The best way of providing your pet dog healthy living is to keep him on a nutritious diet. The foundation of good health is healthy food. When a dog is fed well, he has a better chance to maintain good health. Healthy dog food is the same as what nutritionists tell us to eat; an assortment of fresh foods which are filled with critical nutrients like vitamins and minerals. This type of diet can work beneficially for your pet and lengthen his life.

If you wish your dog to eat the best foods, begin by feeding him with some natural and more modern food ingredients. Fresh foods have minimal processing. The less the processing, the healthier the food is because less vital nutrients such as vitamins and minerals are depleted. This type of diet could include home created dog food, a raw diet or dried food. Dr. Richard Pitcairn, a veterinarian who has done extended research in natural pet care, advocates feeding pets a healthy diet of home created foods created to the special needs of the animals.

Raw foods are gaining acceptance with a lot of pet owners. These pet owners are slowly recognizing the health benefits of raw foods. These types of foods are proving to be great for the treatment of conditions like long-term allergic reactions as well as other illnesses. Rather than feeding Fido a raw bone from your butcher, there are specialty stores that carry frozen natural foods that are balanced and safe. Raw foods are now made in frozen form where the dog food is freeze-dried or ‘cold processed’. This process ensures the more vital components like enzymes, amino acids and probiotics stay untouched.

Yet another form of natural foods are the dehydrated foods. These foods are preserved and protected through an action of low temperature drying, much like the ready-made soup mixes which we buy from the store. Because the action is carried out at very low temperatures, the intrinsic enzymes and their actions are suspended until the food is hydrated again. Dehydration is an action where the foods’ nutrients lose only three to five percent. Other food preservation processes like canning or kibble making, the nutrients lost can be in the range of sixty percent or more.

While home-cooked foods are a good healthy option for pet dogs, this may not always be possible since it is tough to keep the ideal ratio and balance between meat and vegetable components of the dog’s diet. The good news is that today there are several pre-mixes available where all you need to do is add H2O and some meat and your tasty dinner is ready for your best friend. Just like a wonderful meal is a pleasurable experience for us, it should not be any different for our furry friends. With our care and dedication to the freshness, variety and quality of the foods we give our pets, they will enjoy their meals and live a healthier, happier life.