Discover the terrifying-truth about commercial dog food that is linked to the deaths of thousands of dogs across the US every single day.
Call it craziness, but you’ve decided to try making homemade food for your dog, instead of feeding him the cheap kibble from the grocery store. Good for you! Some of the worst dog foods are filled with empty calories, and they are lacking the nutrition your dog requires to live a long, happy life.
Here are just a few tips to help you on your way to making good, wholesome gourmet food for your dog.
Dogs Have Special Dietary Needs
In the wild, dogs eat all kinds of things. Sure, they eat meat, bones, hide and hair from their kills and from the carcasses they scavenge, but they also eat roots, berries, leaves and grasses, and even grubs, insects and birds. Some wild dogs are even adept at catching fish!
Unfortunately, all but the best commercial dog foods are made with a variety of whole foods. You’re right to feel leery of some of the cheap foods on grocery store shelves – they are made from scraps and fillers, instead of wholesome, fresh ingredients.
Dogs don’t need anything fancy. They simply require a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and starches. And, like us, they don’t need anything excessive. They love light flavorings like peanut butter and garlic powder (a little goes a long way), and they enjoy things like carrots, spinach, legumes, and potatoes.
Balance is Key
Here is the perfect formula to follow when you are making your own dog food at home. Forty percent meat, thirty percent “starch”, such as rice or potato, or whole grains like barley, and thirty percent vegetables. Be sure you cook meats thoroughly to prevent any bacteria or toxins from entering your dog’s digestive tract!
Use Quality Ingredients
You probably don’t have access to poultry plant offal or the sludge that some manufacturers collect from slaughterhouses and market as “meat” – and that’s a good thing. The better quality meat you use in your dogfood, the better your dog will look and feel. Use good cuts of meat and feed your dog fish on a regular basis. Salmon and tuna are favorites, and so are mackerel and halibut.
Start with fresh vegetables, and if your dog is not too picky, he or she will probably enjoy some of them raw. Avoid feeding raw onions to your dog, as these can cause health problems. If you feed your dog too much broccoli or cabbage, he’ll end up with gas, and if you feed him too much fat, he could end up with loose stools or even suffer from pancreatitis.
Last, but not least, avoid sugary substances. Dogs can eat things like carrots, apples, and peanut butter in moderation, and they can even eat carob chips or special dog treats made with carob. Though they might be eager to eat sugar, they don’t need it, and it can lead to health problems.
Commercial Dog Food is Killing Your Dog, Hear What The Experts Have to Say…
Finally, you might want to invest in a good canine cookbook, with recipes for treats, meals, and supplements. Your dog will thank you!
