story by Mary Aho
Natural, organic dog’s food with ingredients zucchini, carrot and raw meat
They say a dog is a man’s best friend. However, any pet is a man’s best friend. Most people these days treat their pets as one of the family. When it comes to family, you want the best for them. One of the easiest ways to spoil your pet is making their food. Making your own dog or cat food has lots of benefits. Knowing what is going into your pet’s food gives you peace of mind knowing your dog or cat is getting fresh whole ingredients without chemicals and preservatives. Making your own pet food is also cost efficient and fun. If your dog has food allergies, making your own food lets you customize the ingredients to make sure your pet is getting exactly what they need.
Before you start making your pet’s food, you first need to know what they can and cannot eat. Unlike humans, there are several foods that will make dogs and cats sick. For dogs and cats, garlic and any type of onion should be avoided as well as grapes, chocolate, avocados, macadamia nuts, artificial sweeteners, and yeast dough. Be sure to check with your veterinarian for a full list of foods to avoid giving your pet.
When it comes to making your own dog food, the sky is the limit. There are all kinds of different combinations you can try. It mostly depends on your dog’s preference and sensitivities. Ground chicken, ground turkey, and lean ground beef are all great options for protein in the mix. For vegetables, pumpkin, butternut squash, peas and green beans are good choices. A lot of recipes call for beans like kidney beans, pinto beans or lentils. For grains, brown rice is the most common ingredient. However, if your dog has a sensitive stomach, white rice or quinoa is a better option.
Homemade cat food is different than dog food. Most cat food recipes are pureed into a paste. Chicken should be cooked before blending. Canned fish like tuna, mackerel, and trout can be added. Steamed vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and green beans add flavor and necessary nutrients. Eggs and cottage cheese are also used in cat food recipes.
Before changing your pet’s food, it is always important to check with your veterinarian to make sure all changes are okay for your pet. They can also advise you on which ingredients are best for your pet’s personal diet needs, and many recommend including a mix of vitamin supplements to make sure your pet gets its daily amount of nutrients. No matter what you add to your pet’s food, they are sure to love it. They are part of the family and it feels good to treat them with the best. So next time you’re at the store, pick up these ingredients and experiment making your pets and tasty nutritious meal.
