They have evolved from working dogs to cute and smart canine companions. On personality, Eskies are intelligent, jaunty, high-spirited and sometimes mischievous. Due to their high-energy levels and natural intelligence, they need attention, constant exercise, and steady mental stimulation. However, when denied physical or mental engagement, this breed of dogs are easily bored and can get uncomfortable and destructive.

This ugly situation can be averted by taking them on long walks, jogging, on hiking trips, and introducing trick-training drills, games, and obedience training. Sometimes, they have often termed nuisance barkers because of their tendency to bark at odd times and for long periods unnecessarily. It is also believed that American Eskies ‘talk’. For Eskies, it is advised you never leave them alone for too long. This because they are easily suspicious of strangers and often experience separation anxiety when left alone for too long.

In addition, their large hair mass necessitates constant grooming and the choice of dog food recipes that promote good skin and coat health.

Some peculiar health conditions

On the average, Eskies are healthy dogs with a life expectancy of 13 to 15 years and grown up to 19 inches (depending on breed) when properly taken care of. However, Eskies just like every dog breed have certain health conditions that are peculiar to them. Some of these conditions are deemed genetic, while others are just czommon. They include:

Obesity-The American Eskimo can easily get overweight and so it is important to supervise their meal choices, feeding schedule, and practice portion control. They should only be fed balanced diets, exercise regularly, and cut down on treats.

Diabetes-this is a long term disease that can affect dogs and a couple of other living things. For dogs, the most common type is diabetes mellitus, also known as sugar diabetes, and is a metabolism problem. It could mean that your hound’s body is not producing enough insulin (often the most common case), or that your dog’s system is resisting the insulin produced by the pancreas. The signs of diabetes include constant urination, increased appetite, weight loss, and constant thirst. Factors like genetics, pancreatitis and obesity can increase your dog’s chances of being susceptible. This health condition cannot be cured but can be successfully managed.

Congenital, Juvenile and senile cataracts- cataracts are usually more common among dogs than in other animal species. This condition interferes with vision, resulting in a cloudiness that reduces the amount of light reaching the retina. Cataract occurs according to age, with congenital developing during birth, juvenile cataract and senile cataract are experienced during puppyhood and adulthood respectively. This condition can lead vision loss if not properly managed but can be corrected through surgery.

 Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)-as the atrophy in the name implies, this condition refers to a group of retrogressive diseases that affect the rod and the cone cells (the two main photoreceptors in the retina). The “retrogressive” means that this condition can worsen over time leading to complete vision loss or total blindness. This condition is also hereditary and there is no potent treatment for progressive retinal atrophy yet.

Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) – quite a commonly inherited bone genetic malformation in dogs, where the thighbone does not sit comfortably in the hip joint but instead grinds against it. This anatomic condition is often painful to dogs and might cause lameness, loss of hip function, or further deterioration which results to osteoarthritis. Though usually genetic, this condition can also be caused by obesity, poor nutrition, and increased pelvic muscle mass. The most trusted way to properly identify this health condition is through x-ray.

Hypothyroidism- this health condition is more common among dogs than in other animals, and is a deficiency of the thyroid hormone, particularly the thyroxine. In this condition, the thyroid is unable to make enough thyroxine which regulates metabolism. Its symptoms often include hair loss, obvious weight gain due to decreased appetite, clumsiness, muscle loss, toe and ear infections, and slow-paced heart rate. It is important to note that neutered and spayed dogs are more prone to hypothyroidism hence the excessive weight gain. However, this condition is non-life threatening and inexpensive to treat.

Luxating patella- this condition occurs when the patella or knee cap is dislodged from its usual skeletal position where it is attached to the femur or thigh bone. This condition is usually caused by genetic deformity, with signs showing as early as puppy stage. Small breed dogs with this condition often experience bouts of pain the moment the bone slides out of place, and its symptoms can include hind lameness and reduced movement. Sadly, there are no preventive measures for this health condition and it can only be corrected through surgery.

Allergies- collectively refer to chronic reactions to anything, with the most common being food allergies. Food allergies often include symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, itching, skin loss, ear and foot infection, etc. Common food allergens include chicken and poultry by products, beef, soy, dairy, pork, fish, etc. This condition is not exactly life-threatening, and can be avoided by simply eliminating these identified allergens from your hound’s food. It is advised to consult a veterinarian nutritionist while dealing with food allergies and related conditions.

Care, Feeding and nutrition

Probably because of their origin and thick coat, the American Eskie love cold climates and playing in the snow. It might be beautiful and cute to watch them playing in the snow, but grooming that large hair mass can be quite a problem. They shed a lot of hair because they have double coats and so it is crucial that their coat be brushed two to three times every week to prevent matting/tangling and to reduce the amount of hair shed off. Also, they need to be bathed at least once in two months. Furthermore, drooling is not a peculiar thing for Eskies as they hardly drool, so noticing constant drooling means that there is something wrong. Once this is noticed they should immediately visit a veterinarian as it could be a sign of an allergy or a worse health condition.

As dog breeds with active needs and high-energy levels, American Eskies need foods that are whole and balanced. These breed of dogs are also prone to obesity, and this weight problem is often harder to identify or notice because of the large coat mass. Avoid food with high-fat levels as such foods might increase their chances of becoming diabetic.

While choosing dog food brands for American Eskies, it is crucial to make sure they meet certain minimal nutritional tests, like the AAFCO nutritional standard, are suitable for their life stage, are formulated with high-quality ingredients, and provide all the nutrients your dog needs. To be more specific, they need high quality kibble recipes with satisfiable amounts of protein and fats for sustenance and play, then chelated minerals, dietary fibers and vitamins for the improvement of immune and digestive systems, and essential fatty acids for the maintenance and constant nourishment of skin and coat health.

With special consideration of salient factors like nutritional standards, protein source and quality, food-related health conditions, breed size and requirements, cost, and value, this list samples the best dog foods for puppy, adult and senior small breed dogs.

Best Dog Foods For Puppy American Eskimo

1. Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet

With an unparalleled reputation of producing premium and holistic dog recipes, the Blue Buffalo Basics Turkey and Potato recipe clinches the number spot on this list. It has premium-quality deboned real turkey as its main animal-based protein source, along with potatoes, fish oil, pumpkin, oatmeal, cranberries, blueberries, flaxseed, and a host of other ingredients.

The meat constituents, potatoes, turkey meal, and oat meal provide your puppy with maximum energy levels need for physical engagements, repair functions and growth. While the inclusion of ingredients like blueberries, fish meal, cranberries, pumpkin, and flaxseed which jointly form the Blue Buffalo proprietary life source bits produce the required amounts of Omega Fatty acids, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that are needed to promote the growth of healthy skin and shiny coat, support mental functions and immune health, aid digestion, and improve stool quality. These ingredients mimic the nutrients contained in breast milk and provide these essential nutrients needed for growth and development.

In addition, these LifeSource Bits are cold-formed, a production process which reduces the heat applied during formulation and so helps retain the natural potency of the contained nutrients.

