Dog Food Recipes

Healthy Homemade Dog Food

Great dog food recipes are the cornerstone of preparing healthy homemade dog food for your dog, which is truly the greatest expression of love an owner can show their dog. Your dog will show their appreciation with higher levels of energy and health. However, not just any food will do. In a misguided attempt to feed their dogs well, some people simply feed their dogs what ever is left over from their own meals. They think that if it’s good enough for them it must be good enough for their dog. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Dogs have very specific dietary requirements. This refers primary to the macro-nutrient proportions required for optimal dog health. Macro-nutrient proportions refers to the amount of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat that you dogs requires.

Dog Food Recipes – Macro Nutrients

Carbohydrates provides a valuable source of energy for your pet and are a key ingredient in all good dog food recipes. This is the fuel that helps to keep your dog energetic. However, too many carbs can cause problems, like excessive weight gain or even doggy diabetes. Good sources of Carbohydrates would be brown rice, wheat flower, fruits (but not grapes or raisins), and vegetables.

Protein is essential to you dogs diet. It is best in the form of lean meats, such as chicken, lamb, or beef. All meats should be cooked. The same bacteria that causes food poisoning in people, salmonella, can do even worse to dogs. Whenever possible try and avoid fish. As a tip to keep dog food cost down try preparing your dog food recipes using animal organs. Meats like cow heart or lamb liver may seam like strange food in our culture, but they can be high in vitamins and minerals. Since they aren’t in high demand you can often get them for a low cost. Have them ground up to make them easier to cook with.

While people have given fat a bad name over the years it is quite important to your dog and should be included in all your dog food recipes. A sufficient amount of fat should be provided if you are using the meats suggested above. It is important that you do not attempt to feed your dog a fat free diet.

The best dog food recipes will have a macro-nutrient ratio of around 40-45% protein, 40-45% carbohydrates, and 10-15% fat. To simplify things you can just split your dogs calories 50/50 between carbohydrates and proteins. If you use lean meats, as recommended, the fat will typically work itself out. In order for for your dog to enjoy the optimal levels of health that they deserve, these requirements must be met. So seek out dog food recipes that mean your dogs specific dietary requirements.

While it probably seems obvious by now, I still feel it’s important to state that your dogs dietary requirements are much different than yours. It is a mistake to feed your dog the same food that you eat, disregarding proper proportion. A dogs digestive system isn’t as robust as a persons. Many foods that are good for people can be harmful to dogs. In fact, if you feed your dog a “human” diet it can often damage their digestive system, leading to lower energy levels and healthy problems.

By following a few simple steps and with a little education on proper dog food recipes you can improve the quality of your dogs life by tremendous amounts. You will be rewarded with a happier, healthier, and more obedient companion.