Homemade Food- Pros/Cons for Your Dog
by Scott Dylan
Homemade food for dogs? The dog is man’s most trusted companion and an animal we fully welcome into our homes and hearts. Every year pet owners spend a fortune indulging the nation’s 77 million dogs. Pooches have fast become the most loved animal known to man. According to reports by APPA, owners spend over $38.4 billion a year on commercial pet foods and treats. However, an increasing number of dog owners are looking for alternatives. A dog’s diet and nutrition are essential to prevent skin allergies, digestive problems, halitosis, and more.
Today feeding our dogs couldn’t be easier. The shelves of grocery stores are heaving with countless brands and types of dog food.
The first dog to roam the earth over 30 million years ago was the wild wolf. The domestication of wolves into pet dogs started approximately twenty thousand years ago. Since then the man/ dog relationship has evolved almost entirely around food. Owners are looking for alternative diets as concerns around commercial food increase.
Today people are opting for homemade food for their dog in growing numbers. It is all about the ingredients that go into your dog’s bowl. Homemade food gives owners the ability to customize the food based on their dog’s allergies, amount of protein required, and use of fresh veggies. Preparing homemade food will help lessen the chance of ailments like stomach cancer.
Pros of Homemade Food
Homemade Raw Diet
A growing trend is homemade food that is either raw or cooked. At its simplest, the raw homemade food is about feeding your dog a daily diet of fresh raw, uncooked meat and fresh veggies. Advocates believe raw meat mimics the diet a dog would eat in the wild because it is uncooked with the same nutrients. Supporters of the natural diet include several qualified vets, who say that a proper diet is the most vital part of keeping a dog healthy and happy. According to leading veterinarian Richard Allport, changing to a raw diet can make a big difference to a dog’s health.
Chronic skin conditions caused by diet or a flea allergy is brutal for your dog. This is why it’s highly recommended for pet owners to choose the best flea treatment for dogs. Many dog owners have reported that since going raw they have faced fewer digestive problems and skin allergies.
A vital part of the natural diet is uncooked bones, which has helped most dogs to have much healthier teeth. A wholesome, nutritious meal for dogs requires the right ratio of different meats, raw bones, and vegetables. Some raw food companies have processed the food into neat little packages, including frozen sausages, duck, beef, and chicken.
Eliminates Harmful Ingredients
Processed food contains grains are not essential in a dog’s daily diet because canines can’t digest grains effectively. Poor nutrition from harmful ingredients can lead to other problems such as skin allergies, and Inflammatory bowel disease. Obesity and diabetes are directly linked to diet. A dog with diabetes is prescribed food by a vet that is a high-protein, low carbohydrate diet. Dogs deserve to eat what makes them healthy and will extend their lives. Most commercial foods also contain a wide range of additives, enhancers, artificial colorants, and flavorings to make it more enticing to the dog.
Cons of Homemade Food
Highly Priced
Owners find it easier to select a product based on availability and affordability than they do by sourcing high quality ingredients. Homemade food diets aren’t easy for many pet owners to follow because of cost. Preparing daily homemade meals with compositions of high nutritional ingredients can be expensive. This is why many pet owners are advised to follow a 50/50 meal plan. Here they can substitute 2-3 meals a week with the best quality kibble while taking note of its ingredient list.
If you are not able to provide homemade food to your dog daily, it’s still beneficial to introduce some portions of raw meals as a nutritional alternative.
