There are vast differences between over-the-counter dog food and dog food that the pet's owner makes at home. Sometimes store-bought dog food is a necessary evil for pet owners who do not have time to make dog food. However, it is important to know that there are many dangerous chemicals found in some store bought dog foods. Your local veterinarian should be able to provide information for you regarding which food you should pick for your dog.
Store-bought dog foods can also be beneficial as it lets the pet owner be certain that the dog is getting all of the things that a good diet requires. Custom made dog food is useful when the pet owner wants the dog to get more of a certain nutrient. The switch from store-bought to homemade should be a slow one. It is a bad idea to suddenly stop giving your dog store-bought food. Instead, maybe one meal could be store-bought and the next made by hand. A caution: in making food by hand you should be very careful in choosing the ingredients.
If you try to make the change all of once, the dog may become ill or malnourished. To help you decide which your dog prefers, offer both in the same meal. Then, if the dog likes the hand-made food, you can start to work out a diet. Vegetables are a good place to start. Most vegetables, especially green, leafy vegetables, are very helpful to a dog's diet as are potatoes. Regarding fruit, most fruits can be enjoyed by any dog and can be a great addition to their diet. A warning: grapes, like certain other fruits, can be dangerous for your dog. In fact, grapes can kill your dog. Whether you cook this food or serve it without cooking it is not important.
Store-bought dog foods can also be beneficial as it lets the pet owner be certain that the dog is getting all of the things that a good diet requires. Custom made dog food is useful when the pet owner wants the dog to get more of a certain nutrient. The switch from store-bought to homemade should be a slow one. It is a bad idea to suddenly stop giving your dog store-bought food. Instead, maybe one meal could be store-bought and the next made by hand. A caution: in making food by hand you should be very careful in choosing the ingredients.
If you try to make the change all of once, the dog may become ill or malnourished. To help you decide which your dog prefers, offer both in the same meal. Then, if the dog likes the hand-made food, you can start to work out a diet. Vegetables are a good place to start. Most vegetables, especially green, leafy vegetables, are very helpful to a dog's diet as are potatoes. Regarding fruit, most fruits can be enjoyed by any dog and can be a great addition to their diet. A warning: grapes, like certain other fruits, can be dangerous for your dog. In fact, grapes can kill your dog. Whether you cook this food or serve it without cooking it is not important.
You must also remember to give your dog meat. Eggs, about two days per week, as well as yogurt, for something sweet, can also be helpful. Again, be careful in selecting ingredients as some may be harmful.
Grapes, as we have mentioned, can kill your dog. You should also avoid feeding your dog any food that has caffeine or theobromine. These can also make your dog sick. These are found not only in the usual suspects, such as chocolate, but also in certain breads as well as certain pastas. Spicy foods, fattening foods, and fried foods should be avoided. Pasta, assuming it contains none of the aforementioned harmful ingredients, can be good. Some dogs have food allergies. You should be aware of your dog's food allergies. You should also clear the diet you have put together with a veterinarian. This way, the change in diet won't be counter-productive.
