Excerpts

Introduction Most dogs -- at least the fortunate ones -- are well loved and well cared for by their significant humans. People recognize their canine companions' value as family members, life-enhancers and educators and want them to have the healthiest -- and longest -- lives possible. Providing the best nutrition plays an important role in achieving this result. The problem is, most of us aren't nutritionists. More-over, there are so many conflicting opinions about dogs' dietary needs that determining what to feed your dog can be an overwhelming challenge. Better Food for Dogs is designed to guide you through the differing dietary approaches and provide you with all the information you need to feed your adult dog the most-nutritious food possible. We navigated this minefield ourselves, not only because we wanted to feed our dogs the highest-quality food achievable, but also because we wanted to provide our clients with the best possible advice on dogs' dietary needs and be able to recommend the most nutritious products. Grant is a veterinarian and David and Jennifer own Licks and Wags, Ltd. , a dog cookie company. After years of research, we've concluded that a natural, home-prepared diet is one of the best investments you can make in your dog's health. We wrote this book because we felt compelled to share what we had so painstakingly learned. Chapter 1 covers a wide range of diet-related topics, from the relationship between diet and health to raw-food diets (which we don't advocate, for reasons we explain). In Chapter 2, you'll find an explanation of the basic principles that underlie our diet, as well as information on dogs' energy requirements and the nutrients they need. We have not provided a diet for puppies, as puppies have very specific nutritional needs. However, we have included basic information that will help you get your puppy off to a healthy start. Chapter 3 discusses some issues related to diet, such as allergic reactions and toxic foods, as well as the additional support your dog will need to achieve optimum health. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 contain all the recipes, from basic everyday meals to gourmet dinners to special cookie treats. The final chapter provides information on adding the supplements necessary to ensure that your dog receives the full range of essential nutrients. We hope you will find the information in Better Food for Dogs helpful in improving the quality of your dog's life. After switching to a home-prepared diet, we have seen amazing results, not only with our own dogs but with many of our clients' dogs, as well. By feeding your dog wholesome and unprocessed foods, you will be allowing him/her to share in the tastes, variety and health benefits that human family members already enjoy. We encourage you to enjoy sharing mealtime with your dog -- it can be a rewarding and mutually beneficial experience. David Bastin Jennifer Ashton Dr. Grant Nixon, D.V.M. Excerpted from Better Food for Dogs: A Complete Cookbook and Nutrition Guide by David Bastin, Jennifer Ashton, Grant Nixon All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.