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Is it healthy to cook homemade meals for my dog?
What ingredients do I need to put in homemade dog food?
Are there certain vitamins I need to add to homemade dog food?
How much do I feed my dog if I make the food homemade?
These are questions that we have all ask ourselves if we consider cooking for our pets.
Consider this decision carefully
First of all, if you are considering taking your dog off of regular dog food and are considering cooking his meals, you need to discuss this with your veterinarian. You should explain why you want to do this and get your vet’s opinion on it. Your dog’s health my play into this decision.
If your veterinarian approves of this decision, you should consult a veterinarian nutritionist to talk about what to cook. They can provide you with healthy recipes and the amounts of different foods you should feed them.
Homemade dog food diet benefits
According to recent studies, there is no sufficient evidence to prove that a homemade diet is healthier for your dog than a commercial food diet but there are some definite benefits of a homemade diet.
*You have control over the foods your dog eats and where you buy those foods from.The food your dog eats if you make a homemade diet will not be processed.
*The homemade food you cook for your dog will not be processed food. We hear so much about the way dog food is cooked and the high temperatures it has to be cooked at to make kibble. When you cook homemade food for your dog, you control the way the food is cooked and the temperatures it is cooked at.
*When you cook homemade food for your dog, you can feed him/her a variety of meats and vegetables. Not only will your dog benefit from the variety of vegetables, but they will enjoy meal time more.
*A major benefit of cooking homemade food for your dog is that you can talk to a veterinarian nutritionist and taylor your dog’s diet according to his needs (allergies, his weight, his age, etc…)
Tips for cooking homemade dog food
Your dog’s diet must be balanced. Again, it’s a great idea to talk to your vet and a nutritionist to get information on what needs to go in the food to make it balanced. It does matter how much protein, fat, vitamins and minerals that you put in the food. If you do not have the right amounts of these ingredients, it could lead to your dog having diseases, malnutrition or obesity.
Check for reliability
There are lots of homemade dog recipes out on the internet, but they are not all nutritious or balanced. Look for a recipe that you think is nutritious, then check with the nutritionist.
Follow your recipe exactly
When making your homemade dog food recipe, make sure you follow the recipe exactly. Substituting ingredients or putting in different amounts can drastically change a recipe, which can alter the nutrition for your dog. Also, make sure you follow the cooking methods too. If the recipe says bake, then bake it.
Be Consistent with ingredients.
When cooking homemade dog food for your dog, you should use the highest quality ingredients you can get and be consistent about where you get your ingredients. Be consistent with where you get your products makes it easier to monitor the quality of the products.
Set aside time to prepare the dog food
Cooking the homemade dog food takes time- time to shop for the right ingredients and time to prepare and cook the food. If you are going to make your dog’s food, make sure you set aside time to do it. Cooking the food, then freezing a portion of it lets you prepare large batches of the dog food so you have to prepare it less often. Just take out of the freezer what you need for a few days at a time.
The food is not enough
Ask the nutritionist what additional supplements you need to add to the homemade dog food so your dog has a balanced diet. He/She will know what you need and the amounts.
Switch slowly and gradually
Don’t stop feeding commercial food and just go directly to a homemade diet. You will cause your dog to have major stomach problems. Prepare the homemade dog food, but add about a 1/3 cup to your dog’s regular kibble. Do it over a period of a couple of weeks to allow your dog to adapt to the homemade food. After switching the food slowly, if your dog is vomiting or having diarrhea, talk to your vet.
Do you make homemade dog food?
If so, please post the recipe on here in the comments. We would love to see what everyone puts in their dog’s food and make these recipes accessible to other pug owners.
***NOTE: It’s ok to read and look at other people’s recipes. Just be sure to check with your vet before deciding to change your dog’s food.
https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/how-make-sure-your-homemade-dog-food-delivers-right-nutrients
Until next time,
Hugs and Pug Kisses,
Candy
