When making pet food at home, it is important to know what ingredients for dog's food are beneficial and what ingredients should be avoided.
You want your dog to receive ingredients of the highest quality that also have the most nutrients to assist in the development and maintenance of their health.
In this article I will explain the best ingredients for dog's homemade meals and also the ingredients you want to avoid.
It is imperative that you select foods that are healthful for your pet.
Starting with fresh, natural ingredients will result in great tasting, safe pet food.
The main ingredients for your dog's food that you want to try to include are proteins, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables (which provide vitamins and minerals), and healthy fats.
Protein is the most important ingredient.
Your dog's digestive tract is made to digest meat and fat.
Some dog food ingredients that are high in protein are chicken, lamb, beef, and fish.
If cooked properly, carbohydrates can be a beneficial ingredient for dog's homemade meals.
It may be easily digestible and a valuable source of energy.
Some ingredients that are good sources of carbohydrates are whole ground grains such as rice, barley, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and peas.
Fats and oils are essential for the maintenance and health of your dog's skin and coat.
They also help ensure proper brain development.
But just like there are good and bad fats for people, there are good and bad fats for dogs too.
Fats and oils you want to avoid in your dog's food are ingredients such as beef tallow and lard.
This is because they are loaded with harmful saturated fats.
Instead, you should search for ingredients that are good sources of fat.
Some of these ingredients include canola oil, flax oil, chicken fat, and herring oil.
Aside from the main ingredients listed above, there are other ingredients you want to include in your dog's food.
By including quality fiber sources, you are helping your dog maintain good bowel health.
An ingredient for dog's meal that is high in fiber is beet pulp because it is a good source of nutrition for the beneficial bacteria that resides in your dog's intestinal tract.
You may also consider using ingredients such as vitamin E, citric acid, and rosemary, all of which slow down spoilage.
When choosing ingredients for dog food, make sure you are aware of the ingredients that should be avoided.
There are some ingredients that have been shown to cause illness (and even death) in some dogs.
Some of these foods are grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, chocolate, and raw meat.
Raw meat is especially harmful because it can contain bacteria, salmonella, parasites or viruses that can hurt your dog and cause them to get sick.
Also, you want to avoid ingredients that have artificial coloring, flavoring, and preservatives.
These artificial ingredients serve absolutely no beneficial purpose for your dog and are very unhealthy.
When choosing ingredients for dog food, make sure you do research and discover what ingredients are helpful or harmful to your dog.
Choosing the right ingredients for your dog's food is important because they can help benefit your dog in many ways.