There are many dog owners that have serious concerns about commercial dog food in general and about the safety and nutritional value of these products in detail. There have been a lot of recalls the last few years and there are also a lot of concerns about the way dog food is been tested on dogs. All of this has let to more and more people who are looking for homemade dog food and how to prepare it. The food we humans are eating is not healthy for your dog and in some cases even toxic.

There are three major ingredients in homemade dog food that we would like to discuss in this article the calcium, proteins and fatty acids

Calcium

The first homemade dog food ingredient we would like to discuss is calcium, this is also important for humans but dogs need significantly more than we do, it is the second most important ingredient for your homemade dog food. Dogs can get calcium from chewing on animal bones and from calcium supplements (also available as organic supplement). The last option is often the best for your dog because animal bones can sometimes contain toxic elements from what the animal have been eating like lead and mercury. And the reason we want to make homemade dog food is just to avoid that.

Proteins

Proteins are in fact the most important ingredient of homemade dog food and you can give it to your dog in the form of meat from beef, lamb, chicken, fish, eggs and even cheese (not the very salted ones). There are also some vegetable sources for protein but we advise to give your dog meat.

Fatty Acids

Omega 6 linoleic acid is in fact the only fatty acid a dog can not make themselves and you will need to add it to the diet. Good Omega 6 come in the form of fruits, grains, oils, and vegetables and that is why this is a very important ingredient of your homemade dog food.

In the coming weeks we will provide you with some tips for homemade dog food recipes but if you have any doubt if you are giving your dog the right diet, you can always ask your veterinarian. This is often the best source of information to consult especially when your dog is known with upset stomach or other discomforts.