Posted on 15th Mar 2010 @ 1:36 PM

Some expert's claim that the best food for your pet is the food you make yourself. Preparing your dogs food at home gives you the ability to control what your dog is eating and how it is made. Of course, this requires some planning considering you will have to make it ahead of time, however your dog will receive immense benefits from this type of diet.

What are the Pros for making homemade dog food?

• Fresh, natural food
• More meat for your "almost-carnivore"
• Less illness and disease
• Healthy, shiny coat
• Higher energy level
• Reduction in body odor, including fresh breath and odorless stool
• Strong, clean teeth
• A happy, healthy dog

What can I add to my dog's food?

• A variety of meats including: beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, fish, buffalo, venison, elk, rabbit, and goat
• Eggs and Egg shells
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Cottage cheese
• Yogurt
• Finely ground seeds and nuts
• Oils
• Garlic (a natural flea repellant)

Guidelines for preparing food

• Do not over cook meat. The heat will destroy the amino acids that your dog needs. With BirkDale PetMix all you need to do is heat the water and ground meat on low until it becomes light brown in color.
• If you want to feed your dog bones, use raw bones or grind cooked bones down and add to the meal.
• Regulate how often bones are used in the diet. According to Dr. George Collings, an expert in pet nutrition at Sunshine Mills, "nutrionally, the extra calcium and phosphorus to the diet is an issue." Calcium impedes digestion and interferes with the absorption of some nutrients. Extra phosphorous in the diet can cause kidney disease.
• Introduce alternative proteins and foods.
• Organ meats can be used on an occasional basis (about once a week). However, when mixing it with the regular food it should not exceed 20% of the meal.
• When concerned with Salmonella or E. coli, remember that your dog has a very high concentration of stomach acid, as well as beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract and a short gastrointestinal tract. Together, these things make it very difficult for these harmful bacteria to affect your dog.
• When using eggs, they should be soft boiled to kill the avidin, which is the cause of the biotin problem. Also, you may use the egg shells but they must be dried over night and then ground before mixing them with the meat.
• Vegetables should be raw to maintain their nutrient value but they should be chopped very fine. Use a food processor or grater so that your dogs body is able to process them.
• See which types of fruits and vegetables your dog likes by offering a variety chopped in small pieces.

We recommend feeding your dog 2 times per day. What your dog needs will depend on their breed, activity level, and individual nutritional needs. Some veterinarians recommend that you feed your dog about 2%-3% of his or her body weight (i.e. a 100 lb dog would get 2-3 lbs of food per day). Pet-Grub.com recommends feeding mature dogs 50% meat and 50% vegetables, but puppies should get a higher ratio of meat. You may also add hot water before feeding to take the chill off the food.