The Scoop on Homemade Dry Dog Food-Benefits & Recipe: 101 Dog Care Tips- Tip 25
With recent pet food recalls many pet owners are opting to make their own dog food to gain peace of mind & save on cost. Contrary to popular belief gathering up last night dinner leftovers and throwing them in your dogs dish is not the same as making nutritional homemade dog food. Remember that not all human food is good for your dog to devour.
Although recycling your dinner leftovers sounds like a tempting, easy, quick & simple solution it can be hazardous to your dogs health. So for your pets safety & overall well-being here is a better solution for all you Suzy homemakers, health conscious pups & dog loving DIYer's. Into the kitchen we go! Making dry dog food from scratch is a simple process using fresh & healthy ingredients. With so many wonderful recipes to choose this is sure to please any finicky or fussy canine of all breeds, shapes & sizes. Making homemade dry dog food puts you in control over what your loyal companion consumes. You can feel good knowing you feed your dog preservative-free, nutritional food.
So what are the benefits of homemade dog food?
1. Prevent or reduce the risk of a number of health problems that result from eating potentially toxic or contaminated commercially prepared items. While providing your dog with essential nutrients & minerals for healthy life.
2. With the current state of the economy it can also be easier on your pockets & reduce overall cost of each meal. You can save big by buying whole grains & staples in bulk.
3. Feeding a dog freshly prepared food instead of commercial products filled with additives and preservatives may also give them more energy and reduce the risk of obesity.
4. Homemade dog foods usually cause fewer allergic reactions than commercial dog foods. Easier to manage a dogs diet who have food allergies & sensitivities.
So, whats the scoop on homemade dog food ingredients?
1. Pet owners need to use fresh and natural ingredients, and ensure that every meal is nutritionally balanced. Your dogs diet should consist of protein & carbohydrates.
Protein ingredients include: skinless roasted chicken breast , ground beef, lamb chop, Atlantic salmon, hard boiled whole egg, cottage cheese & tofu
Carbohydrates ingredients include: long-grained brown or white rice, pasta, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, oats, pearled barley, couscous, dry tapioca
2. Remember not all vegetables are good for your canine & their digestion. Choose asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and zucchini. Cook vegetables with hard rinds prior to feeding. Select darker vegetables, because they are typically higher in nutritional value.
3. Process all vegetables before adding them into the dog food, as many are hard to digest. Use the puree setting on your blender to guarantee that the mixture is as smooth as possible.
4. Avoid meats that are more prone to carry parasites such as Trichinosis, as dogs are sensitive to contracting the disease from eating raw, unclean or ill-prepared meats. Cook all meats thoroughly and dice into small pieces before feeding them to your dog or adding them to a mixture.
5. Select lean protein sources such as chicken, tuna, venison, beef and small amounts of organ meats. Too much liver, for example, can cause bloating and diarrhea.
6. Eggs are a safe, strong source of lean protein. Add them to dog food mixtures or simply drop a well cooked, scrambled egg or two into the dog bowl as a treat. Don't feed them to your dog raw or undercooked.
7. Follow the general proportion of 1 part lean protein to 2 parts vegetables when making dog food at home.
8. Because homemade dog food doesn't have preservatives and additives, the pet owner will need to monitor the food regularly to make sure it does not spoil.
9. If you are going to make your dogs food be sure to consult with your vet or nutritional pet expert for advice to help you develop a well-balanced, nutritionally complete diet for your dog to meet his or her specific needs.
What foods should your dog avoid?
There are several foods that are toxic to pets and can cause your dog to get deathly ill. Here are a few things you should avoid putting into your homemade dog food. Grapes, raisins, chocolate, artificial sweeteners, raw meat, onions, garlic and artificial fats should not be on your pets grocery list.
Droolworthy Homemade Dry Dog Food Recipe
Here's a wonderful delicious, easy & healthy homemade dry dog food recipe that Fido will love.
Ingredients:
2 ½-cups of whole wheat flour
1 ½-cups of brewer's yeast
½-cup of nonfat, dry powdered milk
½-cup of cornmeal
4 ½-cups of water
3 medium eggs
2-tsp. of flaxseed oil
2-tbsp. of natural peanut butter
½-cup of pureed cauliflower
½-cup of pureed zucchini
½-cup of pureed green beans
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Wash cauliflower, zucchini and green beans. Combine vegetables in food processor with ½-cup of water and puree until completely smooth.
3. Combine dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Add 3 medium eggs and blend thoroughly.
4. Add wet vegetable puree, remaining 4 cups of water, flaxseed oil and peanut butter. Mix together until consistency is homogenous and resembles a thin pancake batter.
5. Pour mixture onto cookie sheet and bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes.
6. Let the hard sheet of kibble dry, break into bite size pieces, and store refrigerated in freezer bags or plastic containers. The food will stay fresh for up to five weeks. Freezing is also an option if you want to make your dog food in bulk.
Servings:
This recipe yields 30 cups of dry dog food.
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Are you lucky enough to work for a pet-friendly company or own your own business? Then as a pet owner bringing your dog to work is a quite a perk. Well, before you pack of your dogs briefcase, lunchbox and head to the office here are some pet etiquette tips for a working dog.