This limited ingredient recipe is perfect for dogs with food allergies and sensitive stomachs as it is formulated without grain fillers, poultry by-products meals, artificial preservatives, colours, and flavours. This is an expensive choice and comes available in 4, 11 and 24 pounds bags.

2). Merrick grain free Real Chicken and Potato dry dog food

The Merrick grain free real chicken and potato puppy recipe contains locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. It has real deboned chicken as its first ingredient and main animal-based protein source, along with ingredients like chicken meal, peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, dried egg product, salmon meal, apples, blueberries, sun flower oil, etc.

With a protein and healthy fats composition of 60%, it provides the high protein levels to grow and sustain healthy muscles, promote healthy skin and coat growth, and support your dog’s physical activities. The remnant 40% includes conspicuous levels of essential fatty acids(with significant amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin), vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that improve joint and hip health, support brain and vision development, improve skin health and coat nourishment, and promote healthy oral health.

This recipe is specially formulated with the help of veterinarians and nutritionists at TX kitchen, without grains or gluten, added sweeteners, fillers, artificial colours, preservatives, and supplements. The kibbles are crafted in small easy-to-chew sizes with high palatability.  

It is an ideal choice, though slightly expensive, and comes available in 4, 10 and 22 pounds sizes

3. Bil-Jac Small Breed Puppy Food

The Bil-Jac small breed puppy chicken, oatmeal and yam recipe combines a unique and uncommon set of ingredients to formulate a diet that specifically meets the dietary needs of your toy and small breed Eskie puppy in their first year. It gets the bulk of its protein from farm-reared chicken, with a combination of their nutritious ingredients like sweet potatoes, wholesome oat meal, corn meal, dried beet pulp, flax seed, menhaden fish meal, etc. In addition, it contains essential vitamins and minerals. These high-quality ingredients are blended and cooked using the Nutri Lock slow cook process, a method which guarantees that a greater percentage of nutrients contained in these constituent materials are not lost during manufacturing.

Bil-Jac premium recipe for small breed puppies contains protein levels of not less than 27.0%, fat of not less than 16.0%, fiber of not less than 4.0%, arginine of not less than 1.4%, Omega 6 Fatty Acids of not less than 2.5%, and Omega 3 Fatty Acids of not less than 0.25%. With a dietary profile like this, dog owners can be reassured that their puppy’s nutritional needs (both for growth and functionality) are met and well fulfilled. With 70 stellar years of manufacturing dog foods, it is a known fact that the Bil-Jac is a premium brand.

Also, this recipe comes in mini chewable bites and can be used to wean puppies from 3 ½ and 4 ½ weeks old. To aid digestibility and absorption, it can be moistened with water or goat milk before feeding. It is an affordable choice and comes available in 6, 15, and 30 pounds sizes.

Most importantly, this recipe contains chicken by-products and chicken by-products meals, and so might not be great for dogs with allergies caused by poultry products. It also contains an assumed harmful preservative known as BHA, and so might not be for every dog.

4. Canidae Petite Salmon Formula small breed puppy limited ingredient freeze-dried raw dog food

Specially formulated for toy and small breed dogs, the Canidae Grain free Pure Petite fresh salmon formula contains seven main ingredients and is specially formulated for dogs with sensitive tummies. The main protein source and number one ingredient is salmon, along with salmon meal, lentils, peas, garbanzo beans, tapioca, flaxseed, taurine, freeze-dried salmon, and a host of other nutritious ingredients. With a protein percentage of 24%, it contains enough protein level to support your hound’s physical activities, and help with the growth and increase of muscle mass. In addition, it contains essential fatty acids (Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids) that help with skin and coat rejuvenation, proprietary probiotics (added after cooking) for a stablised and healthy digestive system, and antioxidants for a thriving immune system.

This limited ingredient recipe is carefully formulated without grains, gluten, artificial fillers, colours, preservatives, and supplements. The small-sized kibble pieces are individually coated with freeze-dried meat to increase palatability and so will be popular with picky eaters and small breed puppies.

It is an affordable option for dog owners after price and value, and comes available in 4 and 10 pounds sizes.

5. Instinct be natural puppy real chicken and brown rice freeze-dried raw coated dry dog food

Formerly known as the prairie recipe, the Instinct real chicken and brown rice recipe from Nature Variety is the start of premium nutrition. This wholesome recipe has cage-free chicken as its number one ingredient and protein source, and also contains brown rice, oat meal, barley, chicken fat, turkey meal, menhaden fish meal, and a host of other nutritionally rewarding ingredients. With protein, fats and fiber levels of 25.0%, 14.0%, and 5.0% respectively, it remits enough amino acid levels to sustain your puppy’s biological functions, growth of strong muscles, promotion of repair functions, and enough fibrous material to improve digestive health. Also, it contains high levels of chelated minerals, vitamins and essential fats, which aid the growth of strong bones, teeth, and joints, and promote the growth and nourishment of a luscious coat and healthy skin.

This new and improved product has an increased level of animal-based proteins, a total removal of peas and sweet potatoes, and a reduced amount of plant-based protein. In addition, it is highly palatable, all thanks to its method of coating each kibble piece in freeze-dried chicken, and also is easy to digest and be utilised. It is formulated without corn, soy, wheat, chicken by-products, artificial fillers, colours and preservatives. It also comes available in 4.5, 12, and 25 pounds sizes and is slightly affordable.

Best Dog Foods For Adult American Eskimo

For small and toy breed

6. Purina Pro-Plan Focus Grain Free Chicken and Egg formula

The Purina Pro-Plan Focus grain free chicken and egg recipe is specially formulated with the biological needs of your toy/small breed dog in mind. This recipe includes locally sourced and high quality ingredients like real chicken as its number one ingredient and source of protein, along with chicken meal, cassava root flour, dried egg product, pea starch, and other nutritious ingredients.

It gets majority of its protein composition from real and wholesome animal sources and provides enough amino acids needed for growth and sustenance. Furthermore, it contains fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, and probiotics that maintain and improve digestive and immune health, sustains the nourishment of skin and coat, and improve joint flexibility. In addition it meets AAFCO nutritional standards and offers wholesome and balanced nutrition to adult toy and small breed dogs weighing under 20 pounds. This recipe is formulated without grains, gluten, artificial fillers, preservatives, flavours and colours.

However, the choice of protein is not really special and reduces the appeal of the recipe. Also, even though it is grain free its inclusion of dried egg product makes it problematic and not a generally accepted choice especially for dogs with dairy-based allergies.

7. Purina Pro Plan Adult Small Breed

Purina Pro Plan Adult Small Breed is the upgraded optimised version of former Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Shredded Blend Small Breed Chicken and Rice formula. This high-protein recipe has chicken as its number one ingredient and main protein source, and also contains other ingredients like rice, poultry by-product, corn gluten meal, soy bean meal, whole grain corn, whole grain wheat, dried egg product, wheat bran, fish meal, etc. With protein, fats and fiber levels of 29%, 17% and 3%, it generously meets your dog’s bodily needs for growth, sustenance and repair functions. In addition, it contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidant and proprietary live probiotics to nourish skin and coat health, support the digestive and immune systems, and promote good joint and bone health. This recipe is nutritious, tasty and crunchy, offering your hound something to linger over and thoroughly enjoy.

