Switch Up Your Dog’s Food Routine

You care about what you eat and always try to provide the best, most nutritious choices for yourself and your family. Why shouldn’t it be same for the four-legged members of your household?

This evening, Susan Moss, owner and founder of All the Best Pet Care, will host a free seminar at the Edmonds location, providing dog owners with information about nutrition, cost and the process of making your dog’s food at home.

“People are so afraid that they are not qualified to make their own dog food because they think you have to be a scientist to get all the ingredients right,” Moss commented. “But if you think about it, we don’t feed ourselves that way and we don’t feed our children that way, so why should we feed our pets that way?”

Moss says that they use the “Mother Nature” model when it comes to choosing ingredients for homemade dog food. This involves using whole ingredients such as meats and vegetables (these should be steamed or blended really well), some ground bone for calcium, and the occasional grain. Moss explained that non-processed ingredients are much better for animals than those found in processed foods, even if they are same ingredients.

“During processing, nutrients are changed,” Moss said. “Proteins are denatured and there may be things in processed pet food that you wouldn’t even think about. For example, corn in processed food might have parts of grain mites that can cause an allergy." 

Health advantages aren’t the only benefits of dry food alternatives. Moss, who has two Akitas and four cats, says that it alleviates an animal’s boredom of having to eat the same food every day and can be a joy for owners to watch their pet’s excitement over a new tasty treat.

Moss also explained that when it comes homemade dog food versus dry kibble, it isn’t an either/or situation. The recipes she plans to talk about can be used every day, but she recommends providing your dog with variety, switching between dry food and the handmade meals.

“My personal vision for pets is that one day there won’t be dog food and people food, there will just be food,” she said. “Little brown pellets are a convenient and inexpensive way to feed your pets, but it isn’t necessarily the best way.”

And as we can see from the name of her store, Moss wants nothing but the best for all four-legged friends.

The Make Your Own Dog Food seminar runs from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. tonight. Call for reservations: 425-697-3909. If you are unable to attend the seminar, booklets are available at All the Best Pets with nutrition information and recipes.