Holistic dog food is often a desirable alternative to dog owners who are concerned about the quality of the ingredients in popular commercial dog food. The holistic dog food alternatives include manufactured natural dog food and homemade dog food.
Some dog food manufacturers make holistic dog food that contains natural ingredients. The significant difference between holistic dog food and most commercial dog foods is the quality of the ingredients.
Though animal byproducts are often the animal protein source in commercial dog food, animal byproducts are not usually included in holistic dog food. Animal byproducts are meat pieces that are not suitable for human consumption. Some holistic dog foods use only human-grade ingredients. Holistic dog food may have vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants added.
Holistic dog food recipes blend natural ingredients. Natural dog food recipes can be found on the Internet. The dog owner needs to make sure that the recipes do not contain any foods that can be toxic to dogs including garlic, avocado, onions, chocolate, and grapes.
One basic recipe gives the dog owner flexibility in creating the dog food. The four basic ingredients of this recipe are one and a half cups of cooked brown rice, one half cup of cubed meat, two teaspoons of vegetable oil, and one-fourth cup of cooked vegetables.
The meat can be beef, chicken, turkey, veal, ham, or liver. Ground beef or ground turkey can be used if cooked thoroughly. The meat should be cooked in the vegetable oil until well done.
The cooked vegetables used in this dog food recipe can be celery, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, diced potatoes, or other dog-safe vegetable. Some basic dog food recipes like this one include a half a cup of plain yogurt. Before the dog food is given to the dog, the prepared ingredients should be blended and cooled.
The dog owner should avoid using the same ingredients for this recipe. The dog’s homemade dog food diet should include variety to ensure the dog is receiving a variety of vitamins and minerals. Liver and other ingredients of homemade dog food should not be given daily, but in moderation as part of the dog’s diet.
