Proper nutrition is the fourth, and arguably the most important, element necessary for a healthy home for you and your dog. It is also the element that requires the greatest investment from you - both in terms of time and of money. In a series of posts over the coming weeks, I'll do my best to provide simple, affordable tips for creating nourishing meals for your animal companion, but I would be lying if I said it will always be a snap. Just stick with it, and soon you'll begin to see the rewards - a healthier, happier dog who requires less veterinary care and has fewer behavioral issues. It's all in what you eat. A word of caution: In this blog, I won't spend a lot of time discussing commercial pet foods, because I have yet to find one that is superior to what I can prepare in my own kitchen, for a fraction of the cost to my wallet, my conscience, and the planet itself. We'll discuss raw food diets, vegetarianism and your dog, nutritional needs... And I naturally welcome questions about anything relating to nutrition, but I simply don't have a lot to say about commercial pet food in most instances.
In the past year, the pet food industry has been in the headlines as a result of tainted food that's caused illness and death to thousands of pets across the country. An increasing number of people are becoming aware of the industry's questionable practices and lack of safeguards. Consequently, there has been a significant increase in the number of foods claiming to be balanced or all natural; there are literally thousands of blogs devoted to pet nutrition and home cooking for your pets, and the popularity of the raw food diet has grown exponentially. With this increase in interest comes an increase an information, which, inevitably, also means an increase in misinformation. How do you sort through all of the conflicting reports, the shocking details of abuse in the industry, the number of supplements required? What do you do, when the whole nation is talking about a subject, and it seems that everyone is saying something different?
It's not an easy answer, but it starts by doing your homework. Before you read anything else - and there are hundreds of books out there on the subject - I would recommend Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. It's available through Amazon for less than $13, and is worth every penny and more. Dr. Pitcairn was the pioneer when it comes to the link between health and animal nutrition, and this book covers every topic you'll need to get started - the true nutritional needs of your pet, what to buy and where to get it, the most cost-effective way to prepare a wholesome diet... This is where to begin. If you have other questions after the fact, there are plenty of places to turn; until that time, though, build your foundation with quality materials. This Guide is unquestionably the place to start.
Once you've memorized Dr. Pitcairn's work, head back here each Thursday for more articles, tips, stories, and recipes on nutrition and your favorite pup. We'll begin next week with an overview of the nutritional needs of your dog, so that you can ensure that all of his health needs are being met. The following week I'll provide a shopping list, pricing out what you should have on hand to make meal preparation quick and easy. We'll talk about the things you need to watch out for when preparing home cooked meals, how to work with your veterinarian if your pup has special needs, and how to track your dog's progress as you continue along this path to total health. We'll even look at ways to start eating more conscientiously yourself, following Fido's fine example! I look forward to having a dialogue with readers about the countless topics relating to nutrition and total health, so don't hesitate to drop a line with questions or comments. And, as always, thanks for reading.
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