However, this product contains some controversial and feed grade ingredients like poultry by-products, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, brewers dried yeast, garlic oil, corn germ meal, etc. These products reduce the rating and makes it not suited for every small breed dog. Overall this recipe is slightly affordable and comes available in 6, 18 and 34 pounds sizes.

FOR MINIATURE BREED DOGS (WITH DOGS ALLERGIES AND INTOLERANCES)

Produced by chewy, American Journey Salmon and Sweet Potato recipe contains locally sourced limited ingredients strictly without allergens. With deboned salmon as its main protein source and number one ingredient, it also contains other impressive ingredients like salmon meal, sweet potatoes, peas, peas starch, pea protein, dried beet pulp, flaxseed, sun flower oil, rosemary extract, etc. With 25% protein and 12% fat content, this recipe provides enough amino acids to support physical engagements, increase muscle mass and perform repair functions. It also promotes easy digestibility and absorption, all thanks to complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and peas. In addition, ingredients like flaxseed (a good source of omega 3 fatty acid) and sunflower oil (a good source of omega 6 fatty acid) help promote and nourish skin and coat.

8. American Journey Limited Ingredient Salmon and Sweet Potato recipe

This recipe is a balanced and complete meal according to AAFCO nutritional standards, and is formulated through extrusion without the addition of grains, gluten, poultry by-products, synthetic fillers, flavours, colours and preservatives. It is an ideal choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs, food allergies, and skin irritation. On cost, it is slightly affordable and comes available in 4, 12, and 24 pounds sizes.

FOR STANDARD BREED DOGS (WITH FOOD ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVE TUMMIES)

9. Evolve Deboned Salmon and Sweet Potato Grain-Free dry dog food recipe

Evolve Deboned Salmon and Sweet Potato recipe is a super-premium food for standard-sized dog breeds. This grain-free formula features salmon as its first ingredient and main protein source (a choice guaranteed to appeal to your hound’s innate cravings), and combined with complex carbohydrate sources like garbanzo beans and sweet potatoes, it jointly meets your hound’s high energy requirements. Also, it contains a variety of superior vitamins and minerals, omega fatty acids, probiotics, and prebiotics, all of which improve digestive and immune health, aid growth and nourishment functions, and improve overall health. All the food materials used in the production of this formula are locally sourced and are of first grade quality.

This holistic recipe offers complete and balanced nutrition that your dog needs to lead a healthy life, and is specially formulated without the addition of corn, wheat, soy, artificial fillers, preservatives, colours, and flavours. These wholesome features make it suitable for dogs with food allergies and sensitive stomachs. Also, it comes with daily feeding guidelines and suggested schedule for diet transitioning.

This grain-free recipe is a modest buy and comes available in 3.5 and 12 pounds sizes.

10. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe with Red Meat Small Breed Grain-free Dry Dog Food

This premium protein-rich recipe is formulated to mimic the diet of ancestral dogs. Made without chicken but instead a dense blend of easily digestible animal-based protein sources that include deboned beef, venison and lamb. It also contains other nutrients like blueberries, menhaden fish meal, carrots, beef meal, sweet potatoes, glucosamine, peas, pea protein, tapioca starch, dried egg product, beef meal, canola oil, flaxseed, dehydrated alfalfa meal, etc. With an accrued protein and fats level totaling 48%, it provides enough amino acids needed for energy-sustained activities, growth of strong lean muscles, and repair functions.

In addition, it includes the Blue Buffalo proprietary LifeSource Bits-a unique holistic mix of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that regulate oxidative balance, support healthy immune and digestive functions, offer stamina and metabolic support, improve joint and hip state, and continuously nurture skin and coat health.

These source bits are cold-formed, a preparatory method that allows them to retain their nutrients and increase longer shelf-life. The kibble pieces are crunchy and easy to digest. To increase overall appeal, they can be combined with wet food variants from the same dog food brand or simply rehydrated with water or milk to free ingrained flavours and aroma.

Offering balanced and first-grade life-stage specific nutrition, this recipe is formulated without wheat, corn, soy, chicken or poultry by products, synthetic fillers, flavours, preservatives, and colours. Its grain-free feature makes it totally perfect for dogs with sensitive tummies and food allergies.

This formula is not affordable but totally offers its worth in value. It also comes available in 4 and 10 pounds bags.

Best Dog Food For Senior American Eskimo

For toy and small breed dogs

11. Iams Proactive Health Mature adult small and toy breed chicken

This first-grade dog recipe from Mars Petcare is a top pick for senior toy and small breed dogs and earns a 4.7 rating. With farm-raised chicken as its main high-quality protein source and number one ingredient, it also contains ground whole grain barley, ground whole grain corn, ground whole grain sorghum, dried beet pulp, dried egg product, brewers dried yeast, rosemary extract, etc. This premium recipe recognizes your dog’s aging problems and reduced energy levels and comes with protein and fat levels of 24% and 10.50%, quite enough to support their minimal physical activities and repair functions, and a little less to contribute to weight gain.

Also, it is improved with antioxidants (especially beta-carotene and Vitamin E), omega fatty acids, other vitamins and minerals, and dietary fibers to improve digestion, strengthen your hound’s immune system, burn away unnecessary fat and regulate metabolism, support bone and joint health, and other specific nutritional functions your mature dog might have.

Iams proactive health mature adult dry dog food offers 100% nutrition and is a balanced veterinarian-recommended recipe. It is formulated without artificial preservatives, fillers, colours, flavours and supplements. It is crunchy, palatable and easily digestible.

It is budget-friendly and comes available 7, 15, and 29.1 pounds sizes.

12. Royal Canin Small Adult 8+ Dry Dog Food for Senior Small Breed Dogs

Formerly known as mini aging12+, the Royal Canin Small Adult 8+ dry dog food is particularly formulated for older small breed dogs (from 8-12 years and weigh 9 to 22 pounds) and offers age-specific nutrition to meet your aging dog’s dietary needs. This recipe contains a unique blend of ingredients like brown rice, corn gluten meal, brewers rice, corn, chicken by-product meal, wheat gluten, chicken fat, dried plain beet pulp, fish oil, dried tomato pomace, green tea extract, rosemary extract and other ingredients which in return remit nutrients like amino acids, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants.

These nutrients help your dog maintain an exuberant vitality, regulate rate of metabolism and aging process, help maintain weight gain, and maintain healthy joint, bone, skin and coat health. On appeal, the kibble pieces are tasty and easy to digest. This quality makes it a perfect choice for fussy eaters. Also, they are crafted in chewable sizes that perfectly fit the small jaws of small breed dogs.

ALSO SEE ; How To Make Homemade Dog Food – A Step by Step Guide

To get the best out of this recipe, it can further be combined with a wet food variant from the same brand for senior dogs. This recipe is a modest and budget-friendly option, offering tailored nutrition along age-lines. It also comes available in 2.5 and 13 pounds sizes.

The post 12 Best Dog Foods For American Eskimo in 2022 appeared first on Best Dog Foods Reviews.

