The Importance of Home-Produced Dog Foods
Article by Olivia Treshkow
Mass produced dog food is an item of convenience for the human owners of dogs. Even the ultra-premium kibbles and canned foods are still highly processed foods that may contain ingredients or supplements that some dogs do not need nor can tolerate. The prevalence of soy being used in mass produced dog food recipes is causing many owners to report issues of itching, scratching, hair loss and digestive upset. There are many dog breeds that have traits inherent to each breed, and within each breed there are idiosyncrasies unique to each animal. Some dogs appear to thrive on commercial dog food while others do not. They may be listless, have dull dry coats, and suffer from recurring ear infections, flatulence, and loose stools. Females may have recurring urinary tract infections too. Not all issues can be traced to diet, but many can. The number one benefit of homemade dog food is that the ingredients and cooking are one hundred percent known and controlled by the preparer. The number one drawback is that the food needs to be prepared at home. Making homemade dog food doesn't have to be time consuming. With just a minimal investment in some plastic freezer containers, a couple of week of meals can quickly be prepared at one time. Preparing homemade dog food can be eco-friendly especially if produce from one's own garden is used. Though dogs should never be fed certain vegetables or fruits such as onions, grapes or raisins, many of the vegetables the rest of the family loves can go into Fido's meals too. Let's face it, most of us feed our dogs stuff from the table anyway, and most of it isn't bad for the dog either. Mostly it is the quantity, not what a dog eats, that is the problem. Commercial dog food is a relatively recent success. It was in the fifties when more people started to feed their dogs commercially prepared dog foods. There were commercially prepared dog foods before 1950, but the success in the fifties came with the Purina company. It wasn't until the late eighties or early nineties that anyone was feeding the so-called premium dog foods then came along the ultra-premium dog foods. Still, it is all processed food. If processed foods are not good for us, how can they be good for our dogs? Buying some fresh chicken on sale, adding some vegetables and some rice can make a good meal for many dog breeds. Take a look at the ingredients of the food already being fed. There are many recipes available that promote healthy balanced meals for canines made from fresh ingredients at home. Take a look here for some examples of homemade dog food recipes. Most of us have often wondered how that bag of kibble can really be good for dogs. No need to wonder about homemade meals with the source of all of the ingredients and the preparation method fully known.
About the Author
Olivia Treshkow, from Chazhound.com,submitted this article. Go to Chazhound for a killer selection of upscale dog beds!
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Purina® Pro Plan® Dog Food www.proplan.com -- Official Sponsor of the Westminster Dog Show Purina® Pro Plan® knows that inside every good dog is a great dog. Every dog breed, big or small, purebred or mutt, has something amazing within them. Knowing what your dog has been bred for could be the key to unlocking the greatness inside. Find the greatness in your dog at http
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