Does Your Dog Get It?So, now with all of the press both good and not so favorable, you have decided that you are going to make the most of the kitchen that you’ve barely used since the advent of fast foods, not necessarily take-out, but already prepared so that the appliance in the kitchen that gets the most use is the revered microwave.
What am I talking about? C-O-O-K-I-N-G. Yes. In the days of long ago, it was a required course before you could graduate from high school. Imagine that! I think that there are still those of us who still take great pleasure in the mixing, measuring, stirring and creating culinary delights that we savor with our best friends.
It is even possible these days to cook the same foods for yourself that you do for your dogs. However, it is imperative that you take care not to include some of the ingredients that may be very common in your diet and very toxic to your dog pal. Some of those include onions, grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts and a host of other ingredients that may prove problematic to Fido. It is also a good idea to cook with lean meats, not too much salt, limited dairy products, and probably not too many carbohydrates. WOW! You may be thinking that there’s not too much left that you can cook.
But, these days, there are a number of premium dog mixes to which you can add fresh fruits, vegetables and proteins. Otherwise, you can find multitudes of recipes on the internet that offer wholesome recipes for you to prepare and share with your dog friend. You might also consider looking for dog food cookbooks that cater specifically to the dietary needs of canines.
With that said, what is critically important for you to understand is that dogs do not have the same dietary requirements and nutritional needs as their humans. If you decide to supplement their diets while feeding homemade dog foods, it is probably a good idea to check with a veterinary nutritionist to be sure that you are offering the dog what he or she needs, and in the appropriate amounts.
Please! Don’t try to guess at the vitamin and mineral requirements for you companion animal. It may result in a deficiency or overdose of a vitamin that is toxic in large quantities. Homemade foods and treats are a grrrrrrrreat idea but watch to see that your dog is accepting the foods, that there are no allergic reactions or otherwise adverse reactions. Have fun, be creative, share the meals with your pal and be a bit careful until you gather a full understanding of the dog’s needs.
Bone Appetit! For further information, browse Non-Commercial Dog Foods.
