Is your dog’s perfect diet missing a few ingredients? If so, you’re not alone. Homemade dog food recipes have become increasingly popular in recent years, with some people going as far as cooking for their dogs every day. This article will help to determine the potential benefits and drawbacks of homemade dog food diets, and whether or not it is worth the time and effort.
Is making dog food at home better for your pup?
While there may be claims to that effect, there is no evidence to back up this claim.
Many years ago, all dogs were fed a homemade diet, but as the years have gone by, more people have transitioned to commercial dog food. In recent years, however, there has been a surge in those who are making the switch back to homemade dog food for a few reasons.
One is that many commercial dog foods contain ingredients like corn and soy that are cheap sources of protein and energy. Quality commercial dog foods also tend to be much more expensive than homemade dog food.
Caution
Preparing a home-cooked meal for your dog must be done with caution. There aren’t many places where you can get safe, healthy information on how to cook meals for your dog at home.
Owners have access to a large amount of inadequate, and sometimes dangerous, recipes. Some of these may result in nutrient deficiencies in your dog’s diet, while others may result in nutrient excess. To be sure, consult with your veterinary nutritionist.
There are many unhealthy and unsafe foods to avoid. Raisins, macadamia nuts, chocolate, grapes, avocado, onions, and garlic are among the potentially toxic ingredients. The list above is not exclusive, and other potential issues can arise if you are not careful with ingredients. Keep track of which foods are suitable for dogs at all times.
You and your dog deserve the best foods possible. No one should be expected to feed an animal that is not getting the best. And no person should cook meals for his dog that they would not feed to themselves.
Benefits of cooking for your dog
There are numerous reasons why you might want to prepare homemade foods for your dog.
Gaining control of your dog’s diet, appeasing picky eaters, combating food intolerance issues, being concerned about food recalls, or simply for the bond-building joy of preparing a home-cooked meal for your dog are all reasons to do so.
Not only is cooking for dogs a healthy choice, it can also be a fun and rewarding experience. Taking the time to cook healthy meals for your dog will result in a healthier, happier pet – and will keep you and your family healthier, too!
Before you start cooking, make sure to keep this in mind. Protein (from animal meat, seafood, dairy, or eggs), fat (from meat or oil), and carbohydrates (grains or vegetables) are all required for your pet. They also require calcium (from dairy or an ingredient like eggshells), as well as essential fatty acids (from certain plant oils, egg yolks, oatmeal, and other foods).
Home cooking is not for everyone
Cooking for your pet is a time-consuming, labor-intensive, space-consuming, and financially draining process. Therefore home cooking is not for everyone, and it does not have to be. Some other alternative for providing whole ingredients to your dog is to consider buying carefully prepared ready-made meals.
Frequently Asked Question:
Is commercial dog food healthy?
This is a tricky question. According to the American Kennel Club, the majority of dog owners feed their pets dry kibble or canned wet food. These processed foods may not be appealing to us, but they provide all of the nutrients that dogs require to stay healthy. Commercial dog foods of high quality are strictly regulated and have undergone rigorous testing by veterinary specialists.
While that may be true, others believe that commercial pet foods are intentionally designed to be addictive. They are made more palatable by adding flavorings and salt which is bad for the kidneys, dehydrates the body, and is extremely harmful. These additives conceal the fact that maybe, the food is actually quite bad.
