As a pet owner, I was concerned by the recent pet food scare and wondered how I could take better care of my beloved pets. I spent many days and hundreds of hours combing the internet for information regarding pet nutrition and culling through hundreds of recipes. I believe I have gathered the cream of the crop here.
Pets are a cherished part of the family. Making sure our pets are fed nutritious food is important. Making your own pet food is not only easy and fun; it is also very cost effective! Your pets will love the variety of flavors and youll see a big difference in the shine of their coat as well as in their energy level.
Nutrition for dogs
A healthy dog needs a healthy diet. Proper nutrition is important to several functions of a dogs body. It is necessary for the growth of the dog, as well as the repair of any body tissue that has sustained damage. Additionally, proper nutrition provides the energy the dog uses to go about his daily living activities. The major nutrients that all dogs need in their diet include carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Dogs require about 75% carbohydrate foods (grains and vegetables) to 25% fats and proteins (meats and supplements). All pet foods should be served at room temperature; don't serve food cold from the refrigerator or hot from the stove.
As a general rule feed your dogs in these amounts,
6 oz/day for 10 lb dog
12 oz/day for 20 lb dog
18 oz/day for 30 lb dog
24 oz/day for 40 lb dog
30-36 oz/day for 50-150 lb dog
Because animals are color blind they choose their foods by smell. Most dogs like gamey flavors best. Dogs may eat a variety of vegetables and some dogs even enjoy fruits! Dont add salt to homemade dog food; the natural salt in the food is enough for a dogs nutritional needs. It's a good idea to always add a grain, such as Kibble (recipe on page 13), wheat germ, cooked oatmeal or whole wheat bread to meat dinners.
Feed your puppy two to three times a day. An adult dog needs only one feeding per day. Try to feed your dog at the same time each day. This will help regulate their elimination and make it easier to house train puppies.
Always have a dish of water handy for your dog and keep it clean. Change your dogs water daily.
Know Good Health When You See It
A dog that is fed a well-balanced diet rich in beneficial nutrients shows many recognizable signs of good health.
Abundant energy
Brightness, a sparkle in his/her eyes and a sense that s/he is enjoying life
Healthy coat that is soft and shiny and doesnt mat easily
Little or no Doggie odor
Strong immune system, which keeps him/her healthy
Well-muscled body
Well-formed stool that is not voluminous and is easily produced, with no straining
Problems Associated with Low-Quality Diets
Common problems associated with low-quality diets include:
Dull, greasy coat, usually accompanied by dandruff
Low energy level
Skin odor
Susceptibility to generalized infections, such as ear infections that become chronic or skin infections caused by greasy, seborrheic skin
Thin, undernourished appearance
Voluminous stool
FOODS YOU MAY FEED YOUR DOG
DAIRY
Eggs
Grated Cheese
Cottage Cheese
Plain Yogurt
FRUITS
Bananas
Blackberry
Blueberry
Cherries (STONE REMOVED)
Kiwis
Melons
Papaya
Peaches
Apples
Bananas
Oranges
MEATS
Beef
Deer
Chicken
Fish (DEBONED)
Ground Beef
Lamb
Mutton
Organ Meats such as heart, kidney and liver
Rabbit
Turkey
VEGETABLES Veggies need to either be boiled and mashed or pureed
Asparagus
Avocado
Beets
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage: Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Dandelion Leaves
Kolrabi
Kale
Okra
Parsley
Parsnips
Peas
Pumpkin
Rutabagas
Squash
Sweet potatoes
Swiss chard
Turnips
Zucchini
SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS
Canola Oil with vitamin E
Cod Liver Oil
Crushed egg shells
Oyster calcium
Vitamin C
Use your imagination as you combine items from these lists to make some incredibly tasty and nutritious meals for your dog. Remember to use the supplemental items as they will aid in digestion and make the coat shine!
