You are sauteing and chopping, preparing your favorite meal, while your best friend sits there looking at you with those begging eyes. You are sure they would definitely love it if you prepared a meal for the too, but should you really do this? Is it really worth the hassle when you can easily get dog food from the store nearby?
Yes it is! The many invaluable advantages found in homemade dog food cannot be found in any packaged or processed dog food. Though many manufacturers advertise their dog foods as nutritious and healthy and filled with minerals and vitamins, in reality they are awash with many dubious ingredients. Also they are generally extruded or cooked at very high temperatures which mean most of the nutrients in them are destroyed. However when you prepare food yourself, you can be sure that your dog food is indeed healthy and beneficial to your pet. Other advantages of homemade dog food recipes include:
1. Increased variation of diet and cuts down costs sometimes
Feeding your dog commercial foods often means feeding it the same type of food for a week or two. This is not only boring to your pet but it is also limiting when it comes to nutritional value. Preparing your pup’s meals at home allows you to vary the ingredients often so as to offer a wide array of nutrients. The more varied the diet, the healthier your best friend will be.
In addition most prescription commercial foods are very expensive because of their unique nutritional composition. Hence most pet owners cannot afford them. And in such cases you will find that homemade dog food is a less expensive option for you.
2. You know exactly what Fido is eating
More often than not, most commercial dog foods contain additives. This could be to improve the composition of some nutrients, to enhance flavor or to preserve the food. Though these additives make the food tastier or increase their shelf life, most of them are toxic chemicals that may adversely affect your pet’s health.
So the best option is to cook your own dog food at home. This way you can know exactly what your dog is eating and if there is a complication you can easily trace the cause of the problem. Preparing your pup’s food also allows owner to cook the food according to their pet’s needs. For example if your furry friend is having problems with some ingredients or some types of foods you will notice easily and change the food. You will also be able to leave out any unnecessary grain as pups do not need grains like corn, wheat or rice in their diet.
In addition, dog food recalls have been very prevalent in the last 5 years. As a pet owner this should make you worry about the safety and quality of food you feed your canine. Homemade food allows you to completely control what goes into his diet. This is not just about the type of food, but about where the food came from, which cuts of meat and the quality of the food overall.
3. Better nutrition and no filler ingredients
Commercial dog food manufacturers bolster their products with many filler ingredients that do not have any nutritional value. This allows them to produce large amounts of processed foods at a reduced cost. These ingredients don’t add any value to your dog’s health and only pass through the canine’s system to create more waste. Also, most of these filler ingredients are allergy causing ingredients and will only help to worsen your pet’s health.
On the other hand, homemade food allows owners to maximize the nutritional value of the food they are feeding their dogs and gets rid of any potential allergens as well as unnecessary fillers. It is also important to mention that even the best dog food manufacturers add artificial preservatives to their foods to keep them fresh. These additives can easily infuriate any existing health conditions like, heart or liver disease.
Bottom Line
Taking care of your dog’s nutrition requires a holistic approach. Preparing food for your dog at home can be very beneficial to your dog. Though at first it may seem like a daunting or a time consuming task, it simply isn’t so, as you will still have to cook anyway. So stop promoting dog food manufacturers that are feeding your Fido fillers and preservatives. Your furry family member deserves to live a healthy and happy life and it is your responsibility to help him attain that.
Actually your pup depends on you to make the right choices for him and the type of food you feed him is one of the most essential decisions you will ever make as a pup parent. So the next time you hear people talking about homemade pet food, and you think it is unnecessary or strange think again. Homemade dog food recipes may just prove to be heaven sent for your dog.
Author Bio: June is the founder of TobysBone, where she shares her passion for writing and love for dogs. She wants to help you deal with your dog’s behavior issues, grooming and health needs, and proper training. Through her blog, you can find informative and reliable posts, tips and tricks, and a lot of interesting reads that will help you maintain a close bond with your furry companion.
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