Just like we humans cannot live just on canned food or food brought from the store or just fast food, our pets too cannot just survive on canned food or packed food, even though it is made specially for them. True that canned food for dogs and cats or any other pets contain some nutrition in them, but whether you agree or not, this food does contain chemicals or preservatives which are harmful for our pets. Some of them are also not nutritious enough for the pets. So now what? Well, why not try out homemade food for your pet dog? Simple to make, cheap, and highly beneficial, homemade dog food is the best for your dog. Given below is some more information on making your own dog food.

Dog Food Made Easy

Making dog food at home is simple and not at all time-consuming. But there are certain pointers that you need to keep in mind before you start. Here are some of the important pointers.
  • Before you start always have a talk with you pet's vet and also get a proper physical checkup of your dog done, so that you know what it is allergic to, which are the minerals and vitamins it lacks in and so on.
  • Next make a list of all the products that your dog should be kept away from, such as grapes or chocolates or sweets or onions or nutmegs, raisins, avocados and so on. Make sure that you do not add any of these in your dog's diet as it will only damage their digestive system.
  • The most important things that you should include in the homemade dog food are more of vitamins, proteins (chicken, lamb, beef), fruits and vegetables as one gets lots of nutrition from them but they should make up only around 15 to 20% of your dog's diet. Homemade dog food should also contain more of calcium (from milk and yogurt), carbohydrates (brown rice or oats and barley), fats (fresh fish oil) and of course water.
  • It's better if you include raw meat in your dog's as that had been their staple diet for generations. Do not forget to add the bones in their diet too.
  • Do not repeat the same food items day in and day out. Give them some varieties.
Now that we know some of the important tips on making dog food, let us see some of the benefits of the same.

Benefits of Homemade Dog Food

Home-cooked meals for your pooch has become quite popular among the dog lovers due to the various dog illnesses that arises due to some of the ingredients that are present in the canned dog food or maybe the packed dog food. It's not that the dog food companies adds harmful chemicals in the food, but it might happen that your dog might be allergic to some of the ingredients that are present in the food and this might result in various health issues. If you are making dog food at home then not only can you avoid the ingredients that your dog is allergic to, but you can also add some more nutritional food that you think will be good for your dog. Still not convinced? Here are some benefits.
  • Health Conscious: If you are making food at home, then you can be careful about the ingredients that you use. Some of the commercial dog foods can also cause obesity, but with dog food made at home, you will be able to control the ingredients that you use in your pet's food. You can add some of the ingredients which you think will be nutritious for your dog such as vegetables and rice and meat (lean) and so on.
  • Fresh Supply of Food: Homemade food will ensure that your best friend gets fresh supply of food everyday instead out dated food or even contaminated food. What's better than getting a fresh supply of food everyday?
  • Simple to Make: If you think that making good dog food at home is difficult and time-consuming, then you are wrong. This is because this is one of the simplest thing that you have to do for your best friend. What I give my dog is, make a mixture of rice, pulses, pieces of vegetables and meat and add a pinch of turmeric in it, boil it well and then serve it to my dog. She licks her plate clean.
  • Variety: Giving your dog the same canned for day in and day out, will only make your dog lose it's appetite. Trying out new dog food recipes at home will give them a variety everyday. One day they can have meat or some other day they can have chicken or another day eggs and so on.
  • Cheaper: People often ask whether homemade food is cheaper or more affordable than store-brought canned food or commercial dog foods. Well of course, the answer is that the former is more cheaper. The price of cooked food is always higher than the price of homemade food not only in the case of dog food but in the case of dog food too. You can buy what you want, you can check what is on sale and then cook them at home.
It's cheaper, healthier, and much better for your dog. Taking proper care of your dog is your responsibility and making food for them regularly is not a difficult task, but rather enjoyable.