| Pet owners who want to offer their dogs a healthy | | | | safe. Raw foods are also available in freeze dried |
| natural way of living should start with good nutrition. | | | | form where the dog food is freeze -dried or "cold |
| Nutrition is the foundation of good health and a well | | | | processed", a process whereby enzymes, amino |
| fed pet is usually a healthy pet. | | | | acids, and probiotics remain intact. |
| The best diet for a dog is very much like a diet that | | | | Another source of natural dog food is the |
| nutritionists recommend for us humans. It consists of | | | | dehydrated diet. This type of food is preserved by a |
| a variety of fresh whole foods rich in vitamins and | | | | process of low temperature drying, just like those |
| minerals. This diet alone can promote optimal health in | | | | healthy soup mixes we buy at the health food store. |
| your pet. | | | | Since the process uses less heat, the activity of |
| If you want to feed your dog right, you need to | | | | enzymes in the food is suspended until the food is |
| start with fresh natural ingredients that are full of life. | | | | re-hydrated. The dehydration process only loses |
| Fresh foods have very little processing; the less | | | | about 3% to 5% of the nutrients as opposed to |
| processing, the healthier the food is because fewer | | | | other processes such as canning and the making of |
| nutrients such as vitamins and minerals are lost. This | | | | kibble which may cause the food to lose of up to |
| type of diet might include home made dog food, a | | | | 60% of its nutritional value. |
| raw diet or dehydrated food. Dr Richard Pitcairn, a | | | | Homemade meals are another alternative to a |
| veterinarian who has done extensive research in | | | | healthy diet but this isn't always easy since dogs |
| natural pet care, advocates feeding pets a healthy | | | | need a specific balance and ratio of meat versus |
| diet of homemade foods prepared to the specific | | | | vegetable products. Be glad to know that there are |
| needs of the animals. | | | | premixes that take the guesswork out of making |
| Raw food is becoming popular among pet owners | | | | homemade dog food and all a pet owner needs to |
| and breeders and although there is a lot of | | | | do is add some water and fresh meat to make a |
| controversy on the subject, many pet-owners are | | | | tasty treat for their four legged friend. |
| discovering the health benefits of the raw food diet | | | | A good meal is a pleasurable experience for humans |
| because it has helped clear many conditions such as | | | | and it should be the same for our animal companions. |
| chronic allergies and other degenerative diseases. The | | | | By sticking to fresh ingredients, variety and attention |
| good news is that rather than feeding Fido a raw | | | | to what our pets eat we can achieve balance and |
| bone from your butcher, there are specialty stores | | | | good health for our best friend. |
| that carry frozen raw foods that are balanced and | | | | |