Dog Food - A Healthy Alternative

You may unknowingly give your pet dog food that is not healthy for them. Making your pet happy and providing the best that you can for them is one of the goals of a pet owner. When you love your pet you want them to get the best of everything that you can give them. You think you are doing right because the pet food companies lead you to believe that pet foods have healthy meats, vegetables and grains. But the part that they don't tell you is that the so called healthy ingredients may be processed to the extent that they no longer contain any nutritional value.

So what can a loving pet owner do when they want to make sure that their beloved pet is getting real nutrition. They become informed of what is healthy for their animal. Some prepared foods can have nutritional value but very few of them do. A healthy alternative is making your dog's food and treats at home. This can also be a cheaper alternative to the ever increasing price of prepared food.

Dog Food

Preparing food alternatives for your pet can have many benefits. The nutritional value is higher because the foods are not overly processed. You have more control over what your pet eats. For some pet owners, the self satisfaction of being able to make your dogs food is one of the greatest benefits.

Homemade dog foods are full of grains, meats and vegetables. You know this for a fact because you are putting these ingredients in the food yourself. For commercially made products, you left to having to believe that the ingredients are what the company says they are. Some ingredients are not regulated so you are not sure what it really is.

Making homemade pet food is not difficult. Most people don't do it because they think that it will take too much effort. If you can make a batch of cookies, you can make dog food and dog treats. Just think of how you will feel knowing that you made what your pet is eating yourself. All you have to do is mix up a few ingredients, shape and bake. How easy is that?

There is only one drawback to making your own food; knowing what foods you can use as ingredients in the recipes. There are some foods that dogs really don't need in their diet or can even be lethal in their diet. We all know that chocolate, tea and other caffeinated products can harm your beloved pet. Did you know that onions and garlic can be just as dangerous? Too much can be toxic. Too much liver can cause a vitamin deficiency.

Once you understand what you can use for your pet, then you can make a quality homemade dog food and healthy treats that you're pet will love. These treats will be made from soy flour, pureed vegetables (such as those found in baby food), pieces of meat and cereals. The meat can be processed in a food processor to make it easier to work with. Knowing that you can easily make a healthy alternative to commercial dog foods can make the effort worthwhile.

Dog Food - A Healthy Alternative

Dog Food

Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes For a Dog With Allergies

If your dog has the misfortune of having allergies then it important to find healthy homemade dog food recipes that will help control its itch. There are some recipes that contain ingredients that help control its desire to itch. But before trying any recipes, it is important to take the affected dog to the vet to find out what is causing the allergy in the dog.

If the cause of the allergy is not based on food then these recipes may actually help control the itch. But if the cause is diagnosed to be based on specific types of food, then be on the lookout for these ingredients and be sure not to include them in any homemade dog food.

Dog Food

One of the safer recipes for dogs with allergies has the following ingredients: 3 lbs ground beef, 3-16oz cans of tomatoes, 2 cups corn meal (white or yellow), 2 cups Wheatena, 3 eggs, Up to 2 cups water as needed. The procedure for the preparation is as follows: Mix the ingredients together as you would a regular meat loaf, then bake in a loaf pan in a pre-heated 345 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes. Feed when cold. It might help to add some suitable multi-vitamin supplement.

Feed this diet for a month and compare the dog's condition at the end of the month to see if the dog food has been beneficial or not to the dog with allergies. Make sure to stay away from salt as adding too much salt has been associated with outbreaks of skin irritation. Dogs with persistent dry skin and skin irritations might well benefit by being given purified low sodium water to drink.

Another dog owner who owns a dog with allergies was kind enough to share healthy homemade dog food recipes that worked for her. She prepared a stew with only lean chicken meat and potatoes as ingredients. She fed this food to her dog as a start and managed to observe that her dog's condition began to improve. After this, she started to include vegetables and barley into the stew. Through time, she was able to take her dog out of commercial dog foods and only served the dog with this mixture of this homemade dog food. Not only did it solve the allergy, also it helped to keep her dog healthy and energetic.

It has also been found that venison is a type of meat that is low-allergy for the dog. It might help to prepare a homemade recipe that uses this type of meat. Also, duck is known to be hypoallergenic or free from allergens, the chemicals that cause allergies. It might also be helpful to the dog if a homemade dog recipe will incorporate or be solely based on duck meat.

Although a bit expensive than chicken, turkey are known to be helpful to dogs with allergies. A simple homemade recipe will simply call for ground turkey rolls, carrots and green beans. Mix these three together and feed them to the dog. Dogs are known to love this food.

These are just some helpful tips that will help a dog that is suffering from itchiness brought by allergies. Before anyone tries them though, it helps if they are housed in a clean environment. For all we know, the itchiness may be the result of needing a good bath!

Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes For a Dog With Allergies

Dog Food

Is Dog Food Healthy? The Facts Are Disturbing

If you are anything like me, and you are not only a pet owner but a pet lover, you will be more than interested in finding out the best way to take care of your pet and to help them to live long and healthy lives. This would include the types of food that you would feed your pet. But really, is dog food healthy?

dog food storage bin

Since there are so many choices out there as far as the types and name brands of dog food that we can fee to our pets there is obviously a lot of confusion about which dog food you should feed them, and if they are truly healthy. A lot of time and money is spent by the dog food companies to insure that you purchase their brand before you purchase the competing brand. The problem is that the regulations that govern what can go into dog food, and what can be printed on the package are very lenient.

Dog Food

Most dog foods that are on the shelves are marked as being chemical free, or perhaps no chemicals added, let me tell you what this means. The dog food companies can legally mark their packaging chemical free if the product that comes into their factory does not have chemicals added to it after it enters the factory. The problem is that they purchase product that is already full of chemicals and is hormone ingested. Not only that but part of the product usually includes such things as road killed animals and diseased carcases and the bodies of euthanized animals that are picked up at the pounds. So I ask you, Is dog food healthy?

Is Dog Food Healthy? The Facts Are Disturbing

Dog Food

Healthy, Homemade Dog Food - The Choice of a New Generation of Dog Owners

In recent years, there has been an increase in dog owners that feed their dogs healthy, homemade dog food. This stems from the concerns they have about the long-term effects of feeding them commercial brand varieties. Our generation has a lot of mistrust towards the pet food companies since the 2007 recall in which many dogs died. In this article, you will learn why store brands can be dangerous and why healthy, homemade dog food is the smart and healthy alternative.

dog food container

When it comes to our own nutrition, many of us want to eat well-balanced meals that consist of healthy foods packed with the nutrients that our bodies require. We have many choices, such as the grocery store, local farmers market, restaurants, and we can prepare our meals with recipes from relatives, friends, word of mouth, and even cookbooks. But when it comes to our dog's nutritional needs, we have one-way thinking and it points to commercial dog food.

Dog Food

It's very simple. We have a dog, so we go to the store and buy a can of moist food or a bag of dry kibble. Besides giving them our occasional left overs or scraps from the table, that's the only way we know how to feed our dogs. Have a dog? Feed him dog food. We never question it. Healthy, homemade dog food was never thought of.

Since the pet food recall of 2007 news about the dangers of dog food have been creeping up in the media. It's slowly becoming recognized that commercial brands may be very unhealthy. It may cause health problems and diseases, such as cancer, kidney failure, and liver disease. These may be fatal. How many pet owners do you know that had to euthanize their pet because of an incurable illness? It's good to have this knowledge now before it happens to your dog. So what alternative is there?

Many dog owners have undertaken the task of making their dog's food themselves. Healthy, homemade dog food is not just a fad, it's a growing necessity as people want less reliance on pet food companies and more control over their dog's nutrition and well-being.

If you feed your dog healthy, homemade dog food, he will be healthier and happier than ever before. You will decrease his risk of disease which will prolong his life. Because he will have fewer illnesses, you'll save money on vet bills.

Many dog owners feel guilty after reading an article like this because they innocently fed their dogs store brand varieties. Don't feel bad. You didn't know. But now that you're aware of the facts, you can make a positive change in your dog's nutrition plan, boost his immune system, and give him the high quality of life he deserves by feeding him healthy, homemade dog food.

