Pet Food the Homemade Way

With the recent recalls of dog and cat products that were found to have harmful ingredients and chemicals, many pet owners want to know how to avoid such scares while feeding their dogs only the best pet food. And this choice can be a confusing one, with dozens of brands and hundreds of variants on the market. What can a caring owner safely feed their beloved pets?

First, a pet owner should educate themselves on how to choose a good commercial pet food. There is a lot of information available on the internet about choosing ingredients, vitamins and nutritional value. Dog food ratings can also help to compare similarly priced foods. However there is only one good way to ensure that our best friends receive only the freshest and healthiest ingredients.

A homemade dog food may be more involved and time-consuming than just buying a pre-packaged kibble. The health benefits, however, far outweigh the disadvantages. And a pet owner can save a lot of money on expensive kibbles. This is an example of a simple dog food recipe that can be made in any kitchen.

First, stir-fry one cup of ground beef in canola oil. Then, combine the cooked meat with two boiled eggs, and 1/2 cup each of cooked oatmeal, pureed green beans, pureed carrots (baby food in jars can be used), then add 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese and serve to your pampered pet at room temperature. For extra vitamins and minerals, a good pet supplement may be added to the mix.

To get your dog used to a new pet food, begin by mixing a larger and larger amount of it into his old food every mealtime. Don't forget that there are ingredients we use in human meals that are harmful or toxic to dogs, including chocolate, garlic and onions, mushrooms and grapes and raisins. Bones can also get caught in a dog's digestive tract, while too much salt can lead to kidney problems.

In a very short time, you might notice improvements in your dog's coat and energy levels. This is because of the balanced diet, free of chemicals and the fillers that are often used in commercial pet food. Armed with this information and the recipes that can be found online and in books, a pet owner can see what homemade food can do for the health of our canine friends.

A writer of dog food ratings for internet publications, Melinda Smith and her several cats and dogs are advocates of educated choice when it comes to pet food and nutrition. Homemade dog food and organic and natural diets are often the best ways to eliminate nutritional problems in our favorite pets and informed choices can help to keep our pets healthy and happy for many years to come.

-Melinda Smith