Dogs,like humans, need good and safe food to lead a long quality life. Many dog owners find the idea to feed their dogs on homemade food tempting as it appears a cheaper option than wet foods and commercial ones. The canine friends may also find it more delicious, and when the proper guidelines followed, healthier.

However, homemade food is not a convenient option, as many may make it appear. It takes a lot more to serve your pet with good food when you choose to do it yourself than you can imagine. Here are some essential safety considerations when you choose the homemade options foods for your dog.

Follow Credible Recipes and do it Right.

There are many dog food recipes online. Unfortunately, most of them are not credible. Experts warn against following any homemade recipes. You should ensure that the source is reputable and vet-approved before trying that recipe.

Once you get the right recipe, ensure you follow it to the latter. Research indicates that dog owners often compromise on recipes' instructions by adding some ingredients or omitting others. This short cuts water down the nutritional value of the food as the dog does not feed properly. 

Learn More about Raw Food/Meat

Though dogs are carnivores and their digestive system can handle raw meat without any problems, you will need to take many precautions when going this route. Raw fish and meat, in general, have a lot of parasites. It is crucial to consider your source. Ensure that you get very fresh meat, whether you want to feed your pet raw or cooked food.

Buy small quantities that your pet can finish in a meal. While the idea to buy meat in bulk may look convenient, this does not apply to raw foods you consider feeding your pets. Always feed your dog fresh meat from a reputable source.

Strike a Balance

The food from the pet store may not be tasty, but it is balanced to meet all dogs' dietary requirements. When cooking from home, striking a similar balance may be challenging. To keep it well balanced, serve your pet treats from professionals even when you opt for homemade foods.

Spices and Seasonings

Dogs' taste buds are not the same as humans, and what we consider flavorful may not impress them. When cooking for your pet, what you think bland is better and perfect for them as what people eat is too salty for the canine friends.

High consumption of salt and spices may lead to tummy issues, dehydration, and excessive dogs' thirst. Pepper and paprika can cause eye and skin irritation in the pets. Adding nutmeg in your puppies food may appear as an act of love, but can kill your pet as it has in some cases, or cause severe abdominal pains.

Pets like dogs may also refuse to eat a meal because of the aroma, even when the spice is harmless as they have a high sense of smell. Avoiding spices is one of the safety rules for preparing homemade dog foods.

Consult a Vet

Homemade foods are not supervised or vetted by any authority other than you. Therefore, it is safe to consult an expert about the things that are safe to feed your dog regularly. Even when you get food recipes from the most reputable sites or sources, your vet knows your pet's health specifics hence will advise best on what they need.

As a safety measure, run the recipe before embarking on the homemade food for your dog.

Keep it Well-Balanced

All food should contain correct portions of ingredients that your dog needs for good health. Experts like Tail Bangers consider factors like canine's size, breed, age, health, and activity levels when making dogs' healthy special treats or everyday menus. This way, the food meets the particular nutritional needs of every pet, making it extremely beneficial. Various components play different roles in the dog's well-being, and skipping one or overdoing another will have a negative effect.

When you choose to feed your pet with homemade food, make sure you do a well-balanced meal and consider their specific nutritional needs. See an idea of how to go about it:

Proteins: animal meat, eggs, or dairy, seafood should contain 40 percent of the diet.

Carbohydrates: whole grains and beans should form 10 percent

Vegetables: Should make 50 percent

Fats: From meat or oil

Calcium: Powdered eggshells or a supplement

Fatty acids: oatmeal, plant oils, or cooked egg yolks, among others

The above rations may vary depending on the condition of the pet, age, or many other factors. When you are not sure of the component ratio, talk to your vet or an expert in the field.

Include Variety

The best thing about homemade dog food is its versatility. You can serve different foods daily or weekly as you experiment with what excites your furry friend's taste buds most. For meats, you can have a change between lean beef, turkey, and chicken, among others. Be ready to cook multiple recipes.

Diversity offers several healthy nutrients keeping your pet's appetite high and healthy. As a safety measure, do not interchange a meat source from a recipe without changing the rest. Stick to the recipe details as different meats contain varying properties and content.

Familiarize yourself with Ingredients

Though dogs tend to prefer what humans eat, their diet needs are very different. There are also some foods that people love, but puppies cannot eat. Avoid foods like chocolates, avocados, macadamia nuts, onions, garlic, raw bread dough, and alcohol. These are dangerous for dogs. However, many other vegetables, fruits, and other foods are not harmful but recommended in minimal quantities.

Homemade dog foods require diligence as you will need to research and familiarize yourself with every single ingredient to rule out any harm.

Conclusion

Consistency is boring when it comes to food. Like human beings, dogs appreciate a change and variety. Taking up homemade food is excellent, but you should not discard buying your pet their favorite treats from established stores.