If you are concerned about the harmful preservatives, toxins and other questionable chemicals in commercial dog food, you may be considering making homemade dog food so that you know your dogs are getting wholesome meals. In fact, making sure your dog eats healthy foods will help contribute to its quality of life and longevity.
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Raw Dog Food
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Proponents of feeding canines raw dog food believe that this is the most natural option since dogs evolved by eating this type of food in the wild. Meats on this diet include organic beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, salmon, rabbit and quail. Many dogs also enjoy raw meat bones. In addition, you can feed dogs eggs, yogurt, fresh fruit and vegetables, kelp and flax seed meal. The advantage of the raw food diet is that it is easily digested because it provides nutrients rich in enzymes and amino acids in an unaltered state. The drawback of feeding dogs raw foods is that there is a possibility of food-borne illnesses such as E. coli and salmonella.
Homemade Dog Food
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Unlike a raw diet, a homemade dog food diet is one in which many of the foods are cooked. These foods include meaty stews and soups, vegetables and pies. You might try the following recipe for beef stew. Peel three medium potatoes and three carrots. Chop the potatoes, carrots and two celery sticks into bite-size pieces. In a medium to large saucepan, heat two tablespoons of vegetable oil. Add 16 ounces of stew meat and brown. Then add two pints of chicken stock and bring it to a boil. Then turn down the fire, cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Next add the chopped vegetables and stew for another 45 minutes. After it is done cooking, let it cool, and then it is ready to serve.
More Information
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Eating a healthier diet can help clear up skin allergies and reduce the symptoms of other health problems to which dogs may be prone. It may also keep dogs from having to visit the vet as often. But it is important to make sure that your dog isn't eating too much, causing it to become overweight. In order to do so, you need to be aware of your dog's caloric needs. Most dogs, on average, need 25 calories per pound of their body weight. However, small, active dogs (less than 20 pounds) can eat as many as 40 calories per pound of body weight while large dogs (more than 100 pounds) may get by with as little as 15 calories per pound per day. Another good strategy is to feed your dog two or three smaller meals rather than one big meal a day in order to help prevent bloat, which can be a serious and sometimes fatal condition in dogs.
Feeding your dog more natural foods can be very beneficial to the health of your dog. Although it can be a bit more expensive and more trouble to prepare, ultimately it can make a difference in both your dog's longevity as well as its quality of life.
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