Ever since the pet food scare that caused hundreds of dogs and cats to get sick, and some to die from the toxins, I’ve seen articles talking about people starting to cook for their pets.

I commend these people for taking care of their best friends, for being concerned, for questioning things, for seeking out alternatives, and wanting something better.

I am a little more than annoyed when I read supposed “experts” telling us that it is okay to cook for our pets short-term — but long term it is unhealthy, potentially leaving a dog with an unbalanced diet, or worse. The pet food industry is big business.

I read an article on the topic this morning on CNN. In this article, they even say that garlic and salt can be dangerous. I find that very questionable since my dogs have eaten a fair amount of raw and cooked garlic for over a decade, and a reasonable amount of salt for iodine for years. And garlic is even recommended by some veterinarians (see Dr. Pitcairn’s book below)! Salt, of course, in high doses is dangerous for any living creature.

Dogs lived on scraps from humans for eons before commercial dog food came around. They survived, and thrived just fine. Perhaps eating the leftovers wasn’t ideal for their diet, but I’d also like to argue that neither is commercial pet food an ideal diet. If you’ve ever investigated what makes up dog food, I am sure you would agree. Dogs didn’t graze on corn and wheat gluten as a main source of protein nor did they eat corn syrup, food dyes and additives when they roamed in the wild. They ate a diet much higher in quality protein which all dog food today is highly deficient.

Ever since my childhood canine friend had an allergic reaction to pet food, my family was forced to cook to save her life. And over the years of feeding her a simple diet of boiled chicken, rice, carrots, and celery — or hamburger, rice and a mixed assorted veggies — we became convinced by experience that not only was this a better diet for our dog friends — but that it was cheaper too — if only a little more time-consuming.

For over a decade now, I have been cooking two to three meals a week for my dog companions. I started out with Dr. Pitcairn’s book “Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats” and over the years I have learned to adapt to recipes that work best for my dogs. I highly recommend reading the basics, if you want to do what is best for your furry friends. Education is knowledge, and knowledge is power.

If I can help anyone out there — don’t hesitate to ask me. My two dogs are vibrant for their age. While I am not an expert, I have 12 years of experience to share with you. When people hear how old my current two dogs are — their jaws drop because they are so youthful in their behavior. They feel good!

My family has successfully cared for six dogs on a natural diet — and we swear by it! But don’t take my word for it…

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