The Patio Expert Pages

With the recent recalls of dog and cat products that were found to have harmful ingredients and chemicals, many pet owners want to know how to avoid such scares while feeding their dogs only the best pet food. And this choice can be a confusing one, with dozens of brands and hundreds of variants on the market. What can a caring owner safely feed their beloved pets?

Information is vital for a pet owner who is truly concerned about their pet's nutrition. This can be found in libraries and a vast number of internet websites dedicated to pet nutrition and dog food ratings that will tell you how to choose a pet food based on ingredients, history and guaranteed analysis. In the end, the best diet is one that is prepared at home.

A homemade dog food can be made using the freshest chemical ingredients, and still cost a lot less than a commercial food. While it can take some time and planning to prepare, your pet's health will certainly thank you for it, and he will show these benefits in his coat and energy levels in a very short time.

First, brown 1lb of lamb or beef in a frying pan, then add 1-2 medium potatoes, and 3 medium carrots, cubed. Add a few stalks of broccoli, then cover with hot water and bring to a boil. Add pepper to taste, and 1-2 cups of brown rice. For good measure, you can also add a good quality doggy vitamin supplement. Your dog is sure to love this simple recipe.

Pets can be picky with new foods, so a gradual switch might be in order. Begin by mixing larger and larger portions of the new pet food with the old so that your pet has a chance to become used to it. Cooked bones can fragment and become lodged in a pet's throat and digestive tract and should be avoided in a dog food. So should ingredients like chocolate, nuts, garlic and onions and mushrooms.

Using this, and many other dog food recipes available on the internet and in libraries, a pet owner can make sure that his pooch is eating a complete, balanced diet, free of additives and harmful chemicals that are often used in pet food. Soon, obvious improvements in your dog's energy levels and coat, even his teeth can be noticed, proving what a healthy diet, prepared with love can do.