As a responsible and caring dog owner, one should always choose the best and healthy foods for their pet, and that is why I think everybody should have homemade dog food recipes at home. With the massive dog food recall in 2007, we are taught a very good lesson. We should not just easily trust the labels in dog food. The best way to do this is to know what exactly comes in to your dog’s mouth.
These dog food brands in the market may claim that their product is the best supplying your pooch with complete vitamins and minerals and declaring NO by-products in their creation but as what had happened in that controversial year, can we still trust them that much? Some researches even say that some of these companies do not state some chemicals that they are using in their production, chemicals that may harm your animal best friend. It is a healthy option to switch to a homemade dog food recipe.
That way, you will be able to provide your dog the best proportion of nutrients depending on your pet’s size, age, and breed and activity level. Like humans, your canine also has a particular dietary requirement. A well balanced diet is important to give your dog just the proper amount of vitamins and minerals for optimum growth and development. It is the one usually missed with homemade dog food recipes so it is important for the owner to learn about the specific ingredients to compose your dog’s meal.
Before switching to a homemade dog food, it is necessary to ask the veterinarian for some guidelines. In addition to this, it is equally important to do the change gradually to avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach. You may need to constantly watch out for some loose stool or shedding during the transition to make sure there are no allergic reactions.
Making your own dog food may not be easy and thus may not be very sensible for those who have a busy schedule. However, if you really opt to doing it- it is suggested that you prepare it in bulk. But remember that you should never give your dog food that has exceeded 3 days as this will no longer be fresh by then. Keep in mind too that dog food should be refrigerated to avoid early spoilage.
In feeding your dog, as we have mentioned earlier, make sure you provide him a well-balanced meal. According to most animal doctors, it is advisable to give your dog 40% meat, 30% vegetables and 30% starch. You may also put along food supplement to make sure your pad foot friend receives the best possible healthy meal.
It is very, very important too that you avoid giving your canine ingredients that may be harmful. Chocolate, for instance, can be poisonous so get rid of that. Onion, garlic, grapes and raisins may also be unsafe. So be sure to have plenty of good homemade dog food recipes at home.
Here is a good example of a good dog food recipe.
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups shredded cooked chicken
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1/4 cup green bean (chopped into bite size pieces)
1/3 cup quartered soy beans
1/4 cup carrot (finely chopped)
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
Heat the broth in medium heat and then add the soy beans, carrots and green beans. Cook it lightly to retain the nutrients. Slowly add the remaining ingredients. Stir to even out the ingredients. Mix, chill and voila! You have your own hearty dog food prepared. This will surely make your pooch smile and that is why you should always cook based on homemade dog food recipes.