One might think that commercial dog food brands solve this gap in nutrition, but adopting commercial dog food often adds to the problem instead of solving or reducing it. The undying controversy around commercial dog food brands and the ingredients they contain confirm this. While most people criticize them for their use of harmful substances and low-quality ingredients in their recipes, other totally boycott some brands because of their use of allergenic food sources, artificial additives, and imbalanced attributes.  

These claims around commercial foods often make them unreliable choices and so leaves dog parents with the option of personalizing diets that suit their hound’s dietary habits and are formulated with whole and healthy ingredients they trust. Homemade food can either be cooked or raw, depending on the nutritional goal the dog parent wants to achieve, the digestive health of the dog, and the dog’s breed and size. In addition, homemade dog foods are balanced and complete seeing that it takes necessary factors like breed, physical activity, age, and weight, into consideration during its preparation process.

However, most dog owners are wary of homemade dog foods because of its associated downsides. With this category of food, there is a constant possibility of bacterial contamination and the inclusion of common allergenic items. The surest way to bridge both gaps identified in both commercial and home-made dog food categories is often to combine both food types so to get a diverse and balanced proportion of nutrients contained in both, and to eliminate further possibilities of food contamination and food intolerances. It is also important to note that the more diverse a dog food is, the better suited it is.

Moreover, homemade dog food remains an ideal and popular choice whenever it is compared to majority of commercial dog recipes readily available at pet stores because of its many nutritious prospects and the overall control it grants dog owners over what their dog eats. Also, homemade dog foods are perfect for hounds with skin diseases, gastrointestinal upsets, and food intolerances.

Reasons For Adopting Homemade Dog Foods

NUTRITION SAKE: unlike most loosely regulated commercial dog foods, homemade dog foods are formulated with the best ingredients and with enough care. Often with adequate knowledge of the dog’s digestive system and feeding habits, home-made foods are tailored to fit the desired nutritional needs. Also, home-made dog food offer diverse nutrition unlike commercial dog foods that offers the same nutritional benefits all the time. Moreover, incorporating nutritionally-diverse meals increases the food’s appeal and makes for optimum nutrition all the time.

In addition, commercial dog foods are often formulated with artificial additives like preservatives, hormones, fillers, and colours. This additives are often added to increase shelf-life and palatability of the product even though they often have adverse effects on dogs. The most common of these preservatives commonly found in commercial dog foods is ethoxyquin, which is a very harmful pesticide that can cause darker urine, pale gums, liver cell death, etc. others include carcinogens like butylated hydroxytoluene and hydroxyanisole.

Also, preparing your own dog food places your dog’s nutrition entirely into your hands and affords you the opportunity to control what they eat. This makes it easier to tackle a food intolerance or allergy when such arises. They are also ideal for dogs with food allergies and gastrointestinal options.

EXCESS TIME: if you have excess time on your hands, it could be the best reason to adopt homemade dog food, with reference to its great nutritional benefits. Contrary to popular assumption, home-made dog foods are the opposite of time-consuming especially when you make plans ahead of the preparation proper. Just liking planning a baking session, making plans for home-made dog food preparation includes sourcing for your ingredients, locally processing the food items that need processing, and carefully preserving the perishable ones. Doing these cuts down the process and makes it very easy to proceed.

In addition, there are a couple of kitchen appliances like blender, digital scale, electric cookers, oven, food processors, and refrigerator that make the preparation process easy and efficient.

COST-EFFICIENT: if you are after wholesome and budget friendly nutrition, then there is enough reason to consider home-made meals for your hound. This is because there are many ways to save cost with food items like buying such items directly from local groceries markets, sourcing for meat crumbs and discounted bits from local butchers, or simply harvesting from the garden in the backyard. Also, crumbs from the kitchen and leftovers are great ways of cutting down overall cost.

EASY AND CONVENIENT: whether you love to cook or not, home-made dog foods are convenient options since the process allows preparing the food in bulk and having some parts well-preserved and saved for later. Also, they can be transported and taken along while travelling or camping as long they are properly sealed and preserved. When stored in a freezer, they can stay fresh and palatable for as long as intended.

Ingredients To Use In Home-Made Dog Foods

There are many easily accessible food items that can be incorporated into home-made dog foods. Some of these ingredients may either be cooked or raw depending on the diet plan. They include:

Muscle meat. Especially lean and skinless chicken or turkey, rabbit, lamb and other high-quality sources of amino acids. The lean attribute attached to these protein sources and the removed skins reduce the fat content.

Fish (especially tuna and salmon) is an essential source of vitamin D. They can be fresh or come canned and packed in water (but never oil).

Liver, offal, and meaty bones, raw (the liver part should be a once-in-a-while feature so as to avoid the bulk of vitamin toxicity)

Eggs, either raw or cooked (raw eggs might not be ideal for all dogs. First there is the threat of bacterial poisoning, and shortage of biotin. Whichever form, the quantity of eggs should be kept minimal).

Vegetables, either raw or cooked, like carrots, spinach, broccoli, peas, asparagus, cauliflower, cucumbers, lettuce, squash, etc. contrary to popular assumption, vegetables support digestive functions and contain essential antioxidants that improve immunity and overall good health. However, their quantity should be kept minimal.

Oils like cod liver oil, plants oil, fish oil, etc.

Ingredients To Avoid In Home-Made Dog Foods

While formulating your own dog food, it is very necessary to know that not all food items are meant for dogs to eat. Even though dogs are omnivores like humans, it is never advised to feed them with everything humans eat. Some food items consumed by humans are very lethargic to dogs and so should be cautiously avoided. These food items include:

• Fast food
• Coffee
• Raw Yeast Dough
• Avocadoes
• Spice (like pepper, onions, garlic, curry etc)
• Chocolate
• Walnuts

Limited Ingredients In Home-Made Dog Foods

The limited nature of these ingredients means that they are either needed in smaller portions or just beneficial but not really necessary ingredients. This means that dogs can totally do without them and still live hale and hearty. An excessive amount of these substance is often nutritionally detrimental to dogs. These limited ingredients include:

• Milk and other dairy products
• Plain yoghurt
• Corn
• Cottage and ricotta cheese
• Egg plant
• Tomatoes
• Fruits (with the exception of grapes and raisins and the fruit portions should be kept small to avoid diarrhoea).
• Butter
• Sweet potato
• Mushrooms
• Cooking oil
• Celery
• Green beans

NB: even though grains are beneficial food sources, they are not really essential ingredients in home-made dog foods especially with regards to making these diets balanced and wholesome for dogs. On the other hand, beans and legumes are sources of plant protein and so should be included over grains. However, they should not constitute the whole diet as meat protein sources are always more beneficial and preferred over plant protein sources.

Some Tips And Guidelines To Follow While Making Home-Made Dog Foods

• Detailed planning and research is a primary and essential step in making homemade dog foods. The research should be informed by the knowledge of your dog’s nutritional needs, their tolerance threshold, and their physiology. On the other hand, the planning should cover healthy homemade dog food recipes, where to get or to source the freshest and most budget-friendly food items, and the required food rations and feeding schedule. It is crucial to involve your veterinary nutritionist before planning and researching. This is because they are more qualified and certified on dog nutrition and health than you are, and so their recommendations and suggestions would be a great point to start off from. Even after thorough planning and subsequent, your veterinarian still needs to review your homemade food plan. This means that all your food recipes must be approved by your veterinary nutritionist.

