There is a school of thought that believes that dogs should only be fed a raw food diet. There are valid arguments for feeding your dog this type of diet. I will outline the arguments for as well as the arguments against a strictly raw food diet, allowing you to decide for yourself the best way to feed your dog.

The primary argument for feeding your dog a raw good diet is that it most closely resembles their natural diet. Since wild predators eat what, ie raw meat, so should your dog. This argument is based on the assumption that the best diet for your dog is going to be the one nature intended for it. In other words since wild dogs eat raw meat, then raw meat is the best diet for all dogs. This includes feeding your dog, whole animal carcases (of small animals) as well as animal bones, ignoring vet recommended dog food recipes. Some believe that the dogs diet should consist of 100% raw meat, however this is a bit extreme. Not even wolves are 100% carnivores. While they do hunt and eat meat, they will eat just about anything they come across, including fruits and vegetables. Most supporters of the raw food diet will agree that some carbohydrates are healthy for the dog.

Why Not Raw Dog Food Recipes

While this may appear reasonable at first glance I do believe that there are some flaws in their reasoning. The fact that wolves/wild dogs hunt and eat raw meat does not mean that your dogs natural diet is raw meat. Domesticated dogs are not wild dogs. The biology of domesticated dogs has changed quite a bit over the years. This is evidenced by that fact that there are so many different breeds of dogs. Have you ever seen a toy wolf, or a golden coyote? Me either. Many anthropologist believe that the domestication of dogs occurred as a result of dogs feeding on the garbage thrown away by newly formed societies. This allows someone to make the argument that a domesticated dogs natural diet is garbage, not raw meat. Now, I’m not suggesting you feed your dog garbage, not even close. I’m simply trying to point out a potential flaw in the logic.

Secondly, the raw meat eaten by wild dogs is typically from an animal that has been recently killed, mean harmful bacteria will not have had a chance to develop. That simply isn’t true with store bought food, which is where most of this raw food comes from. The meat in supermarkets or butcher shops has a much higher level of bacteria than a fresh game kill. It’s why we are so strongly encouraged to thoroughly cook our meat.

Despite it’s potential shortcomings the raw food diet does provide some benefits that can be adopted by all pet owners. Feeding your dogs bones can be a healthy addition to their diet. Bone marrow contains a lot of nutrients for your dogs. They are also an excellent source of calcium. Something that is often lacking from a dogs diet. When giving your dog bones make sure that they are as fresh as possible. Old bones have the potential to make your dog ill, doing more harm than good.

While the debate continues about the virtues of raw dog food recipes, one this is clear. Homemade dog food will provide your dog with a superior level of health and vitality, increasing his life span and level of joy.

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.