If you want to know how to prepare the perfect dog food, you’ve come to the right place! We love dogs as much as anyone, and we know that eating well makes for happier dogs (and happier owners). With this in mind, we thought it might be helpful to show our readers some of the things we do around our house to ensure that not only are our dogs eating well, but also that they’re getting enough rest and exercise.
Protein
You can find quality protein in foods like chicken, fish, eggs and peanut butter. But you should be careful not to overdo it: if you feed your dog too much protein, she could develop kidney problems. That’s why dogs need an equal amount of food from different sources of protein—two chicken dinners a week is better than one chunky steak dinner every night. To avoid giving her too much protein, use a high-quality dry dog food (the key word here is dry) and mix it with wet canned food or table scraps for extra nutrients; that way, even if she does eat too much protein one day, she’ll still get what she needs for optimal health. And make sure she always has access to fresh water.
Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are important for energy levels, but they’re also good for dogs’ teeth and digestive systems. Your dog doesn’t need carbohydrates as often as she needs protein—just once a day will do—but make sure they come from vegetables instead of grains. Grains are bad because they’re hard on your pup’s tummy and don’t provide any real nutritional value. Vegetables, on the other hand, contain fiber which helps keep things moving through her system while also providing vitamins and minerals that help keep her healthy overall. Some great options include carrots, broccoli, green beans and squash. Don’t forget about fruits!
Carbs
A normal, healthy dog should get about 30 percent of its calories from carbohydrates. But carbs should account for around 50 percent of your puppy’s diet; because of their higher metabolism, puppies need more energy than adult dogs. The majority of your pup’s carbs will come from grains or starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots. Healthy adult dogs can eat all sorts of grains, but most pups are allergic to wheat and corn (and related grains like oats and rice). These foods can lead to things like obesity and joint problems that you don’t want your puppy experiencing in its first few years of life. Sweet potatoes offer a great source of vitamin A, which is crucial for regulating sleep cycles, while carrots offer essential antioxidants. Be sure to talk with your vet before adding any new food into your puppy’s diet.
Meat
Animals raised in a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) are fed grains instead of their natural diet, which is meat. Many commercially available dog foods contain unhealthy ingredients such as corn, wheat, and soybeans. The quality of these ingredients has been called into question. Non-meat animals would never eat these foods—so why should your pet? Meat should make up about 80% of a healthy pet’s diet—and choosing free-range meats that have been fed their natural diets will give your pet more nutrients. If you feed your pet commercial dog food, try switching it out for some fresh beef or chicken at least once a week. It’ll provide an extra boost of protein while also giving them a change of pace from their regular meals. And if you choose commercial canned or dried food for convenience sake, look for those with minimal processing.
Some dogs have trouble sleeping due to noise pollution; others suffer from separation anxiety when left alone during nighttime hours. Luckily there are ways to help both types of dogs sleep through the night peacefully: consider moving them to another room that isn’t near any distractions or creating an atmosphere conducive to sleep by lowering lighting and playing soothing music . Whatever you do, don’t wake up a sleeping pup —this can confuse them even further about what time it is!
Vegetables
Get your dog hooked on eating veggies by cutting them into small pieces and either mixing them in with their regular dry or wet food or offering them up as a treat. Feed your canine companion carrots, broccoli, green beans, sweet potatoes, cauliflower and yellow squash. Asparagus is good for dogs with sensitive stomachs and might even help minimize certain types of arthritis pain. Make sure you choose low-fat varieties. Red peppers are chock-full of beta carotene and vitamin C—both important nutrients that help fight cancer. Just remember not to overdo it on these treats or give your pooch too many because these veggies are also high in sodium. You can’t train your way out of bad nutrition!
Fruits
If you’re trying to train your pup in a positive way, take some of his favorite fruit and sprinkle small amounts on your carpet or floor. As soon as he goes for it, show him praise and offer him something even tastier if he is willing to go for that instead. Make sure you give it back if he won’t eat anything other than what you’ve just given him. Eventually, your pet will start showing interest in different things (i.e., chasing something that isn’t food) rather than eating when presented with tempting tidbits. You can also use treats to reward good behavior; however, make sure they are healthy treats free from artificial colors and flavors. Your pooch doesn’t need them!
Supplements
In addition to regular vet visits, training, and exercise; there are also a variety of supplements that can help your dog live a long, healthy life. These include supplements for joint health and mobility, digestive health, skin and coat health, as well as immunity support. For example: glucosamine is a supplement designed to boost joint health by encouraging more fluid in cartilage cells. The more fluid that exists in these cells – known as chondrocytes – after injury or degeneration, it reduces swelling within joints which improves mobility. Similarly: Omega 3 fatty acids are another important supplement that not only supports cardiovascular function but also helps dogs with their overall immunity.
The Cooking Process
Now that you’ve decided on a meat-based diet, it’s time to go shopping. Chicken, beef and fish are good protein sources for dogs. You can make your own ground beef by purchasing a package of ground chuck and grinding it in a food processor or buy hamburger already made into small patties from your grocery store. If you opt for chicken, avoid eating chicken wings because they have very little meat and an excess of fat. The same is true for thighs or drumsticks; too much fat will be included with these parts so cut them off if you want pure meat for your dog’s meals. Fish should always be cooked before serving it to your dog. Raw fish contains thiaminase, which destroys thiamine (vitamin B1). Thiamine deficiency causes beriberi in humans and animals. Cooking destroys thiaminase so cooked fish is safe for consumption. Cooking also makes many nutrients more bioavailable such as vitamins A, D and E as well as selenium and calcium. Dogs need these nutrients just like we do! Feeding raw diets has become popular recently but there are some risks associated with feeding raw meats including bacteria growth due to poor handling practices at butcher shops or contamination during storage at home when preparing raw foods at home.