My dog, Spunky, was put on a new diet last fall by our veterinarian who sold us the food. After five days Spunky became very ill. He was vomiting, eating less, became listless and staggered when he tried to walk. His veterinarian refused to admit that the new food was causing his illness. Spunky became so ill that he was hospitalized for five days and came to the point where we were told he was dying.
I insisted that we try to feed him some of his old food before we gave up on him. We visited the animal hospital and fed him small amounts of his old food. Within hours his bloodwork was back to normal and he recovered very quickly. Some damage to his liver, kidneys and gallbladder remained but these are problems that can be monitored. In my anger and despair I decided to publish an all natural cookbook of dog food recipes. Several months later the very food that made Spunky ill was added to the recall list and this only served to make me more aware that pet owners need to consider feeding their pets human grade food.
An Apple A Day Dog Treat
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 apple, chopped or grated
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
3/8 cup water
Preheat oven to 350? F. Spray cookie sheet with vegetable oil spray. Lightly dust work surface with flour. Blend flours and cornmeal in large mixing bowl. Add apple, egg, oil, brown sugar and water. Mix until well blended. On work surface, roll dough out to 7/8-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters of desired shape and size.
Place treats on prepared sheet. Bake in preheated oven 35 to 40 minutes. Turn off oven. Leave door closed for 1 hour to make the treats crispy. Remove treats from oven. Store baked treats in airtight container or plastic bag, and place in refrigerator or freezer.
Recipe makes 24 servings.
Pet owners who love their pets will no doubt be searching for new food sources. Remember that when changing your dog's diet (no matter what the food source) that you need to introduce the new food carefully and in small amounts before actually making the switch. If you have any concerns about allergies and food sensitivity please consult your veterinarian before introducing human grade food.
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Vegetarian Dog Food Recipe
What kind of food are you feeding to your dog? Do you remember the olden days when we fed our dogs table scraps? Nowadays most people believe it is a bad thing to feed your dog food from the table. Many now believe that this idea was originally encouraged by the makers of commercial dog food, as a way to sell more of their canned and dried pet food.
Lately, especially after the pet food scare of early 2008, when hundreds of cats and dogs died after eating pet food tainted with poison, more and more people have returned to feeding their dogs more foods eaten by humans.
If your dog has special dietary needs, such as being diabetic or obese, the commercial dog foods simply do not offer good choices that are healthy and nutritious and meet the needs of your dog. They tend to be filled with ingredients that are not healthy at all, and also have many preservatives to extend their shelf life. We do not know for sure where the ingredients have come from because the government does not regulate packaged and canned pet food as it does food for human consumption. This alone is a powerful reason to stay away from commercial dog food.
I have been feeding my dogs homemade food for four months now. My dachshund is diabetic, so I was searching for a way to give him a diet higher in fiber and protein. I have now come to the conclusion that it is best to prepare his food myself. I also have three other dogs, a Maltese and two Yorkshire terriers, and they were beginning to put on weight and had become very hyperactive. After eating my homemade food for the past few months their behavior has changed, their weight has stabilized, and my dachshund has not had to have an increase in his daily insulin dosage. I am also saving money at the same time.
I prepare chicken by boiling or baking it, and then combine yams or sweet potatoes. These vegetables have a low glycemic index and are particularly good for diabetes. I also prepare lentil soup each week, and add this to the food as well. Legumes, like lentils and other dried beans, are high in plant protein. Finally, I prepare long grain brown rice, and my homemade food is complete. I only do this once a week, so it is not like I have to prepare my dog food every day.
I encourage you to learn more about preparing healthy and nutritious food for your dog, to reduce the risk of disease and help to extend their lifespan.
Both Bonnie Jo Davis & Connie Ragen Green are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Bonnie Jo Davis has sinced written about articles on various topics from Hair Removal, Stress Management and Hair Removal. Bonnie Jo Davis is the publisher of niche recipe cookbooks such as dog food, baby food, fudge, holiday meals, leftovers and more. Purchase
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