You are what you eat and so it goes for your pet. Good health begins with your pet's diet. I highly recommend feeding raw if possible. Some pets with compromised immune systems may not be able to handle a raw diet, so have a discussion with your vet as part of your research. I make my own food and use as many organic ingredients as possible.  Preparing your own food is the best way to know the source of your ingredients.

The recent pet food recall provided a wake-up call to all of us. It served as a reminder that we need to be knowledgeable and responsible for what we feed our pets as well as what we eat ourselves. If you can’t make your own food, you can purchase a raw diet from Paws Café, BARF; Raw Advantage or Darwin’s and either raw or cooked food from Natural Pet Pantry. Darwin’s and Natural Pet Pantry will deliver right to your home, making it easy for those of us who are short on time.

If you choose to purchase manufactured food, buy the best quality food that you can afford. Don’t focus on the brand, cute pictures or colorful graphics – read the ingredients. The list should be short, pronounceable and you should know what each ingredient is. Organic and non-gmo (genetically modified organisms) are recommended.

The 1st or 2nd ingredient should be whole meat, fish or poultry. Avoid meat meal, chicken meal and fats. Wheat and corn ingredients are common allergens for many dogs and should be avoided. Also avoid artificial colors and flavors, synthetic preservatives, sweeteners, salt and any added chemicals. An excellent and ongoing source of information about manufactured dog food ingredients is The Whole Dog Journal.

Now let’s take a look at treats. The same rules for food discussed above, also apply to treats.  Stay away from added fats, sugars, colors. There are potentially a lot of calories in the treats you give your pet – especially if they get treats throughout the day. If you can reward your dog with carrots as a treat – all the better! Stay away from using grapes and raisins as treats as they are toxic to pets and can cause kidney failure.

Supplements should be considered for an older pet. Glucosamine and chondroitin are beneficial for older, arthritic joints. Dog Gone Pain is an all herbal formula that works well for many dogs with arthritis and joint pain. Probiotics can assist with digestive issues.

Spirulina and barley grass provides phytonutrients that can improve skin, fur, breath and overall immune system health. Wild salmon oil provides essential fatty acids like omega-3, antioxidants and trace vitamins.  If you are making your own food for your cat, you must add taurine as a supplement to the diet.  A high-quality vitamin is also a good idea to include in the regimen.