Dog Health Blog

Copyright - Laurie Raphael

Everyone with a dog thinks theirs is the best, or at least they should. The urge is to lavish affection on your pet, to spoil them even. But of course, you can’t just let your dog have everything it wants, and if you’re the sort of dog owner who gives treats frequently you might want to consider making your own dog treats. Don’t be put off, it’s much easier than you might think. And best of all, if you make your own homemade dog treats, you can control exactly what goes into them; a luxury you don’t have when buying treats at pet shops or grocery stores. Homemade treats can even be healthy for your dog.

Many books on dog health and natural pet care will contain a recipe or two for homemade dog treats, these can be a good source if you happen to have these sort of books handy. However, the internet contains a large number of websites devoted to natural dog care and foods and many recipes can be found here too. A simple search engine query will turn up thousands of hits on the topic. These are a goldmine for those of you pondering whether to cook up a batch of treats for the family pet.

The process of actually making your own dog treats is very much like baking cookies. And just like that activity, making treats for the dog is something your children may be interested in helping with. If you think of this as a fun thing rather than an arduous ordeal, you’ll find yourself and the rest of your family actually looking forward to making more treats for the dog. Try using cookie cutters to make them into shapes. The dog may not notice, but it makes the whole process more fun.

Like cookies, the treats should be stored in airtight containers once they have cooled. Remember, your homemade dog treats can go stale or rancid just like any other food product (and as the recipes often contain meat, you’ll want to be extra careful – you don’t want your good intentions to end up with the dog having a case of food poisoning). Treats can, of course, be refrigerated or frozen as needed. Make sure they are fully thawed before giving them to your dog.

Besides being healthier than most store bought dog treats, the ones you make at home generally are made from things found in the average kitchen. No exotic ingredients are needed to make your own homemade dog treats, which makes them an even more attractive option to pet owners. Just follow recipes, or invent your own, making sure to steer clear of known problem ingredients for dogs such as grapes and raisins, onions, chocolate and all but the smallest quantities of garlic. If in doubt about an ingredient, consult with your veterinarian. The last thing you want to do is experiment with your pet’s health. Happy baking and have fun, your dog will thank you (as soon as those treats are out of the oven!).

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Many pet owners these days are opting to shift away from commercial dog foods and towards all natural dog food, often of the homemade variety. It’s not as hard as many think to move to a natural homemade alternative diet for your pet. You should consult your veterinarian prior to making changes in your dog’s diet. Your vet is a good source for your pet’s specific nutritional needs; they are familiar with your dog’s medical history and can make you aware of any special needs your dog may have for supplements, and inform you if there’s anything that should be avoided.

Vegetables may be added to your pets diet if you are making homemade food for your dog. This is not only economical, but healthy. Crush or blend vegetables before adding however, otherwise your dog will be unable to reap the nutrients of the vegetables. The reason for this is that unlike humans, dogs are unable to break down cellulose and thusly need their veggies pre-pulped.

Fresh meats should be a major ingredient in a homemade all natural dog food program. Start your dog with lean meats such as chicken. Organ meats may be added later in moderation; a high fat diet is no better for your dog than for you. Be sure to cook meats before giving them to your pet. Although your dog will certainly be willing to eat raw meat, cooking it will destroy potentially harmful bacteria that could cause health problems.

Keep your dog’s diet balanced. This is key to any diet plan, whether for a human or for the family dog. Typically, a dog’s diet should be comprised of a ratio of 40% protein, 30% starch and 30% fiber. Again, consult with your veterinarian. They can help you figure out a plan for an all natural dog food plan that works optimally for your dog. Your veterinarian may also be able to point you towards resources to help you plan a healthy diet for your dog, as well as having valuable advice about what supplements your dog may require.

One good piece of preparation for switching your dog to a homemade diet is to look through websites on the topic (and there are many to be found). These sites often feature recipes for your pet, as well as containing a wealth of information from other dog owners who have already made the switch to all natural dog food.

Feeding all natural will greatly reduce the physical and mental speed of premature aging in our pets, associated with a lifetime of poor nutrition. Several degenerative diseases, such as cancer, kidney disease, heart disease, arthritis, skin problems, bowel problems (such as Pancreatitis), and even diabetes have been found to either be hurried up or slowed down very much by what is eaten. Please keep in mind that by also feeding a properly put-together home-made or raw diet will provide these same benefits, and more!

You should also be aware that feeding an all natural or holistic diet can actually save you money in the long run. So your dog benefits and so do you.

If you have a pet, be it a rabbit or a rottweiler, you are of course concerned about your pet’s health. In this article we’re going to focus on dogs specifically, but the general principles apply to any household pet, with the possible exception of that pet rock you’re still keeping around in the attic from the 1970’s. Like any pet owner, you have a lot of pet health questions.

Your pet’s diet is no doubt the number one thing you can manage to ensure that your pet has a long, happy and healthy life. But at the same time, many pet owners know very little about nutrition, or that their pet may have specific needs that are going unmet by the pet food available at the local grocery store. There is a lot to know, but don’t be discouraged. Like anything that’s important to you, you’ll manage to learn more about the subject if you ever thought possible. Your pet is a member of the family, and when it comes to the health of your family, you’ll be amazed what you can do.

The first person you’ll want to go to with any pet health questions you may have is obvious: your veterinarian can provide you with a lot of information on a healthy diet tailored to your pet and geared towards achieving optimum health. This may involve anything from switching brands of pet food to making your own pet food at home, but as with any issue involving your pet, your vet should be the first stop.
With that caveat, the internet also contains a lot of information and tips for the pet owner.

For instance, is your pet overweight? If so, what should be done about it? You can find information on that topic, as well as read how others have managed their pet’s weight problems on some of the many websites devoted to pet health questions.
How can you get your pet’s dull coat back to a healthy shine? What foods should my pet not have, or have more of? All of these pet diet and health questions have answers. Have a talk with your vet, and peruse the pet websites for further reading.
The best way to approach this is when you find what seems to be an answer to your question, write it down to refer to next time you speak with your veterinarian. You’ll want their advice before proceeding with any course of action which may effect the health of your pet.

Take advantage of the goldmine of answers to your pet health questions that the web has made available to nearly every pet owner, but read carefully. Make sure to cross reference when possible. As we all know, the phrase “your mileage may vary” was coined for a reason. But rest assured, between your vet and the many other resources accessible to the pet owning public, the answer to your question is there.

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