This is what I always say to these questions:
Here is some information for you about commercial pet food.
Dead Cats And Dogs Used To Make Pet Food http://www.felineinstincts.com/succe...ringplant.html The Dark Side of Recycling
Thought this may help you:
First you have to start with one type of food at a time to see what works and what doesn't. Dogs are like people, some may have an allergy to one thing while others do not.
I'm totally against commercial raw meat for the dogs due to all the hormones and chemicles that are added and the unsanitary conditions at the slaughter houses where salmonella and other bacteria's breed that go on the meat, and is why we are told to "throughly" cook our meat. No matter what anyone says, dogs can and do get sick and die from salmonella poisons. Ask any Vet.
So, I'd suggest if you want to feed raw, then go with the wild game animals like deer, elk, bison, moose and fowl. Otherwise cook the meats.
Vegetables are another important ingredient in the dogs diet. These can be fed raw: Chopped parsley, alfalfa sprouts, grated carrots (cook for cats) and grated zucchini. These should be cooked before feeding: Corn, peas, green beans, broccoli & sweet potatoes. Dairy is good for them if they can tolerate it and these include Powdered milk, eggs, plain non-fat yogurt, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese (non-fat). Grains include: Oats, millet brown rice, bulgur barley, whole wheat couscous, cornmeal buckwheat & wheat berries. Fruits: apples, berries of all types & bananas. Dried fruits include, prunes, figs, dates and apricots. Fruits and vegetables are great storehouses of vitamins, minerals and vital energy. Dried fruits are especially good natural sources of potassium, an important mineral that can sometimes be in short supply; other good sources are peanuts, potatoes and tomato sauce. Dates are extremely rich in folic acid, an important B vitamin.
Now, you need to take one type of meat (raw or cooked) and feed only that (no other food sources at all, no snacks either, nothing) for three days to see it this type of meat is agreeable. Next feed a different meat source for three days (if you fed the red meat first, then feed poultry now or the other way around) like poultry for three days and nothing else. If these work out ok, then add one veggie only to one of the meat sources for an additional three days. Then a different veggie and so on. This method will rule out what they can't eat and add what they can eat. Whenever you add a new food, do just one at a time for three days, but it can be added to something you have already tried that worked out.
Meats, veggies and fruits should be the main staple.
As for vitamins, I make up the HEALTHY POWDER. I find it's much better than any commercial vitamin, and it too is made up of human grade ingredients that are sold in health food and vitamin stores.
HEALTHY POWDER:
2 cups nutritional (torula) yeast
1 cup lecithin granules
1/4 cup kelp powder
1/4 cup bonemeal
1,000 milligrams vitamin C (ground)
Mix all ingredients together in a 1 quart container and refrigerate.
1 to 2 teaspoons per day for cats or small dogs; 2 to 3 teaspoons per day for medium-size dogs; 1 to 2 tablespoons per day for large dogs.
I give all three of my girls a teaspoon each twice daily over their food, and this batch last them 40 days.
If you have any questions I'll do my best to give you the right information.
There are two books that are the best on the market, and believe me, I've bought tons over the years. MORE SHOCKING FACTS by Ann N. Martin and her first one, FOOD PETS DIE FOR.
http://www.thepowermall.com/thecente...ann_martin.htm
Keep in mind that commercial pet foods, commercial pet treats, flea and tick repellents and over inoculating (yearly) are killing our companion animals in record numbers. Sadly, we are learning this on our own because most Vets. are in it for the money.
Here is some information on what "really" goes into the making of animal food:
Rendering: the "Invisible Industry" Gets a Green Facelift | Center for Media and Democracy Food Pets Die For; a Book Excerpt http://drjackie.freeservers.com/arti...ven_a_dog.html http://www.api4animals.org/doc.asp?ID=79 http://home.att.net/~wdcusick/03.html
Please read up, do your homework, "then" decide if you want to feed your baby things you know will cause serious health problems. I've been home cooking for 50 years. It's the best!!
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