Guidelines For Nutritious Homemade Natural Dog Food

With many commercial pet foods being recalled in recent times, many pet owners have become increasingly worried about the quality of their dogs' food. The profit-prioritizing methods employed in the manufacturing process, the inclusion of chemicals and preservatives and poor-grade ingredients used by many brands do not help matters. There are two choices in solving this dilemma: switch to a high-grade, organic, expensive product available from some of the more ethical manufacturers specializing in natural dog food, or make your best friend's meal at home.

Wholesome, nutritious, pet food recipes abound on the internet - a valuable resource - and there is a very simple recipe at the end of this article for you to try, but please, always take them (incl. This article) as guidelines, not as professional advice. Every dog is an individual, and specific ingredients, amounts or processes may not suit yours. There are breeds that require very specific diets. Dogs can have allergies, just like us. Age, lifestyle and size are also have ramifications.

Your vet is the best person to advise you and should - always - be consulted (and approve) regarding changes to your pet's diet, recipes and other dietary details - before you implement them.

Basically, a healthy diet for canines contains proportions of proteins, fats and carbs - with vitamin and mineral supplements (according to vet instructions and your dog's weight). The right amount of calcium is crucial, and adding some powdered eggshell or a little bonemeal to your best bud's meal can help. Do not use bonemeal sold for garden use as it contains harmful chemicals - use bonemeal specifically intended for consumption by humans or pets (sold in health stores and pet shops).

As carnivores, dogs need a diet that is around forty-percent protein. Cooked ground lamb, beef and poultry are excellent sources of protein. Use good-quality meat, free of chemicals, hormones and antibiotics. Many organic meat butchers have pet sections to fill this particular need. Liver, kidneys and other organ meat are very good, and an occasional egg also will not go amiss and your furry friend will adore you for it.

The remainder of the diet should be a mixture of vegetables and grains. Frozen veggies that can be happily incorporated: corn, peas, lima beans, cut green beans. Recommended fresh vegetables: grated carrots or zucchini, broccoli, baking potatoes, yams/sweet potatoes. Fast-cooking grains: cornmeal, couscous, rolled oats, quinoa, whole-wheat, bulgur. Longer-cooking grains: millet, brown rice, barley, wheat berries.

Please Note - Stay Away From: onions/onion powder, all forms of coffee, tea, alcoholic drinks, almonds, macadamia nuts, raisins and grapes (incl. Juices, oils, etc.), the green parts of potatoes (foliage, sprouts, peels), tomato leaves/stems, rhubarb leaves, fruit seeds and pits - these are all toxic. Veggies containing a lot of oxalic acid are not exactly toxic, but will hamper calcium absorption, so keep away from rhubarb, spinach and swiss chard if you can help it. Never feed your pets table scraps. Let just-cooked food cool down to room temp before feeding - some dogs get upset stomachs or burns when they wolf down hot or too-warm food.

A basic natural dog food recipe for a medium to large individual: a cup/1.5 cups of roasted chicken chopped into small pieces; a cup of cooked barley; half a cup of cooked grated carrots; half a cup of cooked green beans; a tablespoon of organic plain yoghurt.

Jamie is a dog health guru who specializes in the raw dog food diet. Click here for more information.