• While planning, you should make sure that the recipes include a wide range of foods from different classes of food that are rich in various nutrients. It is necessary to know that the more nutritionally- diverse your recipes are, the more nutrients they remit when consumed by your dog. Every good recipe must include foods that contain protein, fats, essential fatty acids, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, and water.

• Every homemade dog food should always emphasise variation, and at such should contain a healthy proportion of meat, vegetables, fruits, wholesome grains, and dietary fibers. This means that no individual food type, should constitute more than half of what the diet contains. The highest constituting ingredient should be meat and other related animal food sources, and they should only constitute half of the diet and not more. Proportional and balanced is the constant keyword here.

• Ingredients used should be fresh and wholesome. Food items like fruits and vegetables are better when they are fresh because most of the nutrients they contain are still intact at this point. In addition, buying fresh fruits and vegetables is more economical that the canned variant. You only need to store them properly to last longer.

• Even though it is expensive and physically draining to make your dog’s food yourself, buying food items in bulk can help reduce cost and make cooking for your dog an economical option. Also, buying meat craps and bones from neighbourhood butchers and local meat markets can help offset cost. These food items bought in bulk can also be preserved in a refrigerator or freezer to avoid spoilage. In addition, leftover foods and crumbs from the chicken can be incorporated into homemade dog foods. However, it is necessary to ensure that they do not contain substances that are detrimental to dogs like pepper, butter, salt, and others.

• It is advised that dog owners include real meat bones (which are real sources of protein) in the food composition. And if the food mix is prepared without meaty bones, it is necessary that dog owners add calcium supplements or crushed egg shells.

• Not minding the fact that dogs are omnivores like just humans, they however do not need human food seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic, and ginger in their foods. The digestive system of dogs is not the same as that of humans.

• Also, you can include dietary supplements that contain vitamins A, calcium, and essential fatty acids while formulating your dog’s diet. However, these supplements should be either recommended or approved by the vet.

Some Common Misconceptions About Homemade Dog Foods

Grains are harmful to dogs and should be excluded from their diet

Unlike what most grain-free dog food brands would have you believe about grains as low-quality fillers that are also allergenic, grains are very nutritious ingredients and whole sources of essential fatty acids and amino acids that improve coat and immune health. However, they should be incorporated into dog diets in smaller quantities and never as main ingredients.

In addition, to increase the digestibility and absorption rate of grains they have to be well-cooked. This is because the digestive system of dogs are not suited for digesting grains in their raw form. Also, some grains contain starchy carbohydrates and dietary proteins. However, once a dog has shown sign of being allergic to grains, it is advised that grains be completely eliminated from their diet. Grains are beneficial in small quantities but might not be nutritionally beneficial to all dogs because of its high carbohydrate content and allergenic tendencies.  

Home-made recipes should contain only meat

Not minding the fact that dog still retain their ancestral carnivorous taste buds and have a special love for meat, they are evolved omnivores too. It is quite the ideal practice to integrate more meat in their food composition, but the meat should not be the bulk of the whole food. This is because dogs in addition to protein require other essential nutrients for growth, development, and sustenance. And so feeding meat-only diets will prove nutritionally-deficient.

Dogs Cannot Digest and Absorb Dairy Products and By-products

Diary or milk products include all foods that are produced or come from milk. And dogs like other omnivores can be lactose-intolerant, but this does not mean that all dogs react adversely to dairy products. The trick here is simple, the higher lactose content a dairy product contains the more difficult it is to digest. With this said, it is essential to reiterate that foods with lower and medium lactose content are perfectly safe for dogs, depending on breed and size. Plan yoghurt and kefir are well-liked and mildly tolerated by most dogs, along with ricotta and cottage cheese.

Addition of Supplements to Home-made Dog Foods Covers up the Nutritional Gaps

Many believe that supplements like digestive enzymes, probiotics, vitamin supplements and other nutritional blends balance out nutritional deficiencies. Supplements like the name implies are solely meant to augment and not replace the essential nutrients you dog needs to perform biological functions. It is advised you serve your hound meals that are balanced and complete without relying on supplements. Dog meals that contain wholesome nutrients are more biologically beneficial that those spiked with supplements.

Homemade Raw Foods are Nutritionally-Superior to Cooked Foods

Even though raw foods attempt to mimic the ancestral diet of pre-evolved dogs, it is however not for all dogs. Raw foods also known as biologically appropriate raw foods (BARF) are often preferred by active or working dogs because of its zero processing, balanced nutrition and high protein levels but they also have many downsides. Raw dog foods are more prone to biological contamination than the cooked version, can cause teeth breakage, and can damage the digestive tract. Also, raw foods are not ideal choices for dogs with food allergies and intolerances.

Adding enough yoghurt makes up for calcium loss

For dogs, calcium is an essential nutrient need for growth and the performance of day-to-day functions, and so the need for high levels of calcium. However, feeding them yoghurt alone would not meet their daily requirements. Instead, feeding them more yogurt may lead to stomach upset or gastrointestinal stress. Instead, you can incorporate raw bones, crushed egg shells, or calcium supplements.

Home-made Dog Foods eliminate all Food Allergies

Believing that home-made dog foods eliminate all food allergies experienced by dogs is a huge misconception. Feeding dogs with home-made dog meals may be more nutritionally rewarding but it does not get rid of allergens, bacteria and the risk of possible contamination.

Homemade foods might reduce it but it is still better to remember that food allergies can be caused by a wide range of factors, ranging from the presence of allergenic food items to environmental conditions. Extra care should be paid to the symptoms of a dog’s allergies in order to properly identify and tackle its source. Involving a veterinarian with enough knowledge of dog nutrition will also be a good idea.

Raw Eggs are Bad for Dogs

Even though your vet will likely suggest you firsthand consider the immune health of your dog before feeding them raw eggs, raw eggs are not entirely bad for dogs. With reference to structure and functionality, a dog’s digestive is shorter than that of most omnivores and by that virtue is more resistant to bacterial attack.  Also, the egg yolk has a higher level of biotin than most food sources.

However, it is advised you feed them cooked eggs instead of raw ones. Boiling the egg does not in any way reduce the nutrient value but rather makes it highly-digestible.

Dogs do not need carbohydrates

Contrary to this misconception, dogs need carbohydrates just only not in higher quantity. Even though there is no known carbohydrate deficiency in dogs, they still need starchy carbohydrates for energy and to help regulate gastrointestinal activities.

Some Vet-Approved Home-Made Dog Food Recipes

Even though cooking your dog food yourself extends beyond mixing a couple of meat bits, fruits and vegetables, and essential fats, coming up with your own home-made dog food recipes should not be mentally draining or difficult.  To get started easy, you can simply consult a veterinary nutritionist for healthy recipes. Furthermore, there are a couple of vet-approved home-made dog food recipes online if you really know here to look. You can start off with visiting some reliable dog nutrition blogs. You can also buy books on dog nutrition. A book like Feed Your Best Friend Better: Easy, Nutritious Meals and Treats for Dogs is a nice place to start. When adopting recipes, it is important to consider vital options like breed, physical activity, weight, and general health.

