You cook for your family, so why not cook your own dog food for your pets?
A lot of people are turning to this method when it comes to feeding their dogs.
This way, they know what is going into the food and nothing is processed or a byproduct.
Just be prepared. Many recipes out there, including the ones created by vets, are missing some nutrients.
It can be hard to get Fido everything he needs to be healthy.
That being said, it is not impossible, but can be expensive and very time-consuming.
Related: Top 5 best metal pet food containers
What To Consider When Making Homemade Dog Food
Affiliate links included below at no cost for you. Thank you for the support
When looking for a recipe for your dog, be sure to know your source. You want to choose a recipe created by someone specialized in dog nutrition. When you want to learn how to cook healthy recipes for your family and make sure they are getting the proper nutrition, you will go to a nutritionist. Same thing when it comes to your dog. Your pet requires certain nutrients such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium and essential fatty acids. He might need a special diet if he has health problems, in which case you will most likely want that pet nutrition specialist to create some custom recipes for you.
When it comes to cooking for your pet, stick to what the recipe says, do not experiment. If you feel like feeding him the same thing gets boring, you can change up his treats, but do not change the recipe. Also, do not swap ingredients. You could unintentionally be adding calories or changing the nutritional makeup of the recipe. Investing in a food scale is a good idea. You might even use this for your family. Food scales are more accurate than measuring cups.
There are foods that are toxic or even deadly to dogs. If you do not know this already, you want to be sure to avoid foods like chocolate, avocados, onions, grapes and raisins, and garlic. Another reason feeding your dog scraps from the table is not a good idea.
As stated in the beginning, it is very difficult to get your pet everything he needs when making his food. Supplements are going to be needed to make sure he get all the nutrition he needs to stay healthy and active. You need to consult the pet specialist when it comes to what supplements he will need. Different recipes you have might be missing different nutrients.
You might be wondering how to get your dog to take those supplements. Try giving them inside of a dog treat. This might work with some dogs; it doesn’t work with mine. You can try giving it to him with peanut butter. Or you can do it the old vet way and open his mouth and put it in as far back of his throat as you can. This is how I have to give my dogs pills. Consult your vet, he might have some tricks up his sleeve.
You want to make sure what you are feeding your pet is beneficial. Take him in for a check-up and be sure his new kitchen diet is benefiting him. Also, talk to your vet before starting anything. He knows your dogs health history. Combined with a pet nutrition specialist, you should have good results! Good luck and happy cooking!
Does this help give you a better understanding of what to consider when making homemade dog food? Let us know in the comments if you have any other questions.
