The recent recall of commercial dog foods made by Menu Foods and other dog food companies continues to escalate as concerned dog owners scramble to find safe alternative dog food options.
To date, more than 100 commercial dog food brands have been recalled after the discovery of toxic contaminants that have caused kidney failure and death in dogs across the country.
In the interest of protecting the health and safety of their dogs, many dog owners have chosen to prepare dog food themselves at home. The question on the minds of many dog nutritionists these days is whether homemade dog food is a safe and nutritious alternative to commercial dog food.
The American Veterinary Association indicates that the preparation of homemade food for dogs is not as easy as it seems at first glance. Dogs have specific nutrient needs that are most affected by the size, age, and breed of the dog.
It is a long-established fact that if commercial or homemade dog food is suddenly introduced or changed, your dog may experience gastrointestinal upset, manifesting symptoms such as diarrhea.
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, CVMA, agrees, stating that dog owners should be familiar with the risks associated with preparing and serving homemade dog food.
One of the main causes for concern is the risk associated with salmonella poisoning in homemade dog food diets that contain raw meat such as chicken. Proponents of raw dog food diets such as the Bones and Raw Food (BARF) diet, point to the natural, nutritious qualities of a diet that is more like the food your dog would find in nature. But opponents suggest that the meat that has been sold in markets is not as fresh and may expose your domesticated dog to unnecessary health risks.
For those who make the decision to prepare homemade dog food for their best friend, the following list of foods considered dangerous by the American Veterinary Medical Association should be excluded from any dog food served.
alcoholic drinks
chocolate in any form
Coffee
Moldy or spoiled food
Onion and onion powder
garlic and garlic powder
Salt
yeast dough
Macadamia nuts
raisins and grapes
Avocado
jumps
fatty foods
bones
Milk
raw eggs
Raw or undercooked meat
Products containing the artificial sweetener xylitol
Obviously, some items like bones and raw meat are intentionally included in the BARF diet and this debate between the AVMA and some dog nutritionists continues unabated. If you have any questions about a specific food product, check with your veterinarian before feeding that food to your dog.
Some vets dispute the claim that homemade food, even table scraps, is inappropriate and unhealthy food for your dog. For example, Dr. Strombeck, emeritus professor of veterinary nutrition at UC Davis, feels that the commercial pet food industry simply opposes any competition for its market.
This is an eye-opening insight, as the dog food industry was founded during the postwar years in the United States as a means of profiting from industrial and slaughterhouse waste and waste. Many people believe that their dogs need commercial dog food. This is complete nonsense. Your dog needs a healthy and nutritious diet, whatever its origin.
So is homemade dog food safe for your dog?
The definitive answer is maybe and maybe not. This is not an excuse on our part, but rather an acknowledgment that dog owners, like dog food manufacturers, are all different. In both cases, the freshness and purity of the ingredients used, the methods of preparation, storage, transportation, and shelf life play an important role.
Many options abound, including the high-grade, holistic kibble found at specialty dog food retailers and preparing your own dog food at home. If you think commercially prepared dog food is the best option for your dog, make sure you know exactly what’s in your dog’s food by visiting http://www.dogs-4life.com/dog-food-that-kills. html
If you decide to make your own homemade dog food, check with your vet to make sure the ingredients and recipe include only foods that are healthy and safe for your dog.