On recipe measurement, it recommended you stick to what the recipe says. However, the recipes can be customized to suit your dog’s specific needs especially if you know what you are doing. And if you do not, it is always better to ask a veterinarian you trust for help and guidance. You can also double the measures to increase the quantity of food.

The basic summary of every recipe should be:

• 45-50% meat based protein with little fat
• 30% fruits, vegetables and dietary fibers
• 5-10% carbohydrates
• 10% Essential fatty acids

NB: Calcium is an essential addition. Also, these nutrients proportions are not set and can be adjusted by choice depending on the dog’s breed, size, and dietary needs.

ALSO SEE: How To Store Dog Food of All Kinds Effectively

Meat Based Recipes

Chicken/Turkey Gourmet for Active Dogs

Duration: 40 minutes

Ingredients to Use:

• Chicken or turkey (1 pound)
• Brown rice (4 cups)
• Veggies (broccoli, sweet potato, carrots)
• Coconut oil (3 tablespoons)
• Salt
• Multivitamin of choice

How to Prepare

Pour the coconut oil into a pan and allow it to slightly heat. Slice the chicken into chewable bits and pour into the hot oil. Fry for a bit and allow to cool.

On the side, boil the rice and steam the veggies. Then pour the rice and veggies into the fried chicken bits and allow to heat for a while.

Stir until all the contents are properly mixed, then add a bit of salt and your chosen multivitamin. The salt quantity should be minimal as salt consumption is not good for dogs. The food can be shared into portion and stored in the refrigerator for future consumption.

Beef and Veggie Rich Mix

Duration: 30 minutes

Ingredients to Use

• Real beef, turkey, veal, and chicken (450g)
• Oat meal
• Potatoes (1 medium-sized piece)
• Fine ground barley (½ -1 cup)
• Carrots (one piece)
• Chopped green veggies including green peas, broccoli, and spinach (½ cup)
• Olive oil (3 tablespoons)
• Garlic (4 cloves)

How to Prepare

Cut the meat into chewable bits and fry in pre-heated olive oil for a while to melt down the fat.

Cut the potatoes and veggies into smaller bits and shred the carrot.

Then boil the barley, potatoes and oatmeal separately. Gently steam the carrot and veggies by the side. Simply pouring hot water and covering for some minutes will do the trick.

Then mix all items properly. The food can be shared into rations and stored in the freezer to retain its freshness.

Home-made Beef Stew

Duration: 40 minutes

Ingredients to Use

• Beef stew meat (1 lb)
• Sweet potato (1 small-sized piece)
• Diced Carrots (1/2 cup)
• Diced green beans (1/2 cup)
• Olive oil (1 tablespoon)
• Flour (1/2 cup)
• Water (1/2 cup)

How to Prepare

Cook the sweet potato for 4 to 7 minutes until it is soft. Then slice the meat into smaller chewable bits and cook in a tablespoon of olive oil over low heat until it is well-cooked. Set aside.

Set the dripping from the beef on a medium-heat fire, then cook and gently pour water and flour into the mix. Turn consistently until it turns into a marsh.

Then add the sliced meat, diced potato, carrots and veggies and stir consistently to thicken. Cook for some minutes until the newly added items are tender.

Let it cool and then serve. It can also be shared into portions and stored in the freezer.

Delicious Rabbit/Lamb Stew

Duration: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• Lamb or rabbit (minced/ground)
• Peeled rice- 1 cup
• Fat-free yoghurt (½ cup)
• Olive oil- 1 tablespoon
• Carrot (grated) ½ cup
• Water (2 cups)

How to Prepare

Boil the rice until tender. Then cook the carrot on medium heat until it is tender. Then fry the minced or ground lamb or rabbit meat on medium heat. When tender, bring down and allow to cool.

Then mix everything properly while adding a little bit of water to get a gravy consistency.

The post How To Make Homemade Dog Food – A Step by Step Guide appeared first on Best Dog Foods Reviews.

There is a lot of good taking the proper measures in storing your pet food could save your pet like food poisoning from contaminated surfaces and decay as it helps preserve the quality, texture and freshness of the food your dog is consuming especially when storing for a long time.

But it is not enough to just keep the food bag tucked in on the cupboard or shelf because with changing weather conditions, what will guarantee you freshness is a stable and constant environment and because you have been asking, here are important facts you need to know to help you store your dog food be it dry, wet or raw better. There is no guarantee with the changing weather condition and environment, the risks of preservation can be quite disastrous which is why you need to know the factors that can affect it and how to preserve it better.

Storing dry dog food:

One of the reasons why many pet parents prefer Kibbles to canned food is because of its ability to last longer and the dogs live the crunchy taste of it too. But this crunchy delight when poorly stored, can lose its freshness and quickly become an airy-soft and distasteful meal for your doggie.

There are three major factors that are responsible for the quickening damage of dry food in storage:

Light because it is a source of heat generation which radiates through the meal and leaves it warm, Humidity makes for hot, moist environment as it contains water vapour and Oxygenated air which is particularly responsible for the change in the crunchy dry texture, to soft and causes a degradation of fat in the food.

Although, it contains a low moisture, dry food is formulated with a high fat content than the wet food and if allowed to come in contact with oxygen, the fat can easily become soluble and rancid which is bad for digestion.

But all this boils down to poor storage and with the right information on the proper method of storing dry foods, your bulk purchases would no longer be in vain again. Below are a few steps with the right information to follow:

• Before purchasing and/or using any bag of dry food, check the body of the bag properly (that is if you are buying from a physical store)to make sure it is free from any openings or tears around the body and lid. Inspect the goods immediately after every delivery and do not feed any of its content to your dog as you do not know for how long it may have been opened.
• Purchase only bags that have been vacuum-packed as they have been de-aired and very likely pumped out of almost all the oxygen that could make the food go bad easily.
• Reseal lids after every use by pressing both kids together. In a case where the package does not come with a resealable lid, fold the lids tightly or clip them with a peg and store them with their original packaging in an airtight BPA-free container, a stainless container or a Ziploc bag.
• For extra caution, oxygen-absorber pads are great for keeping out any of the remaining g oxygen left in the pack to keep the product fresh. Food processing companies produce food in vacuum-packed bags to help keep oxygen out for long lasting freshness while on the shelf.
• Consult the best before date on the package label to enable you know just how best store your food for a long term.
• Store in cool, dry and dark place away from sunlight and off the floor away from rodents.
• Apply clove oil around the rim of the jar. This is great for keeping away ants and other pests that may likely surround the jar.
• The best environment to store a bag of dry Kibbles is in a Cool, dry, dark place on the top of a kitchen cupboard, shelf and pantry away sealed in an airtight metal or plastic container that cannot be nibbled on by rodents nor infested by rats.
• Automatic kibble dispensers are great for making mealtime for your dog with little need for opening and closing containers. But if left in fir too long, the kibbles stand the chance of Pest infestation from the tiny holes of the dispensers. They do not also make for the best environment for storing food for a long time.
• Use up old bags of food completely before adding new bags into the container. Before adding a new bag to the container, first empty out the remnants of the old and thoroughly clean out the container to avoid any case of the old taste affecting the freshness of the new container.
• Freezing dry food at high temperature is not recommended but you can refrigerate it for up to six months to keep it cool and fresh. The note though, that keeping dry food in the fridge can leave it susceptible to moisture and if left for too long lose its flavour  
• Microwaving dry kibbles would only leave it burnt, too dry and might even burn your dog. They are omnivores and have once lived in the wild forest so can adjust to eating their food without any need for heating.
• Opened bags should be consumed first and the container cleaner out properly before storing another one to prevent creating an unhealthy environment for the next bag particularly if the old one has been there for quite a while.
• Always store all dog foods indoors as room temperature no matter the change in weather is not as extreme as that of the outdoor environment.

