 Your pet is your best friend, always giving you endless love and (sometimes slobbery) kisses. While your furry friend enjoys playing with toys and sleeping on a soft bed, there is one thing your pet loves as much as you: food! Although kibble is acceptable, it’s time to treat your best friend to something yummy and delicious. With so many pet food and treat recalls during the past few years, many people are turning to, or considering using, homemade dog and cat food and treats. There are pluses and minuses: the major plus is that you know for sure what you’re feeding your pets; the minuses include time to prepare/cook and ensuring your furry one is receiving the proper nutrition it needs. Barbara Laino, the author of "The Healthy Homemade Pet Food Cookbook" and owner of an organic farm in New York, teaches people how to make quality dog and cat food (she also teaches how to make better people food as well). She says the foundation for a good pet food diet is variety. “I believe much of the recent food allergy problem has developed from feeding the same thing every day,” says Laino. “Yet, this is probably one of the most controversial parts of the homemade diet. Somehow it has reached the point that people are scared they can’t balance their dog’s food properly.” Raw diet vs. cooked food is another debated concept. To this thought, Laino says, “I think people get hooked on the raw concept, but it’s not all about raw. Whatever you feel comfortable with, whether it’s boiling chicken breasts or grinding raw chicken necks … any time you’re preparing food using fresh ingredients, it’s going to be a thousand times better than what you’re getting from kibble.” Budget and time can be a constraint for pet owners. Laino says there is a way to improve your pet’s health without going totally to homemade food. “You can take a scoop of good kibble and combine it with carrots, honey or a whole egg,” she explains. “Another one is canned salmon, which is super-easy and convenient. If you do nothing else, add a little canned salmon to your dog’s kibble every day. It’s one of the healthiest things you can do.” Keep in mind, however, that changing your pet’s diet shouldn’t be done abruptly. Introduce new foods slowly, whether that be raw, homemade cooked, or even a new brand of commercial bagged or wet food. Learn more about creating homemade pet food at these websites: http://thebark.com/content/10-myths-and-misperceptions-about-homemade-dog-food https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_7/features/Home-Prepared-Dog-Food-Nutritional-Information_20568-1.html https://iheartcats.com/5-benefits-to-feeding-your-cat-a-raw-food-diet/ Treats for pets are often seen on a recall list. The latest are rawhide chews for dogs. You can make pet treats at home, once again being sure of the ingredients in the goodies. Here are three websites to visit for homemade treat recipes: For Dogs: http://www.personalcreations.com/blog/dog-treat-recipes and https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/nutrition/recipes-for-quick-and-healthy-dog-treats For Cats: https://iheartcats.com/5-easy-diy-cat-treat-recipes/ Ensure your pet isn’t eating the wrong things by cooking for your pet and controlling what ingredients go into your furry friend’s food and treats. Additionally, keep track of recent pet food recalls by visiting this website periodically if you do continue to feed commercial kibble and wet food to your pet: https://www.avma.org/news/issues/recalls-alerts/pages/pet-food-safety-recalls-alerts.aspx This site shows dog food and treat recalls: https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recalls/ This web page shows the cat food recalls as well as dog food recalls: http://www.petful.com/recall-lists/cat-food-recalls/ Our pets depend on us for nutrition, fun, and safety, so let us pet parents do our best to safeguard their health. 
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