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Cats and dog's diets have changed drastically since their domestication, as they have gone from hunting their own food to relying on their owners to feed them pre-packaged dried kibble. In the wake of the recent pet food recalls, many pet owners want to know how to feed their pets safe and nutritious food. How is a pet owner to know how to do this?

First, a pet owner should educate themselves on how to choose a good commercial pet food. There is a lot of information available on the internet about choosing ingredients, vitamins and nutritional value. Dog food ratings can also help to compare similarly priced foods. However there is only one good way to ensure that our best friends receive only the freshest and healthiest ingredients.

A homemade dog food may be more involved and time-consuming than just buying a pre-packaged kibble. The health benefits, however, far outweigh the disadvantages. And a pet owner can save a lot of money on expensive kibbles. This is an example of a simple dog food recipe that can be made in any kitchen.

First, brown 1lb of lamb or beef in a frying pan, then add 1-2 medium potatoes, and 3 medium carrots, cubed. Add a few stalks of broccoli, then cover with hot water and bring to a boil. Add pepper to taste, and 1-2 cups of brown rice. For good measure, you can also add a good quality doggy vitamin supplement. Your dog is sure to love this simple recipe.

Pets can be picky with new foods, so a gradual switch might be in order. Begin by mixing larger and larger portions of the new pet food with the old so that your pet has a chance to become used to it. Cooked bones can fragment and become lodged in a pet's throat and digestive tract and should be avoided in a dog food. So should ingredients like chocolate, nuts, garlic and onions and mushrooms.

Using this, and many other dog food recipes available on the internet and in libraries, a pet owner can make sure that his pooch is eating a complete, balanced diet, free of additives and harmful chemicals that are often used in pet food. Soon, obvious improvements in your dog's energy levels and coat, even his teeth can be noticed, proving what a healthy diet, prepared with love can do.