FOOD FOR FIDO'S PERFECT LIFE

Home-cooked meals or store-bought kibble? Divya Tanith seeks experts' help to select healthy choice for your furry friend.

- 

I offer my dog fresh, homemade food, the same way every other family member gets - fresh, wholesome meals," an avid reader wrote to us. Hasn't this question haunted the minds of every pet parent across the world at some point?

A general consensus often suggests that processed dog foods are healthier. Others echo sentiments that raise concerns over "processing", red flags that might do more harm than good. Today, let's review this factually and practically with the help of pet parents and experts. So, what should you feed your fur babies? Homemade meals? Or commercially processed tasty meals? This debate has been raging for decades; let the wagging tales and raised eyebrows rest, as we get to some facts.

The Curious Case of Homemade Food

Who doesn't like eating fresh, tasty food? Pets definitely do. Those picky eaters sometimes need the smell of delicious fresh meat being boiled while they stare incessantly like it's criminal you haven't fed them yet.

Home-cooked meals are like a warm hug! They are fresh and free of artificial preservatives. The best part? You can control the amount of sodium and the ingredients you put into it. It can be customized to your baby's demands.

Vets and pet nutritionists suggest that a balanced homemade diet should include:

Protein: Chicken, eggs, fish, or paneer

Carbohydrates: Rice, oats, sweet potatoes

Fiber: Carrots, beans, peas

Fats and Omega 3s: Ghee (in small quantities), flaxseed oil

Note: Just making dal chawal, dahi chawal and adding bones to it is not the solution.