Did you know that what you feed your pet can help keep them hydrated and healthy during the summer months? According to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, adding cooling foods into your furry friend’s diet can reduce the negative effects of heat on their bodies.
What are cooling foods?
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) Food Therapy for dogs and cats is based on historical recommendations for humans and classifies foods according to philosophical energies, such as Yin (cooling) or Yang (warming). According to this practice, all foods fall along a spectrum of warming, neutral, or cooling, with ingredients being able to influence internal temperature, energy flow, digestion, and organ systems. The belief behind “food energetics” is simple: each animal protein or plant-based ingredient has an energy that can interact with your pet's natural energy, so balancing these can promote better health. When your dog or cat is warm, feeding them cooling foods can keep them more comfortable. Neutral foods — including beef, pork, and bison — can be incorporated into their diet year-round.
Why are cooling foods important?
Dogs are at risk of heat stroke when their body temperature exceeds normal limits (15°C to 20°C at the lower end, to 30–35°C at the upper end). Activities like running or intense play, especially in hot weather, can increase the chance of organ damage. Without proper cooling, dogs may get tired quicker during physical activity. Incorporating cooling foods into your pet’s diet can help regulate body temperature, reduce inflammation, alleviate allergy symptoms, and aid with restless or hyperactive behaviour.
Aside from your best friend’s meals, protein tends to also be the primary ingredient in many treats found at the pet store. If you’re interested in holistic pet care or Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s important to pay attention to the ingredients in your pet’s snacks, too!
What foods are considered cooling?
When it comes to nourishing our furry family members, cooling foods can be divided into three categories: proteins, grains, and produce. Cooling proteins include certain types of fish, duck, and rabbit (some pet parents have even noticed improved stool and coat quality after adding rabbit into their cat’s diet). Warming proteins — like lamb, kangaroo, and venison — have the opposite effect on the body, so you might want to avoid feeding these during the warmer months. Neutral proteins can be given year-round and include beef, pork, and bison.
One of the most practical ways to use food energetics is by adjusting your pet’s meals according to the season. Cooling proteins are most fitting for the warmer months because they reduce internal heat and help calm inflammation, while neutral proteins maintain balance and can be fed to most pets regularly. During the summer months, pet parents are also more likely to limit outdoor activity out of concern that their furry friend will overheat. According to one study, 81.7% of dog owners reported that hot weather lowered their pet’s exercise duration, and 87% said it reduced how vigorously their dog could exercise. Warming proteins build internal heat, so are more suitable during the winter months when your pet tends to run cold or have lower energy. Research also shows pets are likely to eat more in winter and less in summer since they require additional energy to keep warm.
I want to try adding more cooling foods into my pet’s diet — which Smack recipes are best?
If you’re looking to add cooling proteins into your best friend’s diet this summer, our fish-based recipes are the perfect pick! Small, fatty fish — like herring and wild-caught salmon — can help keep your pet cool while supporting their immune system, coat health, and blood circulation. For dogs, our Caribbean-Salmon Fusion and Rockin’ Rockfish recipes are made with wild-caught fish, prepared bone-in with organs, and a delicious blend of organic fruits and vegetables. For cats, our Pacific Fish Feast will have them falling for the flavour of wild-caught rockfish and herring. Each of these recipes also contains key superfoods known to cool the body, like strawberries, mango, pineapple, celery, leafy greens, and coconut.
Our fish recipes aren’t the only ones that might help your pet stay comfortable during the warmer months. Depending on your pet’s preferences or intolerances, you can opt to feed a neutral protein, like our Prairie Harvest Pork recipe for dogs and Purrfect Pork recipe for cats.
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