Preparing Meals and Snacks for Dogs

There are a variety of schools of thought on what dogs should be fed and not fed. There is no simple answer to giving dogs the proper nutrition. So much information about nutritional needs, even for humans, is very recent. You should do plenty of research to determine the best diet for your dog. There are some pros and cons presented here, but these are meant to be a springboard for your further research. Hopefully, you have decided exactly what the best diet for your dog and lifestyle will be and can use the information below to assist in creating a feast for your pooch. Read on for tips and hints that will help you prepare meals and snacks for your dog.

Preparing Vegetables

You may be asking, "Vegetables? For a dog?"  Many of today's fully-balanced diets for dogs involve a serving of vegetables. Although dogs are relations of wolves, which we think of as strictly carnivorous, dogs have been domesticated eating table scraps. If times were rough, the best of meats or any meats at all may not have been available. One theory is that dogs slowly evolved into omnivores, able to sustain themselves off of anything that was handed from the table, including vegetables. Another group notes that wild dogs get a certain amount of vegetable matter out of the stomachs of the prey that they eat and that some greens may be a crucial part of their diet. You'll have to decide for yourself if you think your dog should eat vegetables. Although the fact is, that they are a healthy snack and many dogs like them. If you are going to supply your dog with something from the garden here's a few things to keep in mind when you're preparing them.

Keep Pesticides out of Food

• Go organic. Pesticides are not good for you or your dog. It's best if you can find vegetables that are assuredly free of pesticides. If you cannot find organic vegetables in you grocery store, check your local farmer's market. You may find that not only is the produce pesticide free, but it is also less expensive and supports your local growers.
• Grow your own! Or get vegetables from neighbors who do not use pesticides.
• Remove all pesticide residues. If you cannot get pesticide-free vegetables, you can at least do what you can to remove the residue.

If you cannot Get Organic Veggies

• For leafy vegetables that are not organic (like lettuce), swirl the produce in a dilute solution of Palmolive dish soap and water at room temperature. Do this for 10-15 seconds.
• For harder-skinned vegetables use a soft brush to scrub the food in the same solution of Palmolive and water for 10-15 seconds.
• Peel off outer layers. If you cannot get organic produce, then do not use the outer layers and rinds when you feed. The majority of the pesticides will be in these outer layers.
• Use produce washes like Fit and Organiclean. Although there hasn't been any definitive proof that these washes work in scientific studies, it may be worth investigating them.