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Spoil Your Pets with
Homemade Pet Food
Our beloved pets are part of our family, so why not ensure that their meals are as nutritious as ours? Processed pet food contains many preservatives and fillers. It also quite simply does not contain the same amount of vitamins and minerals as fresh food, and very often is not the correct constitution for our pets’ digestive track.
So whether you have dogs or cats, let’s take a look at the facts about store bought pet food and find some healthy, nutritious, homemade alternatives.
Homemade Food for Dogs
It is important to ensure your dog has a well-balanced diet that provides all of the essential food groups and minerals that they require for optimal health. Most processed dog foods do not contain enough iron, copper, calcium or zinc. Dogs need protein such as animal meat, seafood, dairy, and eggs. Carbohydrates in the form of raw grains or vegetables give dogs a broad range of necessary vitamins. Calcium and essential fatty acids are also a vital part of any dog’s diet.
Certain breeds of dogs are highly susceptible to illnesses such as diabetes and liver disease. These, as well as many other ailments – can be prevented simply by providing your dog with a well-balanced diet.
It is advisable to always follow a recommended diet from a reputable dog nutritionist. Creating your own recipes can have detrimental effects on your dog’s health and often not provide the right balance of nutrients.
Also, don’t swap ingredients. For example, corn, canola, and walnut oil provide certain essential fatty acids that olive oil and coconut oil don’t contain.
There are also several common foods that are highly toxic – and often fatal – to dogs. These include chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, avocados, and Macadamia nuts. For a full list of toxic foods check out the Pet Poison Helpline list.
Managing your dog’s weight
Many dog owners are concerned about obesity and therefore reduce portion sizes in an attempt to curb excess weight. This may in fact lead to nutritional deficiencies and result in your dog scavenging for scraps wherever he can find them. Opt rather for using lean meat (less than 10% fat) and removing all skin from chicken, fat from beef, etc.
Meat should also comprise a minimum of 65% of your dog’s diet. Again, the problem with many lower-grade products on the market is that they use processed fillers to bulk up the food instead of adhering to the recommended dietary ratios and this can quickly result in weight-related issues.
Main foods to include
Fish
provides an excellent source of essential vitamin D and omegas. Canned fish with bones, such as sardines, mackerel and pink salmon provide additional calcium too. Opt for including this in your dog’s diet twice a week.
Eggs
are high in protein and can be added to any meal. Typically, most medium to large sized dogs are allowed to have one whole egg every day. Simply blend an organic whole raw egg (including the shell) and pour over your dog’s meal for an added protein boost.
Fruit
is an excellent alternative to processed treats. Fruit provides vitamin C and antioxidants, but should only comprise 10% of your dog’s weekly diet. Opt for melons, berries, bananas, apples or pears. And again, remember that grapes and raisins are highly toxic to dogs.
Vegetables
such as potatoes, sweet potatoes and pumpkin provide your dog with a healthy source of essential carbohydrates. Green leafy vegetables provide roughage and iron. Always remember to cook vegetables first as raw veggies can cause digestive upsets.
Grains
include oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, barley, and pasta. White rice is also a very common choice; however it does lack nutritional value. Be careful to not include a large quantity of grains as they are very high in fibre and can cause diarrhoea.
Homemade Food for Cats
Cats are primarily carnivorous, so ensure that your cat’s diet is comprised of at least 80% protein in the form of meat, poultry, and fish.
Dehydrated cat food – known as kibble – is often bulked up with low-nutrient carbohydrates. It contains proteins derived from plants instead of animals which do not provide your cat with the correct enzymes and proteins. Kibble is also very low in water content which results in urinary tract infections that can often be life-threatening.
Kibble has also resulted in an increased number of cats who suffer from diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and obesity.
Many cat owners tend to become frustrated at the unsightly presence of a devoured bird or mouse in the living room, but what you need to remember is that all your cat is doing is trying to source lacking nutrients. Meat, bone, organs, omegas, calcium, and other essential vitamins are all readily available in a bird or a mouse.
Main foods to include
Meat
should always be lean (less than 10% fat). But unlike dogs, cats can easily digest raw meat, and it is often better for their digestive track than cooked meat. Raw, lean mince is a great option for cats. Cats can have raw bones as cooked bones are likely to splinter and cause internal injury. Too many raw bones however can lead to constipation and, as a general rule, it is safer to avoid bones all together.
Chicken
should always be boiled to avoid the risk of salmonella. Refrain from pan frying in oil and spices as cats do not need any of these taste enhancers. Also, remember to always remove the skin.
Fish
such as tinned tuna, sardines, or pilchards (in oil not sauce) are suitable for cats. However, do not give your cat any raw fish as it contains thiaminase which breaks down thiamine. A thiamine deficiency can cause neurological problems and convulsions in cats. Fish should not comprise more than 25% of your cat’s weekly protein.
What to avoid
Interestingly, cats should not drink milk after kitten stage. Most cats are lactose intolerant as they do not produce adequate amounts of lactase to properly digest milk. Ensure instead that there is always fresh water available.
As with dogs, many common foods are fatal to cats. The list includes onions, garlic, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes, raisins, nuts, fruit stones, tomatoes, and mushrooms.
While raw eggs are ideal for dogs, raw eggs make your cat susceptible to salmonella and other parasites that could lead to pancreatitis. Cooked eggs are suitable but should only be consumed occasionally.
As a general rule, don’t give any bones to cats. While they will gladly devour an entire bird or mouse, these bones are soft enough and small enough to digest without harm. Chicken bones and meat bones, however, are dangerous and should therefore be avoided.
As you can see, dogs and cats have very different dietary requirements. So if you have both dogs and cats in your home, ensure that you prepare their food separately and follow the above guidelines. Providing your dogs and cats with healthy, nutritious homemade meals is a great way to promote their longevity. Our furry friends really deserve the best!
Before treating your dogs and cats to any homemade treats, make sure you check out the Pet Poison Helpline for a comprehensive list of all common foods that are in fact poisonous for our pets. And also consult with your vet before making any changes to your pet’s diet.
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