The Healthiest Kind of Dog Food

How would you like to serve your dog natural, fresh dog food that you create from home-made dog food recipes?  Home-made dog food is the best and healthiest option for the dogs that we care so much for.  When dog owners fully understand the facts about what manufacturers are selling, they aren’t surprised to learn that packaged dog food may be the cause of many modern-day dog illnesses.  

There are a few disturbing facts that pet owners should be aware of when it comes to packaged dog food.   Ethoxyquin is a carcinogenic chemical, or cancer causing chemical, that is routinely used as a preservative in dog foods.  Even if it is not stated as an ingredient on the package, it could still be in there.  Pet food companies purchase fats for their foods to make the food more appealing to dogs.  If they happen to purchase fat from a company that uses ethoxyquin as a preservative, they don’t have to list it on the ingredient label.  The reason they give for not having to list this chemical (which is perfectly legal) is that they don’t add the ethoxyquin to the fat in the bag.  This means that they are under no legal obligation to tell you.  Plus, propylene glycol is an additive that is used as a binder in many dog foods and dog treats currently on the market.  It was recently discovered that it causes cancer in cats, so its use was discontinued in cat foods and treats.  However, it is still added to dog foods and treats, because this, too, is completely legal.

When you create your own home-made dog food, you gain the benefit of knowing exactly what is going into the meals that you’re serving.  You are also able to properly monitor the portion sizes and protein, fats, and carbohydrates that your dog is eating.  Many healthy foods like bananas, honey, peanut butter, vegetables, apples, and pumpkins can all be found in dog food recipes.  There are also recipes that contain fresh meats like beef, chicken, turkey, and fish such as tuna and halibut.  Following a recipe to make a meal and not just giving your dog table scraps will also help you to keep harmful foods out of your dog’s diet.  Many people do not know that avocados are toxic to dogs.  They contain a chemical compound called persin that has been known to cause vomiting and even loose stools in dogs.  Other foods that are toxic to dogs are citrus oil, chocolate, caffeine, grapes, hops, and yeast dough. 

There are many other benefits to feeding your dog a healthy home-made diet.  Some dogs are diagnosed with a health condition and require a special diet, making home-made meals a perfect option.  Other dogs are in training for competitions and need more protein or calories than the commercial dog foods can provide.  Or maybe your dog is allergic to most commercial dog food brands, or they are unable to fully digest them.  But for most people, the decision to feed their dogs fresh, home-made dog food is made when they realize that exposing their dog to chemicals such as humectants, preservatives, and artificial flavoring found in commercial dog foods poses too great of a health risk to their faithful companion.