information you will need to reference for this food making endeavor!
This is the calculator I use to figure out how many calories my dogs need daily. There are many formulas for determining your pets’ daily caloric needs, which are known as Resting Energy Requirements (RER), but I find this one to be the easiest to use:
Daily calorie needs = 30 x (your pet’s weight in kilograms) + 70
For example, if your pet weighs 15 kg: (30 x 15) + 70 = 520 calories per day
To get your pet’s weight in kilograms, divide the number in pounds by 2.2
List of foods that can be dangerous to our pets.
This page is a great source of information if you're thinking about making your dog's food homemade.
10 myths about homemade dog food.
another invaluable article I stumbled upon.
"Starchy Vegetables: Veggies such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and winter squashes (including pumpkin), as well as legumes (beans), provide carbohydrate calories that can be helpful in reducing food costs and keeping weight on skinny and very active dogs. Quantities should be limited for overweight dogs. Starchy foods must be cooked in order to be digestible by dogs. Leafy Green and Other Non-Starchy Vegetables: These are low in calories and can be fed in any quantity desired. Too much can cause gas, and raw, cruciferous veggies such as broccoli and cauliflower can suppress thyroid function (cook them if you feed large amounts). Raw vegetables must be pureed in a food processor, blender, or juicer in order to be digested properly by dogs, though whole raw veggies are not harmful and can be used as treats."
This Whole Dog Journal article discusses the problems with dietary fat in commercial dog food, and how you can fix them for a smarter and healthier dog. I touch on this in a blog entry about sardines.
I finally broke down and bought a vitamin supplement to add to the dog's food since I make everything home made. I wanted to make sure I wasn't inadvertently missing any essential vitamins they need. I settled on this brand: NaturVet All in One supplement, but you should feel free to get the one you're most comfortable with. I ordered it online, and shopped around for the best price. I got the 60 day supply, which is 13 ounces, for $15.
Myths about feeding raw meat bones.
Great article on myths about pet food and nutrition.
Daily calorie needs = 30 x (your pet’s weight in kilograms) + 70
For example, if your pet weighs 15 kg: (30 x 15) + 70 = 520 calories per day
To get your pet’s weight in kilograms, divide the number in pounds by 2.2
List of foods that can be dangerous to our pets.
This page is a great source of information if you're thinking about making your dog's food homemade.
10 myths about homemade dog food.
another invaluable article I stumbled upon.
"Starchy Vegetables: Veggies such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and winter squashes (including pumpkin), as well as legumes (beans), provide carbohydrate calories that can be helpful in reducing food costs and keeping weight on skinny and very active dogs. Quantities should be limited for overweight dogs. Starchy foods must be cooked in order to be digestible by dogs. Leafy Green and Other Non-Starchy Vegetables: These are low in calories and can be fed in any quantity desired. Too much can cause gas, and raw, cruciferous veggies such as broccoli and cauliflower can suppress thyroid function (cook them if you feed large amounts). Raw vegetables must be pureed in a food processor, blender, or juicer in order to be digested properly by dogs, though whole raw veggies are not harmful and can be used as treats."
This Whole Dog Journal article discusses the problems with dietary fat in commercial dog food, and how you can fix them for a smarter and healthier dog. I touch on this in a blog entry about sardines.
I finally broke down and bought a vitamin supplement to add to the dog's food since I make everything home made. I wanted to make sure I wasn't inadvertently missing any essential vitamins they need. I settled on this brand: NaturVet All in One supplement, but you should feel free to get the one you're most comfortable with. I ordered it online, and shopped around for the best price. I got the 60 day supply, which is 13 ounces, for $15.
Myths about feeding raw meat bones.
Great article on myths about pet food and nutrition.