Appropriate Storage Containers

• The most appropriate plastic container to use are BPA-free, airtight containers as they do not contain the chemical used to preserve plastic containers and have lids that do not always require constantly unscrewing the lid. They also have Silicone rubbers which are very good for keeping away moist and providing a regular temperature for the rubber. Tupperware plastic containers are not usually recommended because of their composition which from research is found to cause
• Before using any container, clean it out thoroughly to make sure that it is rid of production odor as this could affect the taste of your food. Keep dry food tight in its original bag before storing it in the container. This will help to prevent the entrance of air and keep it safe from moisture that could make it go rancid for which studies have shown that rancid fat can lead to a deficiency in a balanced meal for your dog’s nutrition.
• Stainless containers are also considered to be perfect for storage as do not hold in much Oxygen and are always cool in all seasons which is the perfect temperature for storing them.
• Zip-lock bags are also recommended but only the ones with proper resealing lid as it does not work efficiently at providing a Oxygen-free environment for the food. Which is why, it is usually advised that you flatten it out to remove all the Oxygenated-air in it and keep the food tightly clipped in its lack before depositing into the bag.
• Do not store or in a Garbage bag or bin or can especially in an outdoor location as they are prone to change in weather conditions and can easily lose their freshness this way.

DIY airtight containers for storing dry food

Old suitcases are great for storing large quantities of dog food for long term purposes as they check the box for cool, dry and dark storage spaces. Make sure they are well cleaned and rid of camphor scent as it is unhealthy for consumption.

Juice cans are also great for converting into food containers with its easy to pop top containers that are easy to open and close without giving too much to air contamination. Before using, ensure that the container has been thoroughly cleaned of moisture and makes for ease when pouring out food.

Baby diaper pails are great for storing dry food as they have been made specifically with odor-free containers with silicone-free covers to keep freshness locked in.

Storage duration

Insidethefoodbowl, dry food can stay for a maximum of 24 hours without going bad but it advised          that you should clean out the bowl with soap and water for a fresh refill.

Once opened, dry food can last up to a year and perhaps a few additional months. Unopened bags of food are likely to stay stored in safe environments for about two to three years. It is not always advised that the food be consumed after the best before on the purchase bag but even a few months after expiry, dog food can still be consumed though with led nutritional value.

Keep off the hardwood or cold tiles and away from your dog’s nose on to the highest level in your kitchen shelf or pantry.

Canned food; Shelf life and Storage tips

Canned food contain more moisture and less fat than dry food and are usually always preferred because of the ease of digestion in every balanced meal. Unfortunately, because if its moist condition, it us also very prone to bacteria and is very susceptible to getting bad easily. These tips are chock full if I formation that will hwlo you better store the dog food while forgetting the fear of it getting spoilt that even leftovers would be served fresh when next meal time arrives.

• Before purchasing a canned dog food, it is just as important that you check the Best before on the bottom of the tin for production Shelf life. The best before is the manufacturer’s expected duration of potency for ingredients used in producing the meal. It is not to be confused with the expiration as you could still serve your dog a food that has gone past the date, however it is the period when the nutrients begins to suffer breakdown and become less active.
• Avoid buying canned food with swellings or puncture in them as they could be responsible for botulism, an acute food poisoning caused by a toxin that us both harmful to man and animal and  produced in moist food like Canned foods by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum usually formed in moist environments.
• The high moisture content makes, opened canned food easy substances for bacteria contamination and if eaten after a long period of time by the dogs could put him at risk of food poisoning. Which is why serving out only portions that your dog can consume at once is a better option .
• Four hours is the maximum time for opened Canned food to be left u eaten. If after this duration, the food should be thrown out and the bowl rinsed out thoroughly for fresh refill. For little dogs with lower appetite, you can always check out on the dog food aisle and on dog food e commerce stores for smaller plates that can be consumed at once.
•  It is not always advisable to let your dog eat straight from the can as not only is it unhealthy, it also leaves the food messy and could give way for mold even especially when stored.

Storing Opened Canned food

• Storing canned food in the refrigerator is very important as it helps the canned food in retaining its moisture content nevertheless, if loosely sealed could easily give rise moldy surface from contact with air.  To avoid this, it should be resealed with properly with a plastic can cover which snaps over the top of the aluminum container and keeps it airtight till its next use.  Foil packs can so be used to reseal the container too as they are less porous to air.
• Plastic can covers and plastic wrapping protect the tin against moisture and serve as effective barriers protecting opened cans against oxygen and odor from other food
• If sealed properly, the canned food can last for three to four days without any signs of staleness and be served fresh for when mealtime calls. But once unsealed, it should be consumed immediately as the air could be bad for quality.
• For long term storage, it is not advised to freeze Canned food directly in their original container as this could change the taste and texture of the food making it unpalatable for consumption.
• Zip lock bags are a great storage pack for keeping wet food especially for long period of time. For freshness, scoop single serving portions into each zip lock bag, reseal to keep moisture away and spread each one separate from one another on a tray. Label each bag of food with dates especially if they were not stored at once to avoid leaving anyone in the fridge for too long. They are also quick and easy to defreeze under warm running water.
• In the absence of a zip lock bag, stainless containers are also effective to keep moisture away for a long period of time.
• Depending on its ingredients, canned food when left unopened can stay up to five years maximum especially counting from its best before. Canned food with natural preservatives are not likely to last far too long after their best buy dates and are at risk affect of getting spoilt.
• Unopened canned food should be stored indoors under room temperature away from heat and humid weather.
• If perhaps you are in a rush and consider a full tin of canned food too much to be consumed at once for your dog, serve in smaller portions and watch over him till it’s finished. For dogs with portioned appetites, there are also products on dig food aisles and e-commerce stores with one-serving small portion for quick and easy consumption.
• Store older cans directly in front of new cans to ensure their immediate use
• After going over canned food, wash your hand thoroughly as this could also affect the food .

