Adding Whole Ingredients to Dry Dog Food

We've been talking a lot about food lately here on lowcountrydog.com. Contributing writer Erin Thomas discussed cooking for your pets HERE and also gave directions for making a cute jar of dry ingredients for homemade dog treats -- a great gift for the dog lover in your life. Make sure to check those out by clicking on the blue links. Dolittle's owner Ric Sommons suggested pets should have more variety in their diets, and publisher Leah England provided a recipe for a few frozen treat delights as we enjoy the last dog days of a hot summer. 

After reading Erin's article on cooking for your pets, reader Karen Quinn shared with us some special additions she makes to her dogs' diet. Karen adds healthy whole ingredients to her dogs' regular dry food for a little variety and extra nourishment. "I make a mix of chicken breasts, no-salt green beans and rinsed brown rice and add it to my Corgis dry food," says Quinn. 

This sounds like a yummy way to add some extra goodness into your pet's diet. Remember that some dogs require a specific balance of nutrients, protein to carb ratio, etc, for their bodies (er, and digestion) to be at their best.  It's best to check with your vet before you even add healthy ingredients to your pet's diet and please monitor your dog carefully once you've made the switch. Also remember that even if you are adding healthy, low cal/fat ingredients you are still adding extra calories to the dry food you normally serve, so adjust that serving of dry food accordingly and keep a close eye on Fido's weight. We want him to stay trim!

Thanks to Karen for sharing with us what works for her as she keeps her dogs happy and healthy. If you have a recipe or a special diet that works really well for you and your dogs, share it with us! Just email the info to gillian@lowcountrydog.com. Thanks to Karen Quinn for being part of our dog loving community. Thanks for the tips K!