Diet For Dogs -- How To Select Them

The dog world is a-buzz these days about the natural diet for dogs. A decrease in overall pet health, commercial pet food recalls and sky high vet bills are some of the reasons pet owners have started closely examining their pet food and the effects it is having on their dog's well being.

Natural diets, also called the raw food diet for dogs, refer to a species appropriate diet as if your canine were living in the wild. Dogs, being carnivores, would eat meat, bones, vegetable matter and grains, with the vegetable matter and grains coming from the stomach contents of its prey.

But is this style of diet the best diet for dogs? Let's take a closer look.

For many pet owners, the thought of feeding your best pal all raw food doesn't sound the least bit healthy at first. Ideas of harmful bacteria and diseases come to mind and it seems like it would be more harmful than nutritious.

We tend to dismiss the fact that we are really different species. We humans cook our food to inhibit bacteria and disease, so it seems reasonable to do the same for the canine members of our family.

We need to understand that the digestive system of humans and dogs are different. A dog's digestive system is specifically created to eat raw foods. That's why when your dog eats a dead critter it does not get sick from it.

Another point to consider in natural diets for dogs is that your pet will eat a lot of the same food that you would eat, but in a healthy way instead of table scraps. The main difference is cooking.

When you look at a raw food diet meal example, you'll see that it's actually much better than the images we get from envisioning about our pets hunting and eating in the wild.

Example:

Raw meat – any raw muscle meat will work, however many pet owners use ground turkey or regular hamburger because of price and convenience.

Raw bones – turkey necks, chicken necks or chicken backs.

Raw vegetables and fruit – Carrots, apples, green beans, kale, watercress, parsley, mustard greens, etc. Use a blender or food processor to dice and mix with meat and bones and serve

Some of the values of a natural diet for dogs can be helpful in deciding to utilize it with your pet. Many pet owners say that their dogs have better smelling breath, cleaner teeth, healthier skin and coats, and more energy. They also tell that their dogs seem generally happier and healthier overall.

The bottom line is that we all enjoy our dogs and want them to live a long and happy life. Just as with humans, that begins with proper diet and nutrition. The best diet for dogs is one based on general dog dietary needs, and then is adjusted to your pet's individual needs and tastes.

Author Info: Ron King For more about dogs, visit Natural Diet For Dogs. Also check out Diet For Dogs. For Ron's website, visit Natural Diet. Source: Article Depot - Search Free Articles