No, this is not just "people" food!

Sometimes, we feed food that is good for both our pets and humans too. 

There is a great debate going on between those that recommend a 100% all commercial-brand food; those that use commercial based dog food supplemented with "human quality" foods; then there are those that just as vigorously swear to an all raw diet. Who is right? Where do you stand? How can you decide what is right when even the Vets are in disagreement over this subject!

Advantages in making your own dog food.

There doesn't seem to be a simple answer.  Of course, there are advantages to making your own dog food, one being you control what goes into your dog’s food. But, you will have to add your own nutrients, of which there are many available. But who has the time? It is said that homemade dog food is a lot cheaper than store bought commercial brands. The fresh food you buy at the market for yourself is the food you should give your pet, too.

NO, feed nothing but dog food and nothing else

If you decide to follow the Kibble only method, the drawback with these kinds of dog foods is that most of the manufacturers do not even consider giving your dog the proper nutrition that he needs, and most of them are also laden with preservatives, artificial food coloring, and other types of harsh chemicals that can have ill effects on your dog. Unfortunately, there are way too many unhealthy commercial dog food brands.¹  As we discovered in an earlier article, the labels on commercial dog foods cannot be totally trusted, thanks to the WORD GAMES they are playing. There is a method to calculating a dogs daily caloric needs, but first you need to convert the dogs weight to kilograms, using the formula. 2.2 pounds = 1 kilogram.  Daily calories = Body Weight (kg) X 30 + 70, or 329 calories per day. Now you must check the label on your commercial dog food, and see how many calories are in each cup, and feed accordingly. Of course, this metabolic formula is theoretical only, and will vary according to each dog’s metabolism. Well, they have to be good at these games, look what they spend on marketing.  AND LINK TO LAST ARTICLE

aw food is the only way to feed!

This is raising a lot of eyebrows in some quarters of the pet worlds, especially in the commercial sectors.

A raw food diet for dogs is believed to be closer to what canines should be eating. They believe that eating processed or cooked foods is unnatural for canines. "Raw meat, fruits and vegetables is the best dog food, since there are no chemicals involved in making them ready for the market. But there are still some dangers in feeding your dog with raw meat. For one there is a chance that your dog will get food borne illnesses because of salmonella and E. coli, bacteria commonly found in uncooked meat and vegetables. This can be avoided simply by following common kitchen and personal cleaning. But not to be totally left out of this growing movement, there are now high quality, commercially prepared, raw dog food brands available today which eliminates preparation. They are usually frozen/freeze dried or dehydrated raw dog foods."¹

 
Why is all this so important?   

Most Bostons will overeat and become fat if you allow it. Obesity is the single most common serious medical problem in todays dogs -- and even more so in humans in our "developed" (industrialized) nations. Obesity is caused by too much food and too little exercise. Obesity will drastically decrease your dog's health and quality of life and may even contribute to a premature death !  Do NOT "free feed”! Put down the proper amount and leave it for 10-15 minutes, then remove anything uneaten. Weigh the dog at the vet's (most have a walk-on scale and are glad to let clients use it) occasionally and make note of the results. 

If you feel you must give treats.

Most dogs really enjoy some fruits and vegetables, offer them to your dog. Most dogs will quickly learn to love broccoli and carrots, both of which are considered health promoting. You can shred broccoli and carrots in the food processor to increase the digestibility and decrease the rare risk of a dog gulping a piece in a way that could cause choking. Most dogs learn to love tomatoes. Other favorites include pieces of banana, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, figs, pieces of apricot or nectarine (remove the stones first!) and apples. All of these are healthy treats. Don't suddenly give a lot of them to a dog or you might see some changes in stool consistency. Don't be alarmed when you see various colors or seeds or other remnants in the stool.Make sure that you account for the calories in treats when

feeding your dog his meals—these should be subtracted from his total caloric allowance for the day.

How can we tell if a dog is at the right weight?
Feel his ribs: Run your hands along his sides toward the tail, feeling for his ribs. If you can find them beneath a thin layer of flesh, he is probably at the correct weight. If you can barely feel them under a layer of fat, he is likely overweight.
View him from the top and side: A visual inspection of your dog’s body is also important.  Look at his body from above. Does he have an hourglass shape, with a slight narrowing behind the ribcage? Also view the lines of his body from the side. Does his stomach tuck up behind the ribcage? If the answer to both questions is yes, he’s likely at the correct weight. If his body has no definition from above or from the side, he is probably overweight.

Cut back on meals: It’s quite possible that you’re feeding too much at mealtimes. Often the serving size on commercial dog food labels advises a larger portion than is necessary for an individual dog. Every dog is different, and every dog also metabolizes food differently. With this in mind, start out with the recommended serving size, but observe your dog carefully. If he looks like he’s gaining weight, slowly cut back on how much you’re feeding; if he appears to be losing weight, feed slightly more until he’s at the recommended weight for his breed. Then simply maintain the portion size that works for your dog.
Feed him on a schedule: Dogs who are “free-fed”—given access to their food bowls all day—are more likely to be overweight than those who eat on a regular schedule.
Feed your dog two to three times a day. Ask your vet for advice on amount, but in general a dog needs 35 calories per pound per day to stay at her ideal weight. Avoid weight management foods as they tend to be high in carbs and low in protein.

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Written by Donna