supplemented diet for 9 months had a 34% reduction in total cholesterol. It is essential for your dog’s diet to contain foods high in CLA, such as grass-fed lamb, as their body can’t produce it on its own.
4. Full of the essential vitamin B12
Lamb, especially lamb organs such as liver and kidney, is one best natural sources of vitamin B12 or cobalamin. Plants foods contain low levels of vitamin B12, so feeding your dog a diet containing red meat will make sure they meet their daily vitamin B12 dietary requirement. Similarly to CLA, vitamin B12 can’t be made by your dog’s body so it must come from their diet.
B12 is beneficial for your dog’s health because it supports the normal function of the brain and nerve system, while playing an important role in cardiovascular function. It also prevents your dog from anaemia as it helps red blood cell production and assists with the utilisation of iron. Some vets also report that correcting B12 deficiency can alleviate anxiety and noise phobias, although more studies to confirm these effects are needed.
Lyka, your best partner in nourishing your dog
Lyka is built on the premise that dogs deserve the best quality of life. We are redefining pet food by providing dogs all over Australia customised, 100% wholefood meals through a regular subscription.
Excited to try your dog on our Grass-Fed Lamb bowl? Get your Starter Box and let your pups experience all the nutritional benefits of lamb and other natural health boosts in their diets!
