| Believe it or not, most commercial dog food isn't | | | | number of ounces your dog needs to eat every |
| really healthy for your dog. Most commercially | | | | day and from there you can decide how those |
| made dog foods contain animal parts that were | | | | ounces should be served. |
| never meant to be included in food. They also | | | | Natural dog food |
| contain a host of preservatives and chemicals | | | | You can feed natural ingredients to your dog in |
| that are there to increase the food's shelf life, not | | | | cooked or raw form. The most important thing is |
| help your dog stay healthy. Keeping your dog fed | | | | to make sure that they get the nutrients they |
| with healthy dog food is not as hard as it sounds. | | | | need in the amounts they need. |
| Sometimes all it takes is reading the label. | | | | Naturally made healthy dog food is far more |
| Sometimes, if you want to be one hundred | | | | convenient than commercially made dog food. |
| percent sure that your dog's food is safe, you | | | | While most people prefer commercially bagged or |
| can make it yourself! | | | | canned dog food because of its ease, the dog |
| Make your own dog food recipe | | | | food you make yourself will save you time and |
| If you are thinking of making your own dog food | | | | money in the long run. The ingredients for your |
| here are some simple steps to follow: | | | | dogs food do not have to be expensive - they |
| 1. Meat is the most important ingredient. Make | | | | are basically the same foods that you are buying |
| sure the meat is fresh - the best kind to use is | | | | for your family. Another reason home made or |
| meat from a meat processor or butcher. They | | | | natural food is better is that, in the long run, it |
| can grind the meat up for you if you would like | | | | saves you time and money on trips to the |
| them to. The meat can be beef, lamb or chicken | | | | veterinarian and gives you more time with your |
| (some people also use fish). | | | | pet (dogs who eat natural food live longer). |
| 2. Vegetables need to be added to every meal. | | | | Homemade dog food is healthy |
| The best vegetables to use are broccoli, yams, | | | | While it is certainly easy to run out to the store |
| beets, sweet potatoes, zucchini, pumpkin, carrots, | | | | and grab a bag of the cheapest doggie kibble |
| cucumber and squash. Stay away from beans, | | | | available, this is not what is best for the four |
| spinach, chard, garlic, bell peppers, potatoes, | | | | legged member of your family. Dogs have dietary |
| onions, beet greens and spinach as these have | | | | needs just like humans do and often, the |
| been known to lead to digestive problems and red | | | | commercially made dog food does not cater to |
| blood cell damage. | | | | these needs. By paying attention to your dogs |
| 3. The best way to figure out how much food to | | | | nutrition and the ingredients of his food, you are |
| feed your dog is to take its body weight and | | | | making sure that your dog leads a long and |
| then multiply it by 0.4. This will give you the | | | | healthy life. Isn't your best friend worth it? |