With the recent manufacturer recalls on dog food, people have wondered where than can find safe dog food. The fact is, it is not easy to find. Commercial dog foods do not offer many safe formulas. The labels are confusing and difficult to understand. And no wonder. The grocers, food processors, and pet food manufacturers have all fought the FDA for years to keep the labels from being easily understood.
That is not surprising. Have you read the ingredients in your dog's dinner lately? Many of the cans are bags will include a healthy sounding ingredient known as meat meal. That almost sounds good enough for humans. Meat meal. But what is it?
Meat meal is a delicious stew that comes from rendering plants. Generally it is the rendering of animal carcasses that have been gathered from various sources. Euthanized animals that are picked up from animals shelters, zoos, and even county and state highway departments (that's right - road kill) comprise the main ingredients in meat meal. Many of these animal were dogs and cats that had flea collars, I.D. Tags and were even wrapped in plastic bags -- all which were dumped into the rendering vats and turned into a rather unsavory ingredient blandly named meat meal. Does that sound like safe dog food?
No wonder so many public outcries have been heard over the dangers of commercial dog food. Residues of the very lethal chemicals used to euthanize the animals are ever present in the final product. Cats and dogs that diet on this food have been diagnosed with cancers that cut their lives in half. Their kidneys, livers, immune systems --all vital organs -- are at risk. Tumors are frequently diagnosed in dogs (perhaps you have had that sad diagnosis for one of your pets?) and veterinarians point to the cause as commercial dog food. Not exactly safe dog food.
That is the reason so many dog lovers have decided to make natural home made dog food for their pets. They do it so they know their pet is eating safe dog food. You might think this would be a big, messy, and expensive job. But those that do it have found it is less expensive than buying commercial food. And the process is simple.
Pet owners that make their own natural homemade dog food generally make it in batches and freeze it. The ingredients are not expensive (can you say leftovers?), and using the right recipes can insure a balance meal for your pet. Hundreds or recipes are available in books and on line. And all of them insure your furry friend is getting safe dog food.
The next time you fill your dog's food bowl, think about what you are feeding her. Why not try making some mantural homemade dog food? Her health depends on you providing her with a nutritious, safe dog food that will extend her life.
