Natural dog food - Quantities, recipes and tips

Author: John Stephens
Date Of Creation: 26 January 2021
Update Date: 13 November 2024
Anonim
HOMEMADE DOG FOOD | healthy dog food recipe
Video: HOMEMADE DOG FOOD | healthy dog food recipe

Content

THE natural dog food has become very popular in recent years. These are foods of natural origin, without additives and with as little processing as possible. For this, some people started to prepare their own homemade food. Others prefer to buy the food already prepared by specialized companies, which manufacture foods based on nutritional studies.

In this article by PeritoAnimal, we tell you why this type of food is on the rise, what it is and what are its benefits and risks. In addition, we will indicate ways for you to elaborate natural food recipes for dogs with tips and quantities needed.


dog feeding

Dogs and wolves belong to the same species (kennels lupus), although they are considered different subspecies. Many pets even look like their wild relatives. The dog began to be domesticated about 15 thousand years ago[1] and, like the wolf, it is considered a carnivorous animal and its food must be based on ingredients from animal origin.

However, the dog feed it should not be equated with that of wolves. This is because, with domestication, dogs changed their lifestyle and had to adapt to a diet more similar to that of humans. Thus, they acquired the ability to digest certain plant-derived nutrients[2], which should constitute only 30%[3] of your diet, decreasing your need for protein.


Natural dog food or dog food?

Currently, the best-selling rations usually contain little digestive cereals for dogs, like corn[4]. In addition, it is common for them to make up the main ingredient, replacing meat. It is also common for ingredients of animal origin not to be certified as fit for human consumption, which means they may contain waste parts, comobicos and paws.

Another characteristic of conventional feeds is that they are usually ultra-processed products, which undergo a large amount of physicochemical processes. As a result, it decreases the bioavailability of nutrients and reduces the natural appetibility of the food[3].

Although there are feeds made with natural and quality ingredients, their texture is very different from meat and bones. Ingestion is important because the natural process of tearing the meat helps clean dogs' teeth and prevent periodontal diseases[5].


For these reasons, natural dog food is highly recommended for the health of our best friends.

Natural dog food

There are many people who want to care for and improve the health of their dogs through food. For this reason, many companies have embarked on the development of natural dog food. It is the case of feeds with ingredients of natural origin. However, they are often processed foods, so many people do not consider them healthy.

Another option is the natural cooked food, which we can make at home or buy them ready-made. By cooking the ingredients, all disease-causing agents they may have are eliminated, so in addition to being natural, it is a completely safe food. However, due to the heat, it can reduce the amount of nutrients such as vitamins. That's why some people prefer to give their dogs raw food, known as BARF diet for dogs.

What is the BARF diet

BARF natural dog food has become one of the most popular dog foods. Its name comes from the acronym BARF, which in English means “biologically appropriate raw food” or “bones and raw food”. It was conceived by Ian Billinghurst, a veterinarian who advocates that dogs, like their ancestors, should consume exclusively raw foods.

This type of food is based on meat, fish, soft bones and raw viscera mixed with small amounts of vegetables. Compared to processed feed, this type of feed may have positive consequences on the health of dogs, how to improve your intestinal flora[6]. However, there is still not enough scientific evidence to say that it produces another type of improvement.

Natural dog food Barf is also associated with certain health risks of dogs. This is because it is often made by inexperienced people, which can cause malnutrition in the animal[7]. In addition, incorrect handling of raw meat has been linked to several bacterial and parasitic infections.[8].

For these reasons, if you don't have enough knowledge about how to make natural dog food, the most recommended is that you ask for advice from a professional.

Where to buy natural dog food?

It is possible to purchase the already prepared BARF food and based on studies of canine nutrition. Many companies offer dog menus made up of carefully selected raw ingredients, obtaining a complete food suitable for the health of our dogs.

In some of them, you can find both raw frozen products as stews for puppies, adults and seniors. Likewise, they also have totally natural complements or snacks that you can use as a reward.

Before shopping at one of these stores, check if there are trusted professionals responsible for preparing the food, how the cleaning and hygiene of the place is and how the food is stored.

Amount of natural dog food

Preparing natural dog food is not easy, as you must take into account a large number of factors. each dog has nutritional needs different depending on your age, size, musculature, physical activity and health.

Generally speaking, a dog in good physical shape and health requires about 81.5 kilocalories per day for each kilogram of body weight[9]. Just multiply this number by the weight of our dog and we will have the daily energy that it should consume. Obviously, it's important to keep in mind that the more physical activity you do, the more calories you'll need.

After performing the indicated calculation, we must select the proportions of each type of food. The most important thing is that the main ingredient is of animal origin, assuming between 70% and 80% of the daily food. The rest are vegetables suitable for canine consumption, considering that there are many foods prohibited for dogs.

How to make natural dog food

Most of the natural dog food that is made in homes is deficient in some nutrients[10]. Therefore, before getting your hands dirty, it is very important to consult a professional. The quantities that we will indicate here are just guidelines.

The preparation of natural dog food can include beef, pork, chicken or fish, including using the heart, tongue, gizzard, mint meat and liver[10].

So to help you make natural food for your dog, we share two simple recipes. Both can be given raw if you have the necessary knowledge. There is the option of cooking the ingredients to eliminate pathogens that may exist in the meat. The most recommendable, in any case, is to prepare a large quantity and freeze it to have it always available.

Homemade turkey food recipe

Turkey meat is very digestive and one of the healthiest. For every 100 grams of food, we should provide the following amounts of ingredients:

  • 64 grams of turkey meat
  • 15 grams of turkey viscera (heart, liver, etc.)
  • 1 turkey neck
  • 9 grams of carrots
  • 5 grams of spinach
  • 4 grams of apple
  • 2 grams of pumpkin
  • 1 gram of olive oil

Homemade chicken and veal food recipe

Mixing different types of meat is also an excellent option. In this way, we will provide more nutrients to our dog's diet. As in the previous case, these are the amounts for every 100 grams of product:

  • 70 grams of chicken meat
  • 20 grams of cow offal
  • 5 grams of pumpkin
  • 4 grams of beet
  • 1 gram of olive oil

Again, if you want to enter the world of natural dog food, but you consider that you don't have the adequate knowledge, remember that you can consult a veterinarian specializing in nutrition or look for reliable companies that sell this type of food already prepared.

In this video, see how to prepare a natural food recipe for your furry friend: