Your dog will derive many benefits from a natural dog food diet. Among them will be an improvement in total health. Dog owners who have changed to a natural dog food diet have listed numerous positive differences in their pet, including improved coat appearance, breath, temperament, energy, and longevity.
There are many tips and hints for instituting a successful natural dog food diet. First, always use a quality of food that you would serve a human guest. Don’t just feed your canine leftover food from your plate. Don’t assume your dog shares your tastes and nutritional requirements. It’s possible for a dog to become addicted to junk food, the same as a human. A healthy diet is important to make sure your dog thrives and doesn’t develop diseases.
Commercial dog food is generally made up of both plant and animal protein. This is most likely to be done for cost considerations. Because meat, more than any other ingredient, is susceptible to chemical contamination, it’s a good idea to offset the meat component with sources of plant protein such as legumes.
Many vets do not recommend a “raw meat” diet for dogs. The food many have salmonella and listeria contamination. It is preferable to give a dog a high quality natural dog food diet. The dog will get the nutrition he needs and contamination should not be a problem.
Eggs and dairy are great sources of protein in addition to meat and can be included in your dog’s diet. Dairy is not the single source of calcium in a natural dog food diet. Dogs need a lot of calcium, and they need bone meal and calcium supplements mixed in with their food to give them the amounts needed, and to provide the correct ratio of phosphorus to calcium. If you feed your dog raw meat and bones, additional bone meal and calcium supplementation is not necessary for adult dogs. Correct ratio of phosphorus to calcium is required. Otherwise the calcium cannot be used by the body.
Carbohydrates supply over half the diet for dogs when taken by dry weight, according to commercial standards. Grains are carbohydrates that need to be cooked. Sources of carbohydrate can include cornmeal, polenta, millet, oatmeal, and bulger. Dogs can also be fed legumes like lentils, split peas etc. Vegetables are also great sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for dogs. They can be mixed with other ingredients in the dog food diet.
Now a days many have turned to feeding their pet organic dog food, often available only at specialized shops or over the Internet. Organic dog food is big business and many dog owners swear by it. Many people have started making their dog food at home. Although it takes much more time than buying it at the store, it has health benefits that far outweigh the cost. If you search the internet you are sure to get some great homemade dog food recipes which your dog will love.
Due to recent pet food contamination issues, many dog owners are looking for alternative dog food sources. They no longer want the regular store brands. Natural dog food is one alternative. Organic dog food is another. Both of these, however, are still produced by others. This has some dog owners making their own dog food. There are numerous homemade dog food recipes available. Most of them use ingredients that can be found at the local grocery store. Eggs, dairy products, grains, beans, and peas are all ingredients that are good for your dog and are available in the grocery store.
– Melinda Smith