The Healthy Hound Cookbook: Over 125 Easy Recipes for Healthy, Homemade Dog Food--Including Grain-Free, Paleo, and Raw Recipes! Read Online Free
Author: Paris Permenter, John Bigley
general multivitamin, then at least a calcium supplement because dogs have a much higher need for calcium than humans. Unless you feed your dog raw bones or include nutritional-grade bone meal in their food, you’ll need to offer a calcium supplement. (It’s also very important to have the correct calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. Talk with your veterinarian about a range for your dog; in general, the ideal range of calcium to phosphorus is about 1.5 to 1.)
In this book, you’ll find a recipe for making your own eggshell calcium, which many pet parents prefer over bone meal because bones can store impurities (and because bone meal is often made from bones that have been used to make gelatin, so many nutrients are already missing from the bones). As with most things related to dog nutrition, the recommended amount of calcium varies, but expect to supplement with about one 600 mg calcium supplement per 10 to 15 pounds of adult dog. If you’re mixing homemade and commercial food, only add supplements for the portion of homemade diet, not the total.
Other Vitamins and Minerals
It’s no secret that manufacturers of commercial dog food usually add nutritional additives to their formulas, in part to replace nutrients that are lost during processing and production of the foods. The processing of dry commercial dog food often includes a high heat extrusion process that can destroy natural nutrients. The result is food that then must be refortified with supplemental additives to meet dogs’ nutritional requirements. Making your dog homemade dishes can be a healthy alternative to feeding commercial products because you’re offering meals that retain natural nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, and fatty acids.
When considering what to cook for your dog, it is tempting to think in terms of human food consumption and human nutrition. “If it fulfills my nutritional needs, it must also fulfill my dog’s” is reasoning that, though understandable, is seriously flawed because the canine’s digestive system is not the same as that of a human. Many of the same nutritional building blocks are there, but they must be offered in different ratios and quantities.
The vitamin building blocks of your dog’s diet include:
Vitamin A: Found in liver and fish oil, vitamin A boosts the immune system and aids skin and ocular health.
Vitamin C: This also boosts the immune system and promotes healthy cells. Vitamin C is found in many vegetable oils.
Vitamin D: Liver is a great source of vitamin D, which strengthens bones and teeth.
Vitamin E: Found in vegetable oils, this vitamin boosts the immune system and encourages healthy cell production.
Minerals are also essential for a balanced diet and include:
Calcium: Calcium is essential for bones and teeth as well as for muscle function and blood clotting. It’s found in bone, blood, eggshells, and nutritional-grade bone meal.
Phosphorus: This mineral nurtures bones and teeth as well as healthy cells and muscles. As noted above, it’s important to have the correct calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. This mineral is found in meats as well as in dairy products and eggs.
Sodium: This nutrient promotes healthy muscles and helps maintain your dog’s fluid levels.
Essential fatty acids are also important in a complete diet:
Omega-6 is vital for coat care, giving your dog rich, lustrous fur. Sunflower or safflower oil added to your dog’s diet (about 1 teaspoon for a small dog or 1 tablespoon for a large dog) can keep your dog’s coat shiny.
Omega-3 fatty acids benefit your dog’s skin and can be found in flaxseed oil or fish oil (including sardines, one of our dogs’ favorites).
TREATING YOUR DOG
Whether you use them for training purposes or just to reward your dog for being your buddy, making your own treats gives you control over his nutritional components as well as his size.
How Many Treats Should You Give?
Of course, giving extra treats between meals has the potential for busting
In this book, you’ll find a recipe for making your own eggshell calcium, which many pet parents prefer over bone meal because bones can store impurities (and because bone meal is often made from bones that have been used to make gelatin, so many nutrients are already missing from the bones). As with most things related to dog nutrition, the recommended amount of calcium varies, but expect to supplement with about one 600 mg calcium supplement per 10 to 15 pounds of adult dog. If you’re mixing homemade and commercial food, only add supplements for the portion of homemade diet, not the total.
Other Vitamins and Minerals
It’s no secret that manufacturers of commercial dog food usually add nutritional additives to their formulas, in part to replace nutrients that are lost during processing and production of the foods. The processing of dry commercial dog food often includes a high heat extrusion process that can destroy natural nutrients. The result is food that then must be refortified with supplemental additives to meet dogs’ nutritional requirements. Making your dog homemade dishes can be a healthy alternative to feeding commercial products because you’re offering meals that retain natural nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, and fatty acids.
When considering what to cook for your dog, it is tempting to think in terms of human food consumption and human nutrition. “If it fulfills my nutritional needs, it must also fulfill my dog’s” is reasoning that, though understandable, is seriously flawed because the canine’s digestive system is not the same as that of a human. Many of the same nutritional building blocks are there, but they must be offered in different ratios and quantities.
The vitamin building blocks of your dog’s diet include:
Vitamin A: Found in liver and fish oil, vitamin A boosts the immune system and aids skin and ocular health.
Vitamin C: This also boosts the immune system and promotes healthy cells. Vitamin C is found in many vegetable oils.
Vitamin D: Liver is a great source of vitamin D, which strengthens bones and teeth.
Vitamin E: Found in vegetable oils, this vitamin boosts the immune system and encourages healthy cell production.
Minerals are also essential for a balanced diet and include:
Calcium: Calcium is essential for bones and teeth as well as for muscle function and blood clotting. It’s found in bone, blood, eggshells, and nutritional-grade bone meal.
Phosphorus: This mineral nurtures bones and teeth as well as healthy cells and muscles. As noted above, it’s important to have the correct calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. This mineral is found in meats as well as in dairy products and eggs.
Sodium: This nutrient promotes healthy muscles and helps maintain your dog’s fluid levels.
Essential fatty acids are also important in a complete diet:
Omega-6 is vital for coat care, giving your dog rich, lustrous fur. Sunflower or safflower oil added to your dog’s diet (about 1 teaspoon for a small dog or 1 tablespoon for a large dog) can keep your dog’s coat shiny.
Omega-3 fatty acids benefit your dog’s skin and can be found in flaxseed oil or fish oil (including sardines, one of our dogs’ favorites).
TREATING YOUR DOG
Whether you use them for training purposes or just to reward your dog for being your buddy, making your own treats gives you control over his nutritional components as well as his size.
How Many Treats Should You Give?
Of course, giving extra treats between meals has the potential for busting
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