by Thom W. Conroy

Created on: October 29, 2009

Seemingly on every camping trip something of importance is forgotten and sorely missed, and one of the worst things to leave behind is food for your dog. Dependent upon the type of camping that is at hand, there may not be a good selection of food choices available for your dog when the camping destination is reached. Of those foods that are available, a portion are immediately removed from possible use in a dog's diet because they are unsuitable. Examples are milk and dairy products that can cause diarrhea in dogs, anything that contains onions and garlic as they can cause anemia in dogs, and dozens of other foods that are good for humans but bad for pooch. While the choices of what to give your dog in place of it's normal food may be slim, there are usually concoctions that can be created by a thoughtful pet owner that will keep the pup well-fed without doing any harm.

A kind of puppy goulash can be mixed together consisting of equal portions of rice, vegetables, meats and a very small amount of potatoes. This may not look or sound good to humans, but dogs love it and it covers most of the daily nutritional requirements of your dog. The flavor of the goulash can be enhanced by pouring a small amount of meat broth over the top, or by adding a piece of bread torn into small bits soaked in broth to create a sort of dumpling.

The majority of commercial dog food is nutritionally built around protein and fiber as these are the two nutritional requirements a dog needs most. This balance can easily be achieved while camping by mixing lean meat with any kind of well-cooked pasta. It is imperative that the pasta be washed thoroughly after cooking to remove starch that can pose a digestive problem for your dog. Refrain from using tomato-based sauces as the citric acids can cause indigestion in dogs quite easily. The flavor of this meal for your dog can be spiced up a bit by a small pinch of salt or a sauce made consisting of a beef bullion cube in a cup of water, poured over the pasta.

In any instance where there is not suitable food available for your dog, turn back, lose a few hours of camping and purchase what is needed. Giving your dog improper foods such as bones, fish or fruits can not only result in horrific consequences to your dog's health but can leave a pet owner with a massive veterinary bill and a damaged psyche.

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