You would think twice before picking up any food product for your kid but would you do the same in case of your pet dog? Most of us think that if a particular brand of dog food is widely heralded, then it must be nutritious for the dog but that is not true. Some of the best commercial brands of dog food do not provide the nutrition they need and therefore, it may be important that you switch over to homemade dog food for pugs.

Choosing Dog Food

While homemade food is the best option, sometime it is impossible to prepare meals for your dog. In such a case you may have no option but to buy commercial dog food for your pug. If you are buying dog food from the market, it is important that you buy those brands that are certified by the Association of American Feed Control Officials or AAFCO. The brand needs to have a label that says that the food provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages of the dog. While choosing dog food, there is one rule of thumb that should be kept in mind; choose good dog food with human grade ingredients. While the belief that if humans can eat it, so can dogs, may not hold true, it is important that the ingredients used are organic and wholesome. Dog food should be devoid of chemicals in any form.

Pugs, like all other dog breeds, are carnivores. While vegetarian owners may believe that they can provide all the nutrients their dog needs with vegetarian dog food, this is far from true. A pug needs a daily diet that comprises 50% of meat in some form or the other. Choose meats that are low on fat as pugs have a tendency to put on weight. Dog food made from turkey is extremely nutritious. If you want to add vegetables to your pug's meal, then add them in shredded or mashed form as they are easy to digest. For carbohydrate content serve your dog cooked brown rice mixed with meat and vegetables. Pugs are susceptible to dog allergies, so if your dog shows even the slightest sign of an allergy, stop giving him that food product and take him to a vet. Avoid giving your dog corn in any form as it is one of the foods that is bad for dogs. The dog food should be a healthy mix of protein, vegetables and grain, in the 50:40:10 ratio. Add a multi-vitamin to the food in case you are unsure about whether or not your pug is getting the vitamins and minerals he needs.

How to Make Homemade Dog Food for Pugs

In case you want to avoid buying food for your pet pug and would rather make food for them at home, then here is a recipe with which you can make dog food at home. This is the best food for pugs as its nutritional content is enhanced by the fact that there are no preservatives added to the food. This also makes it one of the best puppy food for pugs. The list of ingredients you need to make this dog food are given below.
  • Rolled oats / potato flour, 6 cups
  • Cooked brown rice, 3 cups
  • Dry milk, 2 cups
  • Sunflower oil, 1 cup
  • Cheddar cheese, 2 cups / soy sauce, 2 tablespoons
  • Bone meal, 2 teaspoon
  • Water, 4 cups
Once you have all the ingredients you need to make your dog food, follow these easy instructions given below.
  • First mix the rolled oats, brown rice and dry milk together. Next in a different utensil, mix the sunflower oil with three cups of water. You can substitute the water with meat or chicken broth for the flavor. Now slowly fold this mixture of liquids into the flour mix that you made earlier.
  • For flavor, you can add cheese, soy sauce or any other thing that your pug likes. You can also add bone meal for the protein it provides. Mix all together until you achieve a mix that has a smooth consistency which is not very dry.
  • Now put the mixture into a baking dish that has been greased properly. Divide the mix into smaller parts so that you can bake the mixture in batches. Bake the mix in an oven that has been preheated at 175 degrees Fahrenheit, for thirty five minutes or so. When it is baked properly, the mixture will be light brown in color and will not stick to the sides of the pan.
  • Once the food is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool. Now break into small pieces and store it in a container that is air-tight.
This is an easy method to make healthy dog food that is nutritious and definitely the best food since you have made it yourself without the addition of unhealthy preservatives.

It is important to consult your vet before you decide to change your pet dog's present diet. Even if the new food is heralded as the best dog food, it is important that you wean him off his earlier diet slowly. If you are feeding your dog homemade food, then start by introducing portions of this food along with the normal diet and then slowly reverse the proportions before completely switching to natural food. Making homemade dog food may not be the best option for cheap dog food for pugs but the nutrition of the food outweighs the cost.