Many pet owners are feeling the squeeze from the high price of gas, which has contributed to higher food prices and more costly goods. They are also mindful of the costs of feeding commercial brands of dog and cat food after the massive pet food recall that happened last year and are not willing to go back to a less healthy diet for their companion animals.

Many of the holistic, grain-free and organic foods that are available now will give your companions all of the nutritional requirements they need, but there are ways to stretch those feedings. All it takes is a few simple steps and a little common sense. Chances are, if you are feeding your companion a healthy diet, you are also preparing foods for yourself during the week, and that is an excellent time to add items from your kitchen into your pets’ meal.

For example, if you are preparing your fresh vegetables for dinner, you can give the ends of the broccoli, carrots, asparagus and squash to our dogs as treats. Either chop the ends and give them whole, or process the ends in a blender and blanch, to add to their regular meals while cutting back on their raw, frozen and dry food. I have one dog that lives for her veggies!

If you do not have time to cook for yourself, much less your companion, then there are some great options available at your local holistic pet supply store, which are quick, easy and healthy. Using the following dehydrated formulas in conjunction with other foods makes economic and well-care sense all the way around. Dehydrated foods are safe for both very young animals and older animals with compromised immune systems.

• The Honest Kitchen, a dehydrated raw feed with all natural, human grade ingredients is one of our favorites at The Big Bad Woof®, and I often encourage customers to try this in lieu of feeding wet canned food, as a stand-alone food or even as an addition to a raw or dry kibble. The Honest Kitchen produces formulations for dogs and cats and includes both grain-free and pre-mix formulas.
• Sojourner Farms makes human-grade dog and cat food mixes that were developed to be mixed with raw meat for a complete nutritious meal. They also produce a nutritious blend for cats, and I know of at least one cattery in the area that uses this product to meet their budget while assuring that their cats get the best care and nutrition.
• Dr. Harvey’s uses organic healthy ingredients in both his canine and feline formulas and these can be mixed with raw meat or kibble as a healthy addition.

The yield of each formula varies; typically a cup of dry will yield two to four cups of food. Always remember to cut back on the amount of your pet’s regular food if you opt to use these formulas. They are easy to prepare and store for several days worth of feeding.

I strongly believe that good nutrition leads to better health and a long life, and when animals go to a healthier diet, the changes are visible in the first few weeks – a better coat, brighter eyes and more energy. I also know the price of goods is going up, and using some of these options will help stretch those food dollars and most importantly, maintain your companion animal’s good health!