Home-cooked meals should contain a range of essential vitamins and nutrients for your pup, yet many recipes fail to do this.
Your dog requires ample calcium and minimal phosphorus in their diet. Without the correct balance, they’d extract it from their bones to power muscles and maintain bodily functions.
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Meat
Dogs require plenty of meat for optimal health, making commercial recipes the go-to solution for their nutritional needs. At home however, there are other alternatives such as turkey, venison and lamb which could provide your pup with plenty of energy-packed nourishment.
Quail is another source of protein for cats, though it may be difficult to locate in pet food kibble. Quail contains both high amounts of proteins and healthy fats while providing significant amounts of antioxidants that benefit their wellbeing.
Pork may be less well known than other meat sources, but it still packs plenty of protein, iron, selenium and zinc – all valuable nutrients for good health. Just avoid fattier cuts or products cured with fat that could potentially lead to pancreatitis; and don’t feed uncooked pork to your pet as this could increase his or her risk for trichinosis (3)
Vegetables
Dogs require a diet rich in fruits and vegetables that provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that promote good health.
Vegetables can add variety and nutrients to your diet as a topping or between-meal snack. But it is important to limit their calorie consumption as excessive vegetables may harm gut flora and cause weight gain.
Chopped or pureed vegetables make them easier for dogs to eat; fibrous veggies such as cauliflower and celery may be difficult for some pups to digest, so be wary when selecting the ingredients for feeding your canine friend.
Fruit
Vegetables and fruits make an excellent supplement to any diet, but too much fruit may cause stomach upset if given as snacks or treats to dogs. Therefore, it’s essential that we limit how much fruit we give as snacks or treats to our canine companions.
Bananas make a tasty low-cal treat for dogs that also provides potassium, vitamin C and fiber. Oranges provide hydration and vitamins as well as the peel and seeds can pose a choking hazard. Avocado contains persin which may cause vomiting and diarrhea while spinach can prevent calcium absorption leading to kidney damage in some instances.
Bone
Bones, meat scraps and other hard chews can help your children maintain healthy teeth; however, excessive consumption could lead to an overload of calcium in their diets. Furthermore, cooking bones removes all their nutritional benefits.
Small raw bones pose a choking hazard for dogs. Larger bone fragments may damage their gut lining or be eaten directly by dogs who prefer gulping down food rather than chewing their meals.
Chew toys and puzzles may provide similar mental stimulation. However, these should not be given to hungry dogs as they could swallow them whole.
Bread
Bread should only be provided occasionally as part of their diet as its carbohydrates can lead to weight gain and digestive issues in dogs.
Avoid feeding dogs raw dough that contains yeast as this can ferment in their stomach and become toxic, potentially leading to painful stomach bloat and expansion of their intestines – potentially fatal complications!
One exception is using day-old plain bread to create bread crumbs for use as additives in higher protein treats like kibble or canned dog food, which will help absorb any toxins present in their system.
Water
Dogs usually hydrate through their food, but it’s equally essential that water bowls remain full. Making it more interesting by placing it in an exciting location or adding low-sodium broth to the water may increase consumption. Ice cubes may provide an incentive to drink, and can even help cool dogs down on hot days!
If your dog doesn’t drink enough water, watch for other signs to determine whether they may be feeling unwell. If they stop playing, going potty, seeking affection and sleeping like they normally would then it might be an indicator of diabetes, kidney disease or another illness which reduces thirst – visit a veterinarian immediately –
