There's a reason why they call a dog a man's best friend. They are a source of unconditional love, they boost our happiness day in and day out and they're always there to greet us like we're the best things since sliced bread. It is only natural then that as dog owners we want to take the very best care of our best friends as possible. Right down to the foods they eat. While the vast majority of dog owners feed their dogs store bought food, there has been an increasing trend in serving our pups homemade food--a trend, in fact, that has been popular for over 10 years now. The fact of the matter is, though we'd like to, we cannot always trust commercial dog food producers to produce the healthiest food possible for our canine creatures. For one, they're running a business. A business with a bottom line. A business that needs to grow and to profit. And as a result, we're often left with a product that is filled with chemicals, fillers such as corn and potatoes and other ingredients that are the opposite of healthy. In recent years, we've also experienced scary recalls of major name-brand pet foods for melamine contamination.
With such developments, it has become increasingly clear that the only way to truly know what goes into your dog's food is to put it in there yourself. If that's the case, here are a few things to keep in mind.
The largest challenge a home cook faces in making his or her own dog food is ensuring it contains an appropriately balanced nutritional content. Dogs require a protein source, a carbohydrate source, vitamins, minerals and some fat, which is carefully calibrated in most commercially made food products. While the Internet can be an excellent source for homemade dog food recipes, you don't know who wrote them and what credentials or expertise they have on the subject matter. For this reason, it is best to turn to a trusted expert such as your Veterinarian for well-balanced recipes and advice.
Your Veterinarian, for example, will be able to point you toward certain go-to sources of proteins and carbohydrates, such as lamb, chicken, beef, rice, potatoes and pastas. More importantly, though, they'll also steer you clear of ingredients that can be harmful to your dog, like raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts and raw meats. (It is a general belief among Veterinarians that all meats should be properly cooked to avoid exposure to salmonella and E. Coli.) What's more, they'll suggest that you have your dog and your homemade diet evaluated at least twice a year.
Your Veterinarian will also be able to let you know whether or not you'll need to purchase supplements for your dog for optimum nutritional health. More often than not, dogs that eat homemade dog food need nutritional supplements to avoid nutritional deficiencies that can lead to healthy problems. Calcium is a difficult nutrient to get into homemade dog food and therefore a common deficiency, which can cause soft, weak bones and fractures.
Making your own dog food is a great way to show your love for your beloved pet and an extremely healthy option when executed properly. Just be sure to consult your Veterinarian first for properly balanced recipes and supplement advice. Then cook away!