| With the recent pet food recall anxiety, let | | | | |
| us make an effort to prepare homemade food | | | | 7) Nuts: Some dogs have allergies to nuts. |
| for our pets. By preparing nutritious | | | | Also, nuts are generally bad for dogs as high |
| wholesome home cooked meals for our pets, we | | | | phosphorus content in nuts is said to |
| know exactly what goes into their body. We | | | | possibly lead to bladder stones, especially |
| are able to control their food intake and | | | | walnuts. Walnuts are poisonous to dogs and at |
| most importantly, a chance for more happy | | | | all accounts should be avoided. |
| years ahead with our animal friends. So, make | | | | |
| the commitment today to be you a doggie chef | | | | 8) Peanut Butter and Peanuts: These are high |
| today! | | | | in fat and can cause allergies in dogs. |
| | | | |
| Here are some tips on selecting food sources | | | | 9) Onion: These can cause anemia in dogs. |
| for your pet when preparing homemade pet | | | | |
| food. Put this in your shopping bag and refer | | | | 10) Bacon or bacon bits: These are high in |
| to the list when shopping for your the | | | | salt and fat. |
| ingredients. This is to ensure we do not | | | | |
| include food sources that are not appropriate | | | | 11) Tuna Fish: Tuna contains mercury which is |
| for them. | | | | harmful to dogs. If you must feed fish, |
| | | | ensure adequate daily supplements are |
| Here is a list of ingredient we must AVOID | | | | included to boost the natural immune system |
| for our pets: | | | | to rid the toxins. |
| | | | |
| 1) Corn, Soy, Sesame, Sunflower oils: Avoid | | | | 12) Raisins and grapes: Are toxic to dogs!! |
| using all commercial brands of | | | | These food contain a toxin, which can damage |
| polyunsaturated vegetable oils as they are | | | | the kidneys. Symptoms can include |
| chemically unstable resulting in toxic | | | | gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and |
| compounds that can damage DNA and cell | | | | diarrhea to life-threatening kidney failure |
| membranes, promoting cancer, inflammation, | | | | which starts about 24 hours after ingestion. |
| and degenerative changes in tissue. | | | | The amount of grapes ingested in these cases |
| | | | varied between 9 oz. and 2 lbs., which worked |
| 2) Soy: Some dogs with allergy to soy may | | | | out to be between 0.41 and 1.1 oz/kg of body |
| find their dogs with itchy, flaky skin and a | | | | weight. |
| dull coat and may cause bloat in dogs as it | | | | |
| is also a gas producing product. | | | | 13) Night shade vegetables (e.g. tomatoes, |
| | | | capsicums): These vegetables are known to be |
| 3) Dairy Products Examples of daily products | | | | toxic to dogs. It contains atropine, which |
| are butter, cream, milk: these are high in | | | | can cause dilated pupils, tremors, and heart |
| fat and cause dogs to be unhealthily | | | | arrhythmias. |
| overweight. Dogs that are lactose intolerant | | | | |
| can also get severe diarrhea. | | | | 14) Chocolate or Caffeine: Keep out of reach |
| | | | of such foods from your dogs. Symptoms occur |
| 4) Pork: Some dogs are prone to allergic | | | | with the ingestion of 45 mg per pound of body |
| reaction from pork. Avoid this meat source if | | | | weight. Theobromine deaths have been reported |
| you have an allergic dog. But if your dog | | | | after ingestion of 52 mg per pound of body |
| does well with it, it is ok to include in | | | | weight. Caffeine is toxic at about 63 mg per |
| their diet but the meat must be well cooked | | | | pound of body weight. |
| to kill all microorganisms which may be | | | | |
| harmful to them. | | | | 15) Mushroom: Some species are known to be |
| | | | toxic to dogs. As we do not know the |
| 5) Sugar: Sugar is one of the primary trigger | | | | acceptable species, best to avoid all |
| of excessive shedding, weight problems, | | | | mushrooms. |
| diabetic conditions and behavioral problems | | | | |
| in dogs. Excessive amounts can also lead to | | | | 16) Alcohol: Some pet owners let their pets |
| obesity and dental problems. | | | | drink alcohol occasionally. I prefer not to |
| | | | as our pet is much smaller in size and |
| 6) Salt: Can cause kidney problems and causes | | | | weight, they get toxic effect faster then |
| dogs to shed excessively and may lead to | | | | humans. e.g. liver condition in the long run. |
| electrolyte imbalance. The only salt I feel | | | | So do not risk it! |
| is safe enough to add just a little before | | | | |
| feeding is sea salt. Sea salt has lot of | | | | Very importantly, share this list with all |
| natural minerals which are good for your pet. | | | | family members so they know food that should |
| Just sprinkle a little will do for taste and | | | | not be fed to the dog. |
| health | | | | |