Real Dog Food: 10 Benefits for You and Your Dog

Since the mid 1990’s, the giant, multi-billion dollar pet food industry has been under scrutiny. Writers such as Ann Martin, in her book "Food Pets Die For" have exposed the price our pets are paying for us to indulge ourselves with the convenience of processed, packaged, "artificial" food for our dogs. In particular, since the pet food recall in March 2007, consumer confidence in manufactured dog food has been shaken, and many dog owners have sought alternative ways to feed their pets.

For anyone who is still trying to decide whether or not to give real food a try, here are ten benefits that you can expect when you stop feeding your dog on processed junk food.

1.You save money
Sourcing economical ingredients such as cheap cuts of meat and fresh vegetables in season and grown locally can work out cheaper than paying for so-called premium brand, processed dog foods. Not only that, because your dog is healthier, you have reduced veterinary costs.

2.Your dog’s energy levels will improve
If your dog has been lethargic, you will notice his energy level increase as his general health improves.

3.Calmer behaviour from excitable dogs
It’s true: nervous or excitable dogs are likely to become more relaxed when food colouring and other chemicals are removed from their diet.

4.Improved body condition
As their vitality improves and they expend more energy, overweight dogs lose weight when the carbohydrate portion of their diet is reduced. Thin dogs gain muscle with the benefits from high quality protein and fat.

5.Naturally clean teeth and fresh smelling breath
Artificial food that sticks around their teeth is the main cause of poor gum and dental health in dogs. When your dog is given whole chunks of raw meat to chew, there is a beneficial, mechanical massaging effect on the teeth and gums, which prevents plaque build up.

6.Improvement in skin and coat
Once your dog’s system no longer has to struggle with an overload of carbohydrates, indigestible filler ingredients, and poor quality fats, itchy "hotspots" in the skin disappear. Better quality fats and oils promote a soft, lustrous coat.

7.Reduction in stiffness, painful joints and inflammatory bowel disease
Many grains in processed dog foods are the cause of painful inflammatory reactions. It is common for these problems to disappear when you are feeding real food and easy to identify the culprit if they continue.

8.Elimination of doggy BO
Yes, your dog’s health will improve dramatically. Healthy dogs don’t smell!

9.Smaller, less offensive stools
Dogs are more easily able to properly digest real food, so there’s not so much waste product (less for you to pick up!). Because the food has been properly digested, the stools are not nearly so smelly.

10.You know what your dog is getting to eat
With all the bad publicity there has been over pet food recently, it’s great to be 100% certain that what your dog is eating is safe. You know, because you sourced the original ingredients.

In my view, that peace of mind is a pearl beyond price.

If you would like to know more about preparing and feeding real dog food, you can sign up for a free, 7-day ecourse at http://dogfoodmiracle.com/