Alternatives to Premade Dog Food

After the pet food recalls of 2007 many pet owners are leery of what they feed their animals. Dogs and cats alike are beloved members of many families. We want nothing but the best for our pets, if you have little faith in the pet food on the market, what can you do?

First of all, research the brand of food you feed your dogs and cats. Where is it produced? What grade of food is in the formula? Does the food contain a lot of fillers? As a rule, I don't feed my pets a food that I would not eat myself, therefor I buy a human grade pet food, that contains grade A meat, vegetables and fruit.

If you are overly concerned about what your pet is eating, talk to your veterinarian. Explain your concerns, ask for recommendations. If you simply put, can not trust a pre made dog or cat food, talk to your veterinarian about your pets nutrition needs, and with little effort you prepare your own dog or cat food. This will offer you peace of mind, as you will know exactly what is in your cat or dog's food.

When preparing your pet's food, please follow the same food safety rules as you would for human consumption, to insure your pet does not fall victim to food born illness. Of course there are foods that are not healthy for animals. Dogs should never eat mushrooms, avocados, raisins, onions or chocolate to name a few.

A simple and nutritious recipe for dog food that I often use is as follows:

You will need:
4 cups of uncooked rice
10 cups of water
1/4 cup of oats
1 teaspoon of salt
2 beaten eggs
2 cups of finely chopped vegetables
½ cup of milk
½ pound of ground meat
3 teaspoons of corn oil

In a large sauce pan add uncooked rice, water, oats and salt. Bring to a boil, then add milk, meat, corn oil, eggs, and vegetables. Stir well, reduce heat by half, allow to cook for 15 minutes or until all water is absorbed. Spread on a cookie sheet (or two) in a thin layer, allow to cool completely, cut into three inch squares. Store in the refrigerator in an air tight container.

Your dog will love this recipe, you can use any ground meat, such as beef, chicken or turkey. Suggested vegetables include broccoli , carrots, green beans, peas. You can also add apples to the vegetables.

It is important to discuss this with your veterinarian, as he or she will be able to offer insight and advice on the proper method for switching your dogs diet, a drastic change in food can cause digestive troubles for your dog. If you are making the switch to a home made food, please take care to cook the food properly, and have fun creating new recipes for the delight of your pets!