What are the risks and benefits of giving homemade food to Belgian Malinois? Know about the interesting recipes and the foods they should not eat.
The Belgian Malinois is one of the finest working breeds and a fabulous family companion. One look at them, and you’ll come across a well-muscled, strong, and elegant breed with prominent physical features.
Speaking of their energy levels, they are an active breed and require immense physical and mental stimulation. It means that one has to take special care of their diet. Like all breeds, the Belgian Malinois also requires good quality dry dog food that meets all its nutritional requirements well. Now comes the most important question – what should you feed them?
Is giving your dog homemade food okay, or should you only confine it to food bought from a store?
The debate over homemade vs. store-bought diets is an ongoing and never-ending one. If you’ve zeroed in on giving your dog a homemade diet, you need to know the pros and cons of the same.
Belgian Malinois Homemade Dog Food Benefits
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There have been a lot of contradictions regarding the benefits of homemade foods over commercially manufactured ones and vice-versa. Let us look at some of the points below to note how useful homemade food can be for dogs.
1. Your Dog Gets To Eat Fresh Food
Another benefit of putting your Belgian Malinois on a homemade diet is that it will not just soothe his taste buds but also benefit his tummy. The veggies and meat are straight from the market, so there is no question of the food going bad or stale.
2. It Makes Meal Time Interesting
You can give new flavors daily so your dog doesn’t find his food monotonous. When he eats the same kibble repeatedly, he could lose interest in food and become a fussy eater.
If you have a picky eater at home who isn’t interested in his kibble, you could try shifting to a homemade diet. However, do this after you have had a word with the vet.
3. No Preservatives
One of the biggest advantages of homemade food is that it lacks preservatives, responsible for several serious health problems in dogs. It’s true that you cannot store homemade foods, unlike commercially manufactured ones. Yet, it saves your dog from health issues such as digestive disorders, skin and coat problems, inconsistent bowel movements, and so on. These conditions could affect your dog if it eats food containing preservatives.
4. Minimizes Chances of Allergic Reactions in Dogs
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Your dog could be allergic to several basic ingredients. If that’s the case, try not to include it in your dog’s diet. That’ll save your dog from an allergy attack.
The Final Take
Research shows that dogs that feed on fresh food live longer than those that don’t. They have a lifespan of around 20% longer than canines that do not consume fresh food.
Another study mentions that dogs on a homemade diet live for around 13.1 years. In contrast, dogs on a commercialized diet live for 10.4 years on average. When you give your dogs a combination of kibble and homemade food, the dog may live for approximately 11.4 years.
Purdue University conducted a study. It stated that dogs with 25% of leafy greens or frozen-dried food might have a 90% less risk of cancer.