Nutrition for CATS A healthy cat needs a healthy diet. Proper nutrition is important to several functions of a cats body. It is necessary for the growth of the cat, as well as the repair of any body tissue that has sustained damage. Additionally, proper nutrition provides the energy the cat uses to go about his daily living activities. The major nutrients that all cats need in their diet include carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Dogs require about 10% carbohydrate foods (grains and vegetables) to 90% fats and proteins (meats and supplements). All pet foods should be served at room temperature; don't serve food cold from the refrigerator or hot from the stove. Feeding the correct diet will ensure the healthy formation of bones, teeth and internal organs, which will be reflected in the condition of your cats coat.
Cats should be fed two to three times a day.
As a general rule feed your cats in these amounts
3 oz/day for 5 lb cat
6 oz/day for 10 lbs cat
12 oz/day for 20 lbs cat
18 oz/day for 30 lbs cat
Cats must eat fresh food. Remember that cats are fussy eaters and it is not wise to continually feed them their favorite foods. Soon they will refuse to eat anything else; it is your job to see your cat has a balanced diet. Cats do not have the metabolic means to digest "ripe" food and get rid of any toxic byproducts; instead, they have evolved very specific taste and scent capabilities that would prevent them from eating anything that is not fresh. This, in part, is what accounts for the "pickiness" of cats. They are evolutionarily picky for good reason. Of course, the food you feed your cat can be frozen first and then defrosted, but cats should not be fed any 'old' meatsave that for the dogs.
Cats do not have the capability to create taurine (an essential amino acid) like dogs do. This means that a cat must ingest sufficient taurine in order to meet its requirements. The excellent news is that taurine is found in virtually all meats, especially beef heart. If your cat is not eating much meat in its diet then it is advisable that you supplement with a commercial taurine supplement.
Vegetables and fruits are COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY for cats. Cats are 'obligate carnivores', meaning they MUST eat other animals to survive. They do not consume nor need plant matter. Everything they could possibly need is found in the flesh, bone, and organs of their prey. However, if you have a cat that will eat fruits or vegetables, you may use them. Most fruits and vegetables will not harm your cat but remember, that the majority of nutrients a cat needs will come from meat and organ meat alone, so use fruits, vegetables and other items very sparingly. Keep a dish of water handy for the cat and keep it clean. Change the water daily for the cat.
Know Good Health When You See It
A cat that is fed a well-balanced diet rich in beneficial nutrients shows many recognizable signs of good health.
Abundant energy
Brightness, a sparkle in his/her eyes and a sense that s/he is enjoying life
Healthy coat that is soft and shiny
Little or no shedding
Strong immune system, which keeps him/her healthy
Well-muscled body
Well-formed stool that is not voluminous and is easily produced, with no straining
Problems Associated with Low-Quality Diets
Common problems associated with low-quality diets include:
Dull, greasy coat, usually accompanied by dandruff
Low energy level
Susceptibility to generalized infections, such as ear infections that become chronic or skin infections caused by greasy, seborrheic skin
Thin, undernourished appearance
Voluminous stool
FOODS YOU MAY FEED YOUR CAT Beef
Beef heart
Brewer's yeast - an excellent source of essential fatty acids and B-Complex vitamins for a glossy coat and stable nervous system.
Chicken
Clams
Duck
Eggs
Fish
Game Hens
Goat
Kidney
Lamb
Liver
Pork
Quail
Rabbit
Tuna
Turkey
Various Organ Meats
Venison
FOODS TO AVOID FEEDING YOUR CAT
Chocolate
Any candy containing the sweetener Xylitol
Garlic (raw, cooked and powdered)
Fruits ( may use on occasion but not routinely)
Milk
Moldy foods
Nuts
Onions and onion powder
Vegetables (may use on occasion but not routinely)
Yeast
You now have all the information you need to begin to create wholesome, delicious and nutritious meals for your pets. Remember, just like you try new dishes for yourself and your family try new dishes for your pets. Theyll thank you for your efforts with renewed vitality, health, energy and happiness.
Hi, I'm Tina. I'm a pet lover since my childhood and have 2 cats and a dog.
Please visit this site to find page after page of "recipes" for your cat and dog! They'll love the variety of food and you'll love the savings!
http://www.naturealpet.com
Thanks for reading!
Tina Nydam
owner, Tiemka, Inc.
http://www.tiemka.com
http://www.naturealpet.com
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