Healthy, Homemade Dog Food - The Choice of a New Generation of Dog Owners

Dog Food

Hypoallergenic Dog Food to Keep Your Dog Healthy

If your dog is suffering from food allergies, you should consider switching from your normal brand to a hypoallergenic dog food. These types of foods are less likely to cause intestinal distress or skin allergies, which will allow your pet to live a happier and healthier life.

dog food for sensitive stomachs

Symptoms of dog food allergies include digestive issues, such as diarrhea and vomiting, and skin irritations. Your dog could be allergic to one or more ingredients, such as beef, dairy products, chicken, corn, eggs, soy, wheat, and yeast. Unlike hypoallergenic dog food manufacturers, most common pet food companies make their foods with chemicals, preservatives, dyes, and flavorings.

Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs

Unfortunately, to find the hypoallergenic dog food that works best for your pet, you will probably have to go through a trial-and-error process to find out which ingredient your dog is allergic to. You will have to start by eliminating items one by one to see which ingredient is triggering an allergic reaction.

Beef, soy, and corn are common causes of allergies, so it is best to start eliminating these ingredients from your pet's diet first. If the symptoms do not go away, you should try foods without the other common ingredients that pets are allergic to, such as soy and artificial flavorings and preservatives.

In order to make sure that your food experiment works, you should keep a diary to track how the changes are affecting your dog and make sure your pet is not eating table scraps or other food items. It may be that your dog might be allergic to more than one thing, so you may have to experiment by adding or removing more than one ingredient.

Once you have determined what your dog is allergic to, you will have a wide variety of hypoallergenic dog foods to choose from. Hypoallergenic pet food is usually made with better quality ingredients and does not have the fillers used in regular pet foods. Many of these companies use lamb, bison, or venison and rice or oats instead of corn, which are deemed gentler on your dog's stomach.

You can purchase your new hypoallergenic dog food from your vet or pet specialty shops, but if you want the largest variety to select from then look online. The other advantage to shopping online is that you get to examine the ingredients and compare between many other brands. And most online pet food companies provide free shipping when buying these types of foods.

If you do not like the hypoallergenic dog food choices available, you can choose to make your own. There is a variety of recipes available on the internet or in specialty pet books. Making your own hypoallergenic pet food allows you more quality control with the ingredients used. Whether you choose to make your own hypoallergenic dog food or buy it from the store, these types of foods can help your pet live a normal, healthy, allergy-free life.

Hypoallergenic Dog Food to Keep Your Dog Healthy

Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs

Is Dry Dog Food Healthy For My Dog to Eat?

Not long ago, dogs used to be fed scraps from the table, with whatever else they managed to scavenge from elsewhere. Now, as animals become a bigger part of families, we want to feed them food that they will enjoy and like. There are so many brands out there though, how do you know which one to choose? Dry dog food is certainly very convenient for the busy pet owner, but there have been many reports of dogs getting ill from eating it. What are the alternatives?

dog food dispenser

Is it healthy for my dog to eat dry biscuits?

Dog Food

Is it healthy for any living animal to eat the same thing every day? Of course, most animals do not have nearly as much variety as humans do. But, a mix of food types and textures is important in making food enjoyable. Dog biscuits are made with convenience in mind. They are supposed to have all the nutrients and minerals needed to keep an animal healthy. However, the nature of biscuits mean that they are preserved and dry. Not all dogs like dried food. Older dogs might struggle to crunch biscuits. Preservatives and other ingredients in 'complete foods' have been known to cause skin and stomach problems in some dogs, although this isn't always the case.

What else can I feed my dog?

Most raw meat is a healthy and good alternative to feed your dog. Many people are shocked at the thought of feeding raw food - and particularly bones - to their pet, but it is actually not a problem or health risk to feed your dog raw bones. In fact, dogs love them. And they keep their teeth fantastically clean. It is actually only cooked bones that might splinter and cause internal problems with your pet. However, even if you don't want to feed your dog raw bones, raw mince and chicken is absolutely fine. If you choose to feed your dog this sort of diet, you will have to bear in mind that your animal will also need fibre, roughage and vegetables. You can mix these in with the raw meat, or you can provide your dog with a mix of different foods: raw meat, tinned food and dried biscuits.

There is little doubt that dry dog food is the most convenient way to feed your beloved pet, but consider your pet every now and again. Try him or her with different types of food and see what they prefer.

Is Dry Dog Food Healthy For My Dog to Eat?

Dog Food