This is our third and final article in this series.  With the pet food recall a couple of years ago still fresh in many dog owners minds the question continues to loom whether making your own dog food is the right choice. Certainly, for your dog’s health and wellbeing it can be the best option.

There are many resources and books to find recipes for homemade dog food online. The issues you face are really two fold. First, do you have the time to commit in making your own dog food? Secondly, you will need to research which is the best balance of protein to carbohydrates to veggies & fruit. What you will find on the subject is that most Vets and experts cannot agree on the best balanced diet for your pet.

In order to get a better understanding of organic dog food let us go back to the beginning. Ancestrally, our canine companions hunted and ate raw meat absorbing the nutrients such as grass, grains, and veggies from their prey. Therefore, some experts will tell you certain parts of raw chicken, raw beef bones, as well as turkey and pork is great for your dog. Yet others will say; only cooked food and never cooked fowl bones are best with the occasional raw egg.

Understanding what evolution has done for humans, we tend to believe in the later. One thing Vets and exerts do agree on is that your dog’s diet is not the same as a humans. Many foods we consume are deemed dangerous to dogs; such as chocolate in any form, onions, salt, garlic, raisins, & grapes to name just a few. So if you are thinking of just making an extra plate of your dinner for the dog think again.

There is definite time commitment involved in deciding to make your own dog food. Consider your personal schedule and preparing meals for your human family daily; can you find the time to prepare a meal for your dog as well. As a routine, switching from commercial dry/canned dog food and fresh homemade dog food is not a good idea. Your dog’s digestive system is delicate and trying to incorporate both will cause stomach issues and accidents in the house.

Gradually and slowly, blend their diet to avoid any problems when switching from commercial dog food to homemade dog food until the diet is all homemade (usually within 15 to 30 days). As with humans, variety is the spice of life and your dog will need some variety in their diet as well. Diversity in your homemade dog food recipes will help ensure their dietary needs are being met. Bring your recipes to your vet and ask them if your dog’s nutritional needs will be realized.

Commercial organic dog food can be a great alternative for those pet owners who cannot devote the time but still wish to give the very best to their dog. In our previous article, we discussed more on this subject. Do not be fooled by all the commercial hype on organic dog food. The pet food industry is spending millions on advertising and will tell you homemade dog is wrong and not what your pet needs.

At the end of the day, what your pet needs is a balanced diet. Whether buying organic dog food or making your own homemade dog food, it can be the healthiest choice provided pet owners do their research and invest the time.

By Remarkable Dogs