In this post, we examine some of the issues that dog owners have with the pet food industry, and the reasons why they’ve moved to home cooked dog food. Plus we look at the health advantages of making your own dog food, and the significance of following a correct recipe!
We also provide you with a couple of recipes showing you how easy it is to make a nutritionally complete meal for your dog!
Reasons why people are switching to home cooked dog food!
Recalls of pet food are quite regular, and they’re usually caused by contaminants, foreign materials, nutritional imbalances, or packaging. Hundreds of pets have died since late December 2020 as a result of tainted pet food, according to the website TruthaboutPetfood.com. ‘The deaths might have been avoided if ingredients and pet foods were properly monitored’, according to the study. In the same period, 60 million pounds of corn-based dog and cat food were withdrawn owing to dangerous levels of aflatoxins, poisons produced by molds on agricultural crops.
Of the 559 pet food recalls in 2011, 94 percent were due to aflatoxin contamination. (Aflatoxins can cause illness (aflatoxicosis), liver damage, and death in pets at high doses.)
Many people have lost faith in the pet food business and are seeking to produce their own meals, but if you want to do it yourself, it has to be done correctly! If you don’t provide your dog with a balanced diet, you can cause him a lot of harm, so this is crucial!
Because the USDA, FDA, and even AFFCO (the American association of food control officials) regulate what commercial pet foods may include, you must have confidence in private pet food firms to disclose the truth about what they put on their labels.
Because of ‘contaminants,’ there have been a lot of dog food recalls lately, which is a good thing – but even with these recalls, there are still toxins in some pet foods that are not being caught by the regulatory agencies.
Furthermore, state laws regulating pet food are varied. They implement certain standards and regulations, although these codes and rules do not pertain to the quality, absorption, or digestibility of the dog food (the most essential aspects!).
A shocking recollection from a veterinarian, Dr. Pitcairn reads:
‘Having worked with livestock medicine in my early years, I know the significant percent of animals sent to slaughter, but not suitable for human consumption, have first been extensively treated with drugs. Since veterinary treatment failed, they are then processed for whatever monetary value can be captured by turning them into food – mostly pet food.
More reasons why
There are a lot of good reasons to create your own diet for your dog, but the most important is that you know what’s in it!
You have total control over what nutrition your pet gets with homemade meals because you can avoid the chemicals, preservatives, and colors, as well as low-quality ingredients and fillers that are commonly included in commercial pet foods.
There’s nothing more distressing than seeing phrases like “rendered meats” or “animal by-products” on your dog’s food ingredients label, which may include a lot of animal pieces and components that are undesirable to your dog.
Another advantage is the low cost! Feeding your dog at home may save you money! A 15-pound bag of high-end dry dog food costs around $42, plus there are additional expenses for supplementing vitamins and minerals, so it might end up being more expensive than making high-quality balanced meals in your kitchen then freezing them.
Species appropriateness
All animals are designed to digest and absorb foods that were intended for them, ie, cattle allows their jaw range of motion to chew. Dogs swallow their food because the only movement in their jaws is up and down. Dogs have extremely sharp teeth that are meant to tear and rip flesh. Because carnivores consume meals contaminated with germs, they produce highly acidic saliva to kill the germs and protect their own health. The digestive system of a dog is short; it only takes about one hour for foods to pass through as opposed to humans that have up 12-18 hours digestion time.
The domestic dogs’ stomach acidity is different than any other animal, including humans who are omnivores. The stomach acidity of a dog is very strong with the pH being anywhere from around 0 to as low as -0.85 when they are digesting bones, which comes in between 12 and 20 times stronger than human acids!
Carnivores’ diet in the wild included a wide range and seasonal change, which meant that particular species were more common at certain times of the year. They thrived on fresh live and whole animals. Dogs did not evolve to eat manufactured, processed food.
A species-appropriate diet is a diet that is biologically correct for the animal that is eating it.
The very best diet for your dog is minimally processed and balanced with high-quality meat. A species appropriate diet includes fresh meat without any added carbohydrates and more closely matches how dogs ate in the wild, providing a more natural and nutritious meal than what you would find in the shops.
Many people are learning about how to properly nourish their dogs and understand that offering them masses of carbohydrates, such as grains, corn, wheat, and soy (which may be found in many commercial dog foods), can be difficult for your dog to digest and can even cause allergies. It is not the proper way of feeding them!
Businessman James Spratt introduced the first commercially-prepared pet food in England in approximately 1860. In more recent years there has been a marked reduction in the longevity of pets due to the sub-standard nature of most commercial dog foods. These foods have been heated to high temperatures during the manufacturing process (thereby losing essential vitamins, minerals and enzymes), and also contain cheap fillers and low-grade ingredients.
