Pet Food - The Homemade Advantage
One of the most common questions from pet owners is what to feed their pets. With all the recent pet food recalls, more and more pet owners are trying to educate themselves on dog and cat nutrition in order to ensure that their pets receive only the best food. So with all the brands and choices on the market, how can we ensure that our pets are not eating anything harmful to them?
The first step is for a conscientious pet owner to research on how to pick out a commercial food. Many books, internet articles and dog food ratings can give us information about how to select a food with the right combination of vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates. But the best way to ensure that your pet gets a chemical-free and balanced diet is to prepare your own pet food.
Making your own dog food may take more time and effort than buying it pre-made. However, it is usually cheaper and the health benefits to your pets may be absolutely worth the extra time and effort. Here is one simple homemade dog food recipe that a conscientious pet owner might choose to prepare for a beloved canine companion.
Boil one cup of chicken, save a cup of broth for later. Add 1/2 cup each of boiled rice and vegetables, and the chicken broth. Brown rice contains more fiber and nutrients than white rice, and is healthier for your pets as well. Add a canine multivitamin supplement for extra vitamins. Store leftovers in a refrigerator for up to three days.
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.
Using this, and many other dog food recipes available on the internet and in libraries, a pet owner can make sure that his pooch is eating a complete, balanced diet, free of additives and harmful chemicals that are often used in pet food. Soon, obvious improvements in your dog's energy levels and coat, even his teeth can be noticed, proving what a healthy diet, prepared with love can do.
Melinda Smith is a dog lover who advocates intelligent pet food choices for all pet owners. They believe that, armed with the wealth of information available on the internet and through books, dog food ratings from reliable sources, and the wealth of homemade dog food recipes, dog owners have all the right information at their fingertips to make these often confusing decisions.
Published June 28th, 2009
Filed in Family