Homemade Dog Food Basics

More and more people are beginning to make their dog's food
at home rather than buying commercial formulas. Homemade
dog food doesn't contain any substances that could possibly
be harmful to your dog's health such as artificial coloring
and artificial flavors.

Another reason to make homemade dog food is the
preservatives added to the commercial dog food. Homemade
dog food has the benefit of optimum freshness without
preservatives.

There are dogs that would greatly benefit from a homemade
diet. Some dogs who suffer from allergies that cause severe
itching may find relief once switched from commercial dog
food to a homemade diet.

Processed dog food is a relatively new product and
scientists don't fully understand the differences between
commercial food and a diet of fresh food. There may be
problems occurring in a dog's health because he is being
given food that has had the nutrients cooked out of it and
then sprayed back on.

It's also possible that the extremely high heat used to
produce commercial dog food may alter the protein structure
in the meats used. It's not proven whether such protein
alteration negatively affects a dog's health, and since
dogs seem to maintain their regular health during regulated
feeding trials most people feel that commercial food is
good enough to maintain their dog's health.

What if you want more than to give your dog a food that is
"good enough". There are many recipes you can use. There
are ebooks available with a variety of recipes that will
provide your dog a well-rounded diet full of nutrition and
every vitamin and mineral he needs.

There are certain foods you want to avoid, such as fatty
meats, cured meat, (sausage, bacon, hot dogs), any fried
foods and raw pork. You also want to avoid any milk, cream,
ice cream, pastries, white bread, sugary foods, grapes,
raisins and onions. Also, keep in mind that anything you
consider to be junk food would not be good for your dog.

Healthy foods to give your dog would include raw or cooked
lean cuts of meat: beef, poultry, lamb, whitefish and fatty
fish (like salmon). Also included in a healthy diet are
cooked grains, eggs (raw or cooked), finely chopped or
ground raw vegetables (remember, no onions), and bits of
fruit (again, remember to give your dog no raisons or
grapes).

These are just the basics. There are books on the subject
that provide great recipes and a full list of good foods
and foods to stay away from.

A basic formula for a homemade diet would be 50 percent
protein, 25 percent vegetables (ground so they are easy to
digest), and 25 percent grain (such as rice and oatmeal).
Add to that some supplements of certain vitamins, minerals,
and oils rich in omega-3 for healthy skin and coat.

There are some pets that do not do well on a homemade diet
so be sure to check with your vet before making any changes
to your dog's diet. After making the change, pay attention
to how your dog responds. Not all dogs thrive on a homemade
diet.

Some dogs may have trouble adjusting and others might not
like the food or suffer from temporary digestive upset.
Slowly changing the dog's diet, gradually giving more of
the homemade food and less of the commercial, can help
alleviate stomach upset.

If you have the time it takes to prepare your dog's food,
or feel very strongly about providing your dog with the
best diet possible, a diet of homemade food can't be beat.


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Carol Stack enjoys writing about dogs. She lives with her
husband, children, four dogs, and seven cats in the United
States. Carol and her daughter Christy have created a web
site for dog lovers that offers tips on how to select, care
for, and train a dog. Please visit the site at
http://www.christysdogportal.com

The Editor and founder of this blog is Barrie Segal is the founder of the AppealNow.com™ website at http://www.appealnow.com. He is also the founder of http://www.nowdatarescue.com/ , http://www.nowdatarescue.com , http://www.weddinginfoforyou.com/- http://animalsnow.com