Celebrate National Cook for Your Pets Day on November 1st

On November 1^st, show your pets how much they mean to you and cook them a special meal for National Cook for Your Pets Day. We all love our pets and instead of opening a can of wet food or giving them some dry crunchiness, treat them to some delicious homemade food that they deserve. When you cook for them, you are showing them how much you love them to honor this special day and they will be receiving a gourmet treat made especially by you.

Do you remember when there was a pet food recall in 2007? By the end of March in 2007, veterinary organizations reported more than 100 pet deaths and approximately 500 cases of kidney failure. The Food and Drug Administration received reports of approximately 8,500 animal deaths, which included 1,950 cats, and 2,200 dogs that died after eating contaminated food. Although humans have a lot of food recalls lately, by you cooking for your pet, you can also ensure you are cooking the food properly and cooking with the proper foods. You are in control and you can control the natural ingredients that are being consumed by your pet.

Here are some very important tips to remember that should be followed when your pet consumes human food.

Always cook your meat

Raw meat can be very dangerous to your pet and could make them very ill. They can have dangerous bacteria and pathogens. Always cook meat thoroughly, if it can make us ill, it can sure make your pet ill.

Do Not Add Seasonings

You don't need to add seasoning for your pets. They like it just the way it is, why introduce them to the luxury of seasoning, what they don't know won't hurt them. We as humans avoid excessive seasonings to stay healthier and it is a good rule of thumb to follow for your pets.

Introduce New Foods Gradually

Always introduce new foods to your pet slowly. If you introduce a new food, you need to do it gradually with their regular food. You want to make sure your pet can tolerate the food.

Check with your Vet

Check with your vet before changing your pets diet. Your pet may have certain health problems and your vet may suggest that the should not have certain foods based on their health.

Foods to Avoid

There are certain foods that you should avoid feeding your pets that can cause them harm. ASPCA has the list of foods that you should avoid. Some of these foods can cause your pet to vomit, have diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, decreased coordination, difficulty breathing, weakness, depression, kidney failure, and much more.

Chocolate

Coffee

Caffeine

Alcohol

Avocado

Macadamia Nuts

Grapes and Raisins

Yeast Dough

Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs, and Bones

Xylitol (sweetener used in products)

Onions

Garlic

Chives

Milk

Salt

Cookforyourpets.com has some delicious recipes on their website that you can make for your pet. They include Minty Fresh Herbal Dog Bones, Dog Chicken Livers, Dog Cheese Twists, Dog Rocky Road Trip Carob Bars, Dog Love Snaps, Feline Fish Balls, Ham It Up Kitty Treats, Cat Tuna Pops, Bird Pudding, Tasty Bird Treat, Balls Bunny Biscuits, and Horse Cookies that are courtesy of www.petfoodies.com. You can find all the recipes at www.cookforyourpets.com and even more recipes at www.petfoodies.com.

Do something nice for your pets on November 1st and plan a nice home cooked meal for them.

www.cookforyourpets.com

http://www.cookforyourpets.com/recipes.htm

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/people-foods.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page