Storage preservation for home cooked meals

While making or ordering home cooked meals for your dog, knowing how to store them to preserve their nutritional content is very important to avoid unnecessary waste. Especially when cooking in batches, just storing them up in the refrigerator is important but not enough to make sure that not only does your dog eat a fresh, healthy and balanced meal but the efforts put into the meal preparation is not wasted from poor storage. A ton of tips you would need to know while preserving homemade foods.

Most of the food preservation methods for dog follow the same guiding process with our own meal preservation so it should be easier to know which should last long and stay healthy for your dog’s consumption. A few things should be noted:

• Stainless containers and glass-like plastic with airtight lids are great for keeping them safe and refrigerated till next use. Check for refrigerator-friendly materials on Amazon or ask your retail attendant when next you go to buy food storage cans for a great recommendation.
• Food types like grains do not get to stay in the fridge for too long and are likely to lose their quality if frozen and should be eaten after a few days.
• Very little microwaving is necessary when serving a meal from the refrigerator as digs unlike us are capable of digesting food better when it’s not warmed do not need the hot freshness of food like we do.
• Wash out leftover meals after about an hour of serving them as they are unhealthy and make great breeding grounds for insects. Thoroughly wash and rinse the food bowl and wash your hands carefully.

Preservation techniques for Raw Food

Raw food is fast becoming a craze for pet owners as it is both a healthy and stress-free means of making sure that your dog’s diet is fresh and safe from Tue unknown preservatives obtained with fast food. To make sure that the food this raw food dies not end up getting, or decayed from lack if proper storage this tips are important to note.

Deep freezing: In every household where raw food is purchased especially in bulk, a deep freezer is always available to store the food for as long they are required. This could also serve to help preserve raw meat from getting rotten. For raw diets packaged directly frim the store, they should be kept in their original packaging and carefully wrapped after every opening.

If you buy the raw meat from the store without any package on it, wrap them properly in a foil pack or in a plastic wrapping bag to keep them fresh away from contamination and easy to portion out when needed. Raw food diets can diffuse quite an odor and affect other food containers especially when kept in the fridge which is why it important to store them in a different compartment away from other food diets.

Portion food according to the breed and appetite size of your dog; Larger breeds eat in large quantities and their should be portioned out in larger quantities as it can be easy to defrost a single pack of raw diet without any chances of leftover. For small dog breeds it is better to check out for kibble sized raw food diets that can be portioned according to their appetite without defrosting the entire meat.

Frozen food can be thawed overnight inside a tightly sealed container in a standard refrigerated condition for approximately twelve hours. In a case where you were jot able to bring it out on time, it should be sealed in a Ziploc bag and soaked in water for a few minutes.

Defrosted meat can last for two to three days after which it stands a risk of going bad. Bacteria such as Salmonella lives in raw meats and although when eaten immediately raw meat is easily digested without the bacteria multiplying but if left out too much, it has the capacity to multiply and can become harmful in the digestive tract system.

Freezer temperature is best for storing raw meat as opposed to room temperature which makes it a great breeding ground for the multiplication of Bacteria. Also, it is not recommended that you store raw food in plastic containers especially Tupperware. Stainless steel and metal containers are best quality for storage and should be cleaned once every week with vinegar and water to kill off bacteria like Salmonella and E.coli from previous meat stored.

Wash your hands properly before handling raw food items and after handling, wash and sanitize every utensils, tables surfaces and your hands to avoid the spread of bacteria from the meat to the members of your family, your health and that of your pet.

 Tips for storing freeze-dried raw food

For a guarantee of long-lasting freshness, moisture is usually drained from fresh foods and kept frozen for a long time till they are purchased and this method of preservation keeps food healthy and fresh for as long as possible. For raw food diet, this is one of the best ways to keep it in its original form with only a little sprinkling of water for thawing. But it needs the right environment to be stored safely.

Due to its zero-moisture condition, humidity and heat are not the best conditions to store them in as it could give rise to the growth of mold spores and bacteria. For Vegetables, do not wrap them in bags as they could shrivel and lose their original quality. So, it is best to wrap them in an old newspaper and store in the vegetable compartment of the fridge till it is ready to be used.

Kept away from light and heat as they are subject to shrinkage and could lose their nutritional value.

Tips for storing dehydrated raw food

As opposed to the freeze-dried , dehydrated raw foods use heat to dry out its moisture content. It is the most effective way of preserving raw food as it helps to protect the food from decay or mold. But there are .few tips necessary to make sure it is kept safe for as long as it should be eaten.

Dehydrated protein sources also serve as a great treat for rodents and should be carefully wrapped in foil wraps and stored in a cool, dry and dark place.

Reheat after a period of three-six months to keep it fresh.

ALSO SEE: Dog Food – An In-depth Guide

Popularly Asked Questions and Answers

Q: What form of food is best stored for emergency situations and why?

Dogs are very likely to hold through an emergency situation just like we human beings with whatever might be available but preparation is very necessary especially if time permits to prepare just enough time to store needed food times and requirement for emergency situations. But for ease of preservation, canned and freeze-dried foods are best for keeping your dog full during emergencies. This is because they contain low-fat content and this is particularly important while thinking of storage. Also, canned food contains lots of moisture so your dog stays constantly hydrated throughout.

Q. Is it okay to salt meat as a form of preservation instead of freezing it?

The answer is no. While salting has been regarded as one if the best ways of preserving wat, it does not go well with dogs and should not be used in any form even while preparing home cooked meals.

Q. My dog prefers fish as he is allergic to other sources of protein plus I home cook his meals.How do I preserve fish outside freezing to maintain its freshness for a long time?

Good question. Fish can be canned with minimal preservatives to elongate its shelf life for a few years but does not get to stay beyond that as it contains oil that has the tendency to go bad inside the container.

Q. How do I know if oil has gone rancid in my dog’s food?

It starts to smell and taste like plastic. Also, watch your dog after feeding him to see how if he turns down his nose at the food instead of eating it.

Q. Are there any natural preservative that could keep canned food for long?

The maximum term for natural preservatives is three-five years but you can consult your Vet to know more on natural preservatives for longer shelf life of canned food.

Q.Are there any health implications for storing food for long in the refrigerator?

Storing canned food can put other food at the risk of wearing its odor on their wrapping jackets and keeping meat with bacteria under poor freezing can give bacteria a stable breeding environment for multiplying. But as long as you maintain proper sanitary measures like making sure to wash your hands and fridge with proper sanitary measures and cover the canned food properly with plastic wraps you have no cause to fear.

Q. What happens to raw food that may have been frostbitten? Is it still healthy to eat?

Frostbite is not healthy for food as it renders all the nutritional content of such food useless. So if you find out that your raw food has been bitten by frost and cracked, throwing it away is the best possible option as it serves no nutritional value for your dog.

Q. Does dehydrated food have any chance of getting spoilt in the long run?

As long as it is kept under cool conditions, away from moisture it stands the chance of lasting for a very very long time.

Q. Can free-dried foods stay too long out of the fridge without going dry?

Yes, they can because they lack moisture which is mostly responsible for making meat go bad. They are also great for preserving nutrients and can last long in cool, dry with a stable shelf-life.

The post How To Store Dog Food of Kinds Effectively in 2022 appeared first on Best Dog Foods Reviews.