Home Made Dog FoodIn the past, family dogs had to eat home made dog food.... they got the family's scraps and left-overs and that was that. But not today!
Recipes for homemade dog foods, instructions on how to make homemade dog food, homemade dog food ingredients...... they've all been a bit 'off the beaten track' and it's sometimes easy to forget that there's an option to feeding commercial dog food. Of course, there are a whole host of different ready-made and complete dog foods available: premium quality; organic; holistic; specialized diets; breed specific foods etc. etc. - and many of them are excellent. Plus of course they're convenient in our busy world. But there are many poor quality foods out there, and with all the recent food recalls and worries over contaminants/additives/dog food allergies and so on, many dog owners are turning to preparing their own home made dog food and homemade dog treats. If you've ever wondered.... 'How do I know what ingredients to use'? 'What can't I feed my dog?' 'How can I be be sure I'm giving my puppy what he needs?' ... there's no need to worry, you'll find the answers you're looking for here. The Basics of Homemade Dog FoodUnfortunately, giving Fido a good home-cooked meal doesn't mean cooking a bit extra meatloaf or spaghetti sauce, putting it in his bowl and calling it a day - and that goes double for the apple pie you're having for dessert!To give your pooch a well-balanced home made dog food you need to include these basic food groups
The ratio and combinations can vary depending on the age, breed, size and activity level of your puppy or dog. Young puppies grow very rapidly and have specific nutritional needs that must be met in order for them to grow up healthy. Always consult with your veterinarian before changing your puppy's diet, he or she will be able to make recommendations and give you very valuable advice. Once you've decided and agreed upon a change, be sure to make the actual switch over gradual to avoid little Fido getting an upset tummy. A home made dog food should be made up in this way
Homemade Dog Food IngredientsHere's a list of some of the ingredients you can use to whip up your own home made dog food. There are also many great books available that are packed with interesting and nutritious recipes for homemade dog foods, as well as home made dog treats, biscuits and more.
Trial and error will help you discover which combination of ingredients your pup prefers - and if little Fido consistently picks all the squash out of his dinner, try carrots, or green beans instead Lean, boneless meat is a good source of protein, try some of these:
You can add carbohydrates by choosing from the following:
Any of the following vegetables are usually enjoyed:
Never give your dog onions or garlic. They're both poisonous to dogs and can cause severe illness and possibly death, even if eaten in relatively small quantities. Try some of the following fruits as well:
Avoid giving your pup grapes or raisins as both are toxic to dogs and can result in serious illness or death For a detailed list of foods toxic to dogs and symptoms of dog poisoning see our
Poisonous Foods
page.
If you want to give a little more variety to your homemade dog food recipes, try adding a little natural (unsweetened) yogurt or cottage cheese. Eggs, cooked in any way, are a good source of protein and their shells are full of nutrients too so you can grind them up and sprinkle them over the food. Brewers yeast can also be sprinkled over Fido's meals. Avoid giving your pup or dog foods that high in fat or sugar as they're really bad for him! Things like hot dogs, pizza, fried chicken, cake, cookies and ice-cream are all no-no's. There is also another type of homemade dog food, one which is growing in popularity, and that's the BARF (Bones And Raw Food) diet. This type of dog food contains many of the same ingredients in the lists above, but instead of being cooked they are fed raw. This type of diet is thought to be especially good for dogs with allergies, and both dog owners and researches who have been involved with this type of diet believe that it has significant health advantages and leads to a longer, happier life for your dog. Again, it takes more effort than feeding a complete commercial food, but it's no more time consuming than homemade dog food that you need to cook. You can find out everything you need to know about raw dog food (including what and how much to feed) on my Raw Food Diet For Dogs page.
Or perhaps you'd like to ease into preparing your home made dog food and get the benefits without all the extra time and work involved? Well, the good news is you CAN do that! You can have the convenience of commercial dog food but the reassurance of being able to add natural, wholesome ingredients yourself by using Sojourner Farms excellent products. They provide top quality, pre-mixed ingredients and all you have to do is add the fresh meat, veggies and water. It's the best of both worlds! Find out more here......  Puppy Kibble
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