Walk down the pet food aisle of any grocery store and you will find hundreds of choices. Who has time to read all of the ingredients? While you may assume all of them are technically safe for your dog, that does not necessarily mean they are beneficial for him or her. Feeding Fido important so why not buy good, natural food.
In with the Good
If you are purchasing food, look for ingredients that sound natural. Canines are carnivores, so look for meat. Optimal choices are:
- Chicken
- Beef
- Duck
- Liver
- Eggs
- Fish
Just as for people, oats and quinoa are excellent grain choices. Among the vegetables, look for sweet potatoes, peas and carrots.
Make It Yourself
Commercially packaged foods are usually highly processed, making it difficult to call the included vegetables “natural.” The best way to know what all the included ingredients are is to make it yourself. If you are willing to put in the time and effort, homemade food can be a better option for your pocketbook as well.
A rule of thumb is to use fresh meat, and only what you would eat yourself. Feeding Fido should be cost efficient and tasty as well.Also, the fat content should be no more than 20 percent. Your dog can benefit from some vegetables as well, although that should be less than one-quarter of the dish. Some veggies are not good for your pet: avoid onions, garlic, spinach, tomatoes and green peppers. You can use ingredients such as:
- Squashes like zucchini and pumpkin
- Broccoli or cauliflower
- Green beans
- Beets
There is no need to include grains. In fact, dogs do not have the digestive enzymes to break down carbohydrates. As a result, carbs can cause physical issues such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and kidney problems. Many canines are particularly sensitive to wheat and corn, both of which are commonly used as fillers in packaged pet food.
You can help your pet stay healthy and avoid digestive problems by feeding him or her natural ingredients. If you are purchasing food, look for choices that include real ingredients, not a bunch of fillers. When you have time, why not offer your pet a home-cooked meal?