A wide range of corporations produce name brand dry and wet dog food. These companies promise 100% balanced nutrition for the particular breed, with some companies even selling organic or gluten-free food for dogs at often three times the price. While these foods may have been scientifically proven to be healthy for dogs, many human foods are equally well balanced and more affordable.
Whether the dog owner chooses to feed his four-legged friend a raw food diet or simply mix certain human foods in with the dog's regular dry kibbles, this practice will improve the dog's health and longevity.
Raw Food Diet
This movement towards feeding dogs, as well as cats, a raw food diet, began fairly recently, but has become very popular. Research has proven that only raw food provides animals with the enzymes they require to properly digest their meals. Their dental structure also requires domestic species, akin to their wild ones, to chew and gnaw their food, especially meat.
Feeding dogs non-cooked, non-processed meats and vegetables ensures that they receive all the essential nutrients to maintain their health and weight. Most raw food diets for domestic animals includes chicken, vegetables and cottage cheese.
In the morning, the animal can be fed a chicken carcass. Dogs can easily digest bones so there is no longer any worry of choking as was thought to be the case in the past! For their evening meal, prepare a variety of vegetables in the blender and add a few dollops of cottage cheese. This is all most breeds of dogs require to be in the best physical condition.
Human Supplements to Kibbles
If feeding the family dog a diet of dry kibbles, or even if a wet packaged stew of chicken and vegetables is also a part of the dog's daily repast, add human foods from time to time to increase the nutritional value of the animal's meals.
The best foods to mix in small quantities with the dog's regular meal are rice, bread, squash, potatoes, cottage cheese, plain yoghurt and peanut butter.
Never give the dog chocolate or onions. Also steer clear from over-feeding any of these human foods as they can cause stomach upset in large quantities. Just because these are human foods, doesn't mean that the dog should be fed at the table! The dog will never beg if his food, whether packaged or raw, is served to him in his area, in his own dishes. Feeding scraps from the table or hand is never advised.
A happy dog's fur will shine, his nose will be damp, his eyes gleam and he will gobble down every mouthful of the delicious food provided in his bowl.
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