Homemade Dog Food Ingredients

Since I started cooking homemade dog food for my two dogs
years ago, everyone has noticed and commented on how much
better they look, and I get asked what are you doing
differently. Since feeding homemade dog food I can see
significant changes, such as glossier fur coats, more
energy, and they also smell better.

Imagine eating the same chemical filled food, day after
day, for your whole life. The build up of cancer causing
chemicals and preservatives is bound to affect your health
negatively.

Checking with your vet or a pet nutritionist first, before
starting your pet on a homemade dog food diet is always
recommended. Don't forget, that dogs enjoy variety as much
as we do.

Make sure you don't just suddenly give your dog his new
homemade diet in one immediate change, as this will cause
stomach upset in most dogs. Slowly change him over by daily
increasing your homemade food, and decreasing the old food.

Ensure a well balanced homemade dog food by mixing 40%
meat, 30% starch and 30% vegetables/fruit in their daily
diet. Following this formula will ensure a healthy
nutritious diet.

Get a good dog nutrition book, written specifically by an
animal nutritionist, and read up on the proper kcals
(calories) per day per pound of your dog, so you will know
exactly how much to feed per day. Also there are many
excellent homemade dog food recipe books available now,
especially since the dog food recall killed so many of our
beloved pets. Many more people are making their own
homemade dog food, because we have become much more aware
of the commercial dog food companies practices.

Organ meat (liver, kidneys etc.) and occasionally adding
eggs are very good for your pet, and as we all know variety
in our diets is always nice.

An example of a basic all natural home made dog food recipe
contains three important ingredients.

1. 40% meat - chicken, beef, turkey venison or other lean
meat of your choice.

2. 30% vegetable/fruit combo - cooked and pureed - you can
use all one veggie, a variety of cooked frozen veggies or a
mixture of veggies and cooked pureed fruits. You can use
frozen, canned or fresh, whichever is handy and on sale.

3. 30% starch - white or brown rice, barley, oatmeal,
macaroni or other pasta, or potatoes.

An easy method is simply to make a one pot "stew" and cook
everything together in enough water to cook the pasta and
veggies along with the meat. Cook the whole batch in a
covered pot, and add water as it is absorbed. You don't
want it to be soupy when finished. Then I use a fork and
shred the cooked meat and mash the veggies all in the same
pot. Done and delicious.

I also give a calcium supplement, along with a few
teaspoons of flax seed oil, or a vegetable oil such a
canola, drizzled over the top. An addition of iodized salt
is also good for your dog in a quantity depending on your
dog's weight.

Feed two meals per day, rather than one big one,

Your homemade dog food can be prepared in larger batches
and frozen in the proper serving sizes, ready to thaw and
eat. Do not serve the food while it is hot, but let it cool
to room temperature. Your dog's stomach can be upset if
they eat food that is too hot.

Give it a try, and you will find that it is not as time
consuming as it sounds, once you get into a routine, and
your dogs will live longer healthier chemical free natural
lives.

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I am an animal lover and advocate of raising healthy, happy
pets, as part of the family. I truly believe this starts
with proper, adequate nutrition, which in turn extends your
pets life. Check out what is the best of the best for you
dog here:
http://www.recipes4gourmetdogs.com

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