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 HomeDr.
NooDr.
Noo's Monthly CareTipsJuly
- Advice on Feeding
Fresh : "Fresh is best where this is feasible: if necessary,
food can be frozen, but there will inevitably be some loss of quality.
"Source is also important, and if possible choose organic produce
rather than intensively farmed: it is a little more expensive, but
ensures you aren't giving your dog any substances he doesn't need,
or unintended dietary ingredients resulting from feeding practices
or culturing of crops. It also enables you to avoid genetically
modified foodstuffs."
Raw : "Although there is an argument for boiling some
meats such as lamb, rabbit or hare, there is no great advantage
in doing so with other meat, as it destroys many of its qualities.
Any cooked meat should have all bones removed before feeding, as
there is a danger of them splintering and becoming lodged in the
mouth, throat or gut.
"There is also a case for cooking vegetables, as the process
releases some plant material - entirely your dog would otherwise
be unable to access due to his difficulty in digesting cellulose.
Again, the rule of variety comes into play here. Try to feed a mix
of vegetables prepared in different ways such as grated, and in
chunks, as well as cooked, so he gets the best of all worlds.
"Lightly steamed is the best way of cooking, as this helps
to preserve vitamins. You can also liquidize fruit and vegetables
to help break down the cellulose."
Supplements : "You are unlikely to need to add proprietary
supplements if your dog's diet has plenty of variety. If you would
like to add something, a daily supplement of herbs can be beneficial
- you might consider well-grated fresh parsley, celery, watercress,
garlic and powdered kelp. Dried herbs are acceptable if fresh are
not available."
"This is by no means a rigid set of rules: it's up to you whether
you decide to follow these guidelines all the way, part of the way,
or not at all," Chris advises. "Money, time and availability
of ingredients may all play a role in how you can achieve a natural
diet for your dog : a bit of compromise may be necessary, but is
still far better than not trying at all."
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