Ask Dr Nerenberg | Health and Fitness

My dogs are receiving adequate nutrition?

I cook my dogs (4 of them) homemade dog food. I use chicken, rice – sometimes white, sometimes coffee, vegetables, usually carrots, potatoes, peas, celery and an apple (for flavor). I boil the vegetables and then combined with chicken and rice and feed them. Are they getting adequate nutrition? Thanks for your help!

Not all foods should be cooked so that dogs to get the best nutrition possible. The portion of meat should be left blank. It is safe for dogs and give them maximum nutritional benefit. Vegetables and grains always should be cooked, because dogs can not digest raw plant. Never boil vegetables. Boiling destroys more nutrients than any other cooking method. Lightly steamed vegetables for maximum nutritional benefit. Raw meat is actually the best (all amino acids and digestive enzymes critical to the health of your dog remain intact and in its most bio-available this way.) If you absolutely must cook the meat, cook slowly at low temperatures for several hours. Less heat I use, more nutrients remain. Variety is also key. Your dog will suffer nutritional deficiencies, if you feed the same food every day in the long term. Turn meats (beef, chicken, lamb, turkey, duck, fish, rabbit, pork) on a weekly basis. Also rotate the vegetables and carbohydrates. Use sweet potatoes a week, oatmeal rice comes next, etc. The more variety, the better. Homemade diet should be about 50% meat, 25% vegetables / fruits, and 25% carbohydrate (potatoes sweet count as carbs, not a vegetable). You can always include a vitamin powder as a missing link, if you are still concerned about the proper nutrients.

Vegetable Juice – Spinach, Celery and Chard

Vegetable Platter – 24H x 18W – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $33.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Vegetable Platter – 24H x 16W – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $33.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Vegetable Platter – 60W x 40H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $87.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Stalk up on celery’s nutrients.(EN on Food): An article from: Environmental Nutrition $9.95 This digital document is an article from Environmental Nutrition, published by Belvoir Media Group, LLC on March 1, 2012. The length of the article is 672 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: “Stalk” up on celery’s nutri…