I have been cooking homemade dog food for pets I've had for the last 20 years and personally I find it to be a much healthier alternative to canned or processed dog foods.
Creating your own food is very easy and it actually works out cheaper in the long run.
There are certain things you need to be aware of before you start changing your dogs diet. Their digestive systems are not a adaptable as our human digestive systems so it is important to make changes slowly.
Start to add new foods gradually while reducing the old food. Once you find a recipe your dogs like then stick with it.
When feeding your dog make sure that they always have a bowl of water and always feed them at the same time every day.
Small dogs will only need to eat once a day while larger dogs might need to be fed twice.
Speak to you local butcher or supermarket manager and ask them if you can have any meat or vegetables that are going out of date, if it''s been kept cool it will be fine for your dogs (it's actually fine for human consumption as well)
As soon as possible either freeze the meat or cook it and then freeze it.
The following is a simple recipe that will ensure that you dog stays healthy, why not try it for a few weeks and see the change in him/her. This is just a basic recipe which can be extended on.
Mince, Veggies & Rice 500g chicken mince or beef
1 kg Fresh or frozen mixed veggies (no onion)
2 Cups rice (white or brown)
2-4 cups water (to cover ingredients)
Beef stock or gravox
Break up mince into a large saucepan, cover with water and bring to boil.
Add veggies, rice and more water if necessary (to cover) and beef stock, gravox or other seasoning to taste.
Simmer until rice is cooked, adding more water if necessary.
Allow to cool and serve or divide into portions and freeze until needed.
Sometimes I mix in a little dry food in when I serve this up to our dog Buddy and he loves it.
If you make the rice the day before or even at the weekend and keep it in a fridge the whole meal can be made in a few minutes. This recipe is quick, simple and healthy and if you can get the ingredients cheaply it will be cheaper than manufactured foods.
There are certain foods that you shouldn't feed your dog for example onions or large quantities of garlic as they contain thiosulphate which is dangerous.
Other foods that you shouldn't feed them are chocolate or macadamia nuts. Chocolate will stimulate a dogs heart rate and can lead to heart attacks It is also a diuretic
Here are some links for more homemade doggie delights and recipes.
Gormetsleuth - Dog food recipes
Dogs 4 Sale - Healthy dog food recipes
I Love Dogs - More dog food recipes
Posts
