by Beth Taylor and Karen Shaw Becker, DVM
Taking charge, however, comes with responsibility.
The best wholesome ingredients won't do your dog a whole lot of good if the diet doesn't provide complete and balanced nutrition. That's where it gets tricky.
There is a total of 36 nutrients (plus water) which are considered essential for dogs.
These include 10 amino acids, 11 vitamins, 12 minerals, linoleic acid, and of course water. (There are also what are referred to as conditionally essential nutrients but we'll talk about that later). All these nutrients need to be provided at the right amounts and in the correct ratios.
People often ask what is a good source of dog food recipes.
A quality recipe will ensure that the food you make for you dog does provide everything your dog's body needs. This is important. Nutrition is the foundation of health.
There are number of ways of getting good recipes for your dog.
The best way is to get recipes formulated by a dog nutritionist or a holistic veterinarian. This way the nutrition will not only address your dog's general nutritional requirements but also their individual needs. What your dog needs in their food depends on their age, activity level and health status.
Jasmine's recipe is formulated around Hilary's Supplement, and was formulated for her individual needs. For my US friends, a similar product is Balance IT.
There are also plenty of dog food recipe books and resources out there. I've always been hesitant to recommend any of these, simply because not everybody who will publish dog food recipes might be qualified to do so.
I can now, with confidence, recommend Dr. Becker's Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats.
Dr. Becker has thorough understanding of dogs' nutritional needs. What I've learned, along with my instinct tell me that her approach to dog nutrition makes sense. More importantly, her book is also recommended by the dog nutrition course I'm taking.
The book explains dog nutrition basics and includes an abundance of yummy recipes.
If you're considering making your dog's food yourself, this is one of a great places to start.
It's your dog's health,
Jana
Related articles:
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Dog Nutrition And Proteins: The Building Blocks of Life
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Do I Have To Eat My Vegetables? Vitamins In Dog Nutrition