”If diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. If diet is correct, medicine is of no need.”
Historically then, 99.999 % of the time dogs have consumed a raw diet…..and for 0.0001% of the time, dogs have consumed a processed diet. Dogs evolved to consume a low carb diet and in the last 100 years, the majority of owners have unwittingly fed their pet a high carbohydrate, low moisture diet causing significant metabolic and physiological stress resulting in degenerative diseases and inflammation that is very prevalent today.
Total control
Making your own dog food will give you total control over the ingredients you buy, with the added benefits of no preservatives or additives involved. In general, your home-prepared recipes should include a high-value protein source (muscle meat, eggs, fish), a high-quality fat source (safflower oil, olive oil, canola oil or fish oil; salmon, trout, halibut and cod contain two to five times more omega-3 than omega-6), and maybe a fiber-containing carbohydrate (brown rice, sweet potato, oats, barley), plus a phytochemical source (fruits, vegetables, herbs).
It is vital to follow a recipe to ensure that your dog is getting all the necessary vitamins and minerals he needs.
If your dog is having difficulties maintaining its weight, some of the higher-carb veggies might be acceptable in specific situations. If you have a lean dog with issues keeping weight, vegetable sources of carbohydrates may be beneficial. The benefit of selecting your pet’s vegetables means that you may also pick higher antioxidant greens or ones with medicinal effects.
You can purchase large quantities of meats and vegetables when they go on sale, prepare, package, and freeze enough for several weeks, this is the best way to save time!
It's vital to follow a recipe!
Dogs require different nutrients than humans. For example, they require greater amounts of high-quality protein, calcium, and minerals to match their overall body size. (see our article on Dog Nutritional Needs: The Essentials). Calcium is particularly significant for dogs, so it’s critical (this cannot be overstated!) that you follow a recipe that will ensure you are meeting all of the nutritional requirements for your pet
Make sure you choose a diet book whose recipes are AAFCO compliant and NRC and Ancestral diet compliant. This will ensure that your dog will be getting ALL of the nutritionally balanced food he needs to thrive.
How to make nutritionally complete and balanced food for your dog.
Ingredients:
14oz LEAN GROUND BEEF (great for protein, 2 teaspoons of HEMPSEED OIL (this will balance the fats), 1/2 teaspoon of COD LIVER OIL or HALF A CAN OF SARDINES( for Vit D & E ), 1/2 teaspoon of GINGER ( great for Manganese), 1/2 teaspoon of KELP ( packed with iodine), 1 EGG ( Grind half the eggshell in because this will meet the Calcium requirements of an ADULT dog), BEEF LIVER – 1oz (This provides Copper, Zinc, and Iron), BROCCOLI & SPINACH- 1oz ( this adds antioxidants, enzymes, and fiber)
Now all you have to do is mix it together! Be sure to pack some and freeze it for next time. There are plenty of homemade recipe books on the market, but as we mentioned be sure to choose one whose recipes are AAFCO compliant and NRC and Ancestral diet compliant which means your dog will be getting ALL of the nutritionally balanced food he needs.
Another easy-to-prepare, perfectly balanced meal for your dog!
Ingredients:
400g GROUND BEEF, 1 RAW EGG (Large), Half a can of SARDINES (Canned in Water), Half a Cup of BROWN RICE, 1 Large SWEET POTATO (180g), Half a Cup of CARROTS, Half a Cup of BROCOLLI, 1oz BELL PEPPER, 1 MEDIUM APLLE, 1 Cup of SPINACH, 1 Cup of GREEN BEENS, 1 teaspoon of KELP POWDER, Half of the EGGSHELL. Once again, all of your dog’s nutritional requirements will be met by the above ingtedients.
Don’t forget to be sure to choose a diet book whose recipes are AAFCO compliant and NRC and Ancestral diet compliant which means your dog will be getting ALL of the nutritionally balanced food he needs.
Home cooked dog food - what to do next?
Did you know that a dog’s gut health has a significant influence on its overall health? A recent scientific study reports that 70% to 80% of all illness begins in the gastrointestinal tract! discover why this supplement is vital for your dog’s immune system and overall health-Full Bucket’s Probiotic supplements
Plus, were you aware that several foods in your kitchen are toxic to your dog! In our article, what can dogs not eat, we’ll list these foods, and show you how to recognise the symptoms that your dog has ingested something toxic – and what to do if he has!
References:
- https://truthaboutpetfood.com/category/pet-food-recalls/
- https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/aflatoxin-poisoning
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/What-Is-AAFCO-and-What-Does-It-Do
- Sciencedirect.com
- Dr Karen Becker
