Really, does your loving dog care that Gravy Train makes its own gravy? Do you think it's cute to toss your canine M&M's? The insipid gravy is to attract your dollars, and chocolate's toxic to dogs, so stop it! It's time to evolve, scrutinize labels, and upgrade your dog's food.
God knows I fed our lab Reggie like royalty, but she crossed over Rainbow Bridge unexpectedly last week from brain tumor complications. My inconsolable heart aches with grief and I'm dehydrated from weeping. As tribute, may I share some ways you can show love to your dog while you can still gently rub their favorite spot while they lick your hand in gratitude.
Enhance their vittles with food they'd logically eat in the wild — not corn, wheat, soy and god-awful animal by-products. No one “watch dogs” the pet food industry, so you can imagine what slop they add. In just the past four months, the FDA has fielded over 530 complaints from pet owners claiming their dogs suffered illness or death after eating jerky treats made in China, officials told ABC News. The FDA issued three separate warnings about Chinese jerky treats in the past four years, advising owners to watch the dogs closely for signs of illness.
Never feed them dairy products, chocolate, coffee grounds, grapes, raisins, nutmeg, baking powder/soda, avocado, smoked meats, jerky treats from China, or sugary foods. Today's doggie junk food is extended with corn, wheat, soy, unholy by-products, food colorings, and chemical preservatives. BTW: corn is not easily digestible unless it's refined into a meal or flour and cooked. Grain is hard for a dog to digest. Look for organic, grain-free foods.
Fido should have a healthy, shiny coat and a high energy level. At a healthy weight you should be able to feel their ribs through their skin.
The significance of a high protein diet cannot be overstated. A dog's body is made to digest protein. Their entire body is developed for eating meat. From their teeth to the stomach, a dog's biology is that of a carnivorous animal. Feeding a dog properly is hugely important to their well-being and overall health.
Like humans, dogs also dig a variety of foods. Perk up your dog's meals by adding in fresh greens and meat stock to their meals. Ground flax seed brims with omega-3 fatty acids, critical for skin and coat health and prevents dry, itchy skin, shedding, and hot spots.
Fish oil or canned sardines in water are brilliant heart disease prevention. Consult your vet with regard to dosage. Occasionally add a cooked egg white, peas, cooked sweet potato, or grated apples and carrot. Dogs supplemented with vitamins, probiotics and enzymes live happy, long and healthy lives.
Peace, love, and dogs! Romp in sweet peace and stardust, my beloved Reggie; sob, we'll meet again in Heaven.
Chef Wendell hosts Eat Right Now on WISH TV 8 CBS Indianapolis. He can be reached at 317-372-2592 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .