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Archive of posts tagged homemade dog food

Healthy Natural Dog Food – Homemade Recipes

Posted by janed54 on 17 June 2009, 5:55 pm

More Homemade Dog Food Recipes Here.		 MORE HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPES HERE

This is my Golden Labrador Retreiver, Lola. There is nothing more gratifying than having my vet ask me what I am doing to make her so healthy. He noticed her skin, coat, teeth and overall health was superior. I felt like a proud parent, and told him I fed her a homemade natural dog diet that I found here.

LOLA EATS NATURAL DOG FOOD

Here are some of the tips and recipes that are included:

Healthy dog food recipes for young and old dogs,
Natural recipe to keep fleas away,
Gourmet Biscuit recipes,
and Dozens of dog food recipes for every day – delicious, economical, healthful and natural.

Read here about the author, John Miller, professional dog-fancier, and his homemade, healthy, natural dog food recipes here, and why he refused to sell them to Multinational Companies, (although copies have been sent to major veterinary schools).

You won’t believe how fast your dog’s health and behaviour will improve, and you will reduce your dog food costs by up to 50%.

There is not a single better way to return your dog’s unconditional love than by giving him the best natural food, homemade by you.

Just imagine improved health, which in turn will increase your dog’s life. This will ultimately give you many more years to spend with your faithful companion.

If you are one of those pet parents who give their dog’s the best of everything, then this is really something you should look into trying. By eliminating preservatives, chemicals and additives you will soon see a different dog.

This is a proven fact – the same as with us.

Eliminating junk food from our diets will increase our health. The same is true for our dogs. There are so many unnecessary and harmful ingredients in commercial dog food, escpecially the cheaper brands. The only way to know for sure what your dog is eating is to prepare the dog food for yourself.

It will ultimately be cheaper in the long run, and by making batches once or twice weekly and storing the food in serving size portions it soon becomes an easy way to feed your pet.

The recipes found HERE have been carefully put together with each meal giving your dog the perfect amount of every essential need for his daily diet.

I'm a spry 13 years old and eat natural dog food.

This is my old girl Lady, who had many problems when she was eating commercial dog food. She had horrible dog food allergies, which completely disappeared –

See Lady’s story here, and also more about Lady here – she is oh so sweet and trusting and I give her the best that I can.

Filed under NATURAL DOG FOOD. Tagged , , ,
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DOG HEALTH, ALLERGY CAUSES, CURES AND TIPS FOR YOUR DOGS ALLERGIES

Posted by janed54 on 20 April 2009, 4:09 pm

More Homemade Dog Food Recipes Here.		 MORE HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPES HERE

Dog Food SECRETS™ 4th Edition Just Released!		 180 Homemade Dog Food Recipes, Treat Recipes Plus many additional extras, special reports and helpful guides. 60-day, 100% Money-Back Guarantee - CLICK HERE

PARASITES
Fleas and mites are the most common cause of dog skin problems, and easily treatable.

Since one female flea can consume fifteen times her body weight in blood over her adult life, that one single flea can cause tremendous misery for a dog.

If untreated, fleas can also cause anemia and tapeworms.

Today there are many different choices to protect our pets from fleas and ticks, yet veterinarians still see many dogs with flea problems on a daily basis.

Spot treatments are the most common and seem to be the most effective way to control fleas, ticks and mites.

Avoid dog skin problems from fleas and ticks by using spot treatments regularly or as directed by the manufacturer or your vet.

CANINE ALLERGIES


Learn from Lady about chemical free foods here.

My Black Lab “Lady” suffered with dog skin allergies since we brought her home as a rescued puppy over 12 years ago.

She would lick her paws for hours and make them raw. Over the years, I have learned that dog allergies can be just as difficult to pinpoint in dogs as they are in humans.

Allergies occur when the body’s immune system is weakened, which can be caused by improper or insufficient nutrition.

Feeding home made dog food with added nutritional supplements or the top of the line dog food made specifically for dogs with allergies, is the simplest way to determine if the allergies are caused by the present foods your dog is eating.

Food for Dogs with Allergies – Click Here.

Giving a higher nutritional diet is what stopped my Lady’s allergies altogether. Her immune system was fortified, and in turn the allergies completely disappeared, along with the continuous licking.

DOG SEASONAL ALLERGENS

If you notice your dog chewing and scratching more in the mornings after he/she comes in from outside, then it’s possible he’s/she’s sensitive to pollen, mold, ragweed or other environmental factors.

Also, allergies can include a sensitivity to dust. So, if dusting the house is considered low on your priority list, yet you notice that your dog is fine until he/she comes into the house, then it’s possible that he is sensitive to dust-mites.

Environmental allergens are usually treated with anti-inflammatories and shampoos, ointments, sprays and supplements.

FOOD ALLERGIES

Chewing the feet can be an indicator of food allergies.

Although food allergies are less common in dogs, they can become more severe.

Sometimes your canine might be allergic beef, and tolerate lamb and chicken just fine. This is a trial and error process.

It is a know fact that many dogs are allergic to corn and other grain fillers used in the cheap commercial dog foods. By eliminating this, most of the time the allergy will also disappear.

Once switched over to a healthier, natural diet most of these symptoms completely stop.

Don’t give a large variety to start with, and slowly introduce any new foods over a period of several weeks to see if the chewing increases or decreases.

Keeping a careful watch of what your pet eats makes all the difference in catching an unknown food allergy.

Diet, Airborne or Both?

The first priority for owners tackling dog skin problems or dog allergies should be to immediately switch to a natural or organic based diet or special allergen free diet, whether home made or a premium brand name.

This is something that definitely will not harm your pet, and is the easiest and least expensive way to start figuring out what is causing the licking and allergies.

The allergen free speciality foods contain less ingredients, which will help eliminate many problems with food allergies. HYPOALLERGENIC FOOD – Click Here.

Remember, just because your dog doesn’t do well on lamb doesn’t mean that he won’t do well on a chicken based food.

Lady’s paw licking had been ongoing for years, with medical treatments of prednisone, antihistamines, and costly vet bills for expensive allergy testing and after all that the diagnosis was inconclusive.

When I switched her to grain free, natural food her allergies and paw licking stopped within a week.

The real key is to observe your dog’s patterns.

Don’t try several things at once such as new food, along with an anti inflammatory and a new specialized shampoo for itching.

Do one thing at a time and wait a few weeks to see if there is a change.

Try upgrading to a better food first, rather than medications, but that is totally up to you. I would have saved a lot of money and vet bills doing that.

This can be difficult and obviously uncomfortable for your pet, so have patience, compassion and understanding while trying to sort everything out.

Filed under Allergy causes and cures, DOG HEALTH. Tagged , , ,
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Homemade Dog Food Feeding Chart

Posted by janed54 on 2 March 2009, 4:03 pm

More Homemade Dog Food Recipes Here.		 MORE HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPES HERE


LOLA RECOMMENDS HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPES - CLICK HERE


The following chart is an example of amounts you should make for different sized dogs when you are feeding a homemade dog food diet.

Each recipe is to be divided into 4 servings.

Feed 2 servings per day. Each recipe in the chart below  makes a two day supply for one dog, but you can double the recipe, which is what I do.

This can be kept refrigerated for up to four days, or make big batches and freeze in serving size portions for easy meals. Ready to thaw and serve.  

HOMEMADE DOG FOOD FEEDING CHART BY DOG’S WEIGHT – Each serving is for 2 days, at 2 servings per day ( eg. separate the finished product into 4 equal servings, and give your dog one portion for breakfast and once again at supper, and this is enough for two full days meals):
DOG’S WEIGHT MEAT (Lamb, Venison, Turkey, etc.) CARBOHYDRATES (Rice, Pasta, Potato, Barley) VEGGIE/FRUIT COMBO (cooked and pureed) SALT (iodized)
20 pounds → → 2 ½ cups 2 cups 1 ¼ cup ¼ teaspoon
40 pounds → → 4 cups 3 cups 2 ¼ cups ¼ teaspoon
60 pounds → → 5 ½ cups 4 cups 3 ¼ cups ½ teaspoon
80 pounds → → 7 cups 5 cups 4 cups ¾ teaspoon
100 pounds → → 8 ¼ cups 5 ¾ cups 5 ¼ cups 1 teaspoon

PROTEIN

The protein choices are any meat, poultry, fish, and eggs (occasionally), organ meats and for a treat sometimes add cottage cheese or yoghurt, which are good protein sources.

Remove fat and drippings from the meat after cooking. Chop the meat into small bite sized cubes for serving, or use ground meat.

CARBOHYDRATES

You can use brown rice, barley, whole-grain pasta, potatoes or oatmeal as choices for the carbohydrate portion. Brown rice is the best choice for dogs with digestive issues (gas or diarrhea). Slightly overcook grains, to make them easier to digest.

VEGETABLE AND FRUITS

Vegetables must always be cooked. Puree vegetables and fruits together so they will be easily digested by your dog. You can use a combination of fresh, frozen or canned veggies and fruits.

I usually use more veggies in the mix, but always add some fruit for sweetness.

An example of one of my girls favorite veggie/fruit puree is this: (makes one cup) ½ cup cooked and pureed carrots; 1/4 cup cooked green beans and ¼ cup canned pears. Make your own variations.

Be aware of foods that are known to be toxic to dogs before making your own dog food. Check out the short list of foods to avoid I have here.

Mix all the ingredients well and serve at room temperature or slightly warm. Never serve hot food to your dog.

Always introduce new foods one at a time. If it isn’t tolerated well, then discontinue. My dogs can eat most human grade foods I prepare, but I have learned which ones upset their tummies.

Dogs with special medical needs or illnesses are not candidates for home prepared dog food unless specifically ordered by your veterinarian.

Also puppies under the age of 12 months should receive special premium chemical free and additive free puppy food.

ABOUT THE SALT:

Dogs need sodium just as we do. Homemade dog food will not contain enough natural salt, so a little needs to be added. Too much is harmful, so make sure you don’t overdo it, and follow recipes correctly.

FAT:

Fat in the form of canola or safflower oil should be added to each meal. Either of these oils provide linoleic acid, which is also known as Omega-6 fatty acid. This helps improve their skin and coat. Too much causes obesity as it is high in calories. A 20 pound dog should not have more than 1/2 tsp. per meal. A 40 pound dog should get about 3/4 tsp per meal. Give a 60 pound dog 1 tsp. per meal and an 80 pound dog gets approx. 1 1/4 tsp. per meal. I drizzle the oil over my girls prepared meals just before serving. Adjust according to your dog’s weight.

CALCIUM:

In addition, dogs absolutely need calcium in their diets. More than we do. A calcium supplement is essential when feeding homemade dog food. Find a good calcium supplement at pet supply stores. Here is a good example: Only Natural Pet Store – Everything Natural for Dogs & Cats

MULTIVITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS:

A good multivitamin is essential when feeding homemade dog food.

Always check with your vet, or purchase an excellent dog food recipe book that is focused on canine nutrition. You will find so many excellent books, with choices for variation of recipes that sometimes you will think you are reading a human cookbook.

These specialty dog food cookbooks should be written by specialist in nutrition for animals and/or veterinarians (D.V.M).

I started making my girls homemade dog food using Dr. Pitcairns advice, from his book titled Natural Health For Dogs and Cats. It is still my favorite guide to refer back to and it has extensive information on dog’s nutritional needs, and is easy to understand.

If you are just starting out making homemade dog food, this is the book I would always recommend first.

Your dog can quickly become deficient in certain areas if not given the proper balance of food, nutrients, vitamins, minerals and supplements.

Research, read and follow the advice of someone who is a professional.

My guideline above is just that. I am not a specialist or expert, although I have spent a lot of time reading, reviewing and looking into what is needed to feed homemade dog food.

I feed my two Labs homemade dog food, interspersed with premium organic dog food and lately have been using the dehydrated pre-mix shown below.

The above formula in the chart is what I have used for many years and my “girls” are healthy, happy, bright eyed and bushy tailed. My vet and staff, and even strangers are always commenting on how healthy and shiny coated my Labs are.

Just eliminating chemical, preservatives, processed foods, mystery meat, unhealthy additives and whatever else is in cheap commercial dog food will make an extremely noticeable difference in your dog.

The other choices which are also good for your dog are organic dog food, HERE.

There are also many exellent natural dog foods available which are chemical free HERE.

There are so many healthy nutritious choices now available for feeding your dog that it can be overwhelming, but having a choice is much better than what we had years ago.

Here is the excellent alternative to serving organic kibble or canned food or home made dog food made fresh for your pets.


LOLA RECOMMENDS HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPES - CLICK HEREI started using dehydrated dog food recently and am thrilled and highly recommend this for someone who wants both the best premium manufactured organic dog food and freshly homemade natural dog food.

Check these out – All you need to do is rehydrate the food and add your own protein source. Fresh cooked meat from your own kitchen, with all the proper and well balanced nutrients. Couldn’t be easier.

Filed under Homemade Dog Food Feeding Chart, RECIPES. Tagged , , ,
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Nutritious Homemade Dog Food Recipes – Tips on How To Make Dog Food

Posted by janed54 on 25 June 2008, 8:32 am

More Homemade Dog Food Recipes Here.		 MORE HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPES HERE
 

I am not a pet nurtritionist, and am doing this through investigating, educating myself, and reading about the horrible commercial pet food industries disgusting manufacturing for profit mentality.

Always check with your vet before starting your pet on a new diet.

If cooking for a dog does not seem to be something you want to start doing, there are of course many ultra premium, organic dog foods available, that are highly recommended.

NOTE: *TABLE SCRAPS are not “homemade dog food” and are not nutritious or healthy for your dog.

HOW TO MAKE NUTRITIOUS HOME MADE DOG FOOD: TOP TEN BASIC TIPS.

    • I checked with my vet, and am doing this with his approval, always check with your own professional
    • Slowly wean your dog onto the new food.
    • A sudden switch could cause stomach upset.
    • Let him/her get used to the new food by gradually mixing in the new food while slowly decreasing the old food.
    • Once adjusted to one new food try another using this method.
    • You will find that your dog will tolerate many different types of foods, just as we do.
    • A variety diet is much more enjoyable than the same bowl of dry kibble every day!
    • Ensure a well balanced diet by mixing 40% protein, with the balance consisiting of fruit and vegetables and carbohydrates, in their daily diet.
    • Following this basic formula will ensure a well balanced, healthy nutritious diet.
    • I always cook the meat before serving, and let it cool off to room temperature.
    • I found that feeding my dogs their food hot or too warm seemed to cause them stomach upset. (Lady always vomits if her food is warm – yuck)
    • Organ meat (liver, kidneys etc.) and occasionally adding eggs are very good for your pet, and as we all know variety in our diets is always nice.
    • Feed your pet the daily amount as recommended by your vet, according to the animal’s size.
    • I separate their daily requirement into two portions – morning and evening.
    • Rotate food for variety.
    • I buy the meat every week that is “last day” sale.
    • At my meat market this is the meat that is still for sale for human consumption, but has to be sold by today.
    • My butcher sells this at 50% off the sticker price.
    • I then bring it home and use it the same day, or freeze it and make the freshly cooked meals in batches later.
    • This is actually cheaper than the premium preservative, chemically filled commercial dog food that I used to buy.
    • I had a week’s worth of fast fry steaks for my two 80 pound Labrador retrievers that cost under $20.00. Just look for and stock up on sales.
    • I made a big batches of meat, rice and veggie stew for them and freeze it in individual portions.
    • Simple as when we grab for a frozen dinner on those nights when we’re too tired to cook, but nutritious, healthy and homemade.
    • Use oatmeal, rice, pasta or potatoes as the starch requirement.
    • Use fresh or frozen fruit and veggies and cook until tender.
    • Make a puree after cooking any combination of veggies and fruits that your dog likes.
    • Don’t add extra salt when cooking veggies.
    • Use more veggies to fruits (3/4 to 1/4)
    • Start with basics such as carrots/ green beans and apples. Get creative by trying new tastes and flavours as your dog will tolerate, such as: tomatoes, peas, corn, blueberries, bananas, peaches etc.
    • AVOID GRAPES AS THEY ARE TOXIC, ALONG WITH THE OTHER INGREDIENTS LISTED BELOW

Meat and Rice RECIPE (Make 4 portions for a 20 pound dog @ 2 servings daily)

  • 2 cups cooked rice
  • 2 1/2 cups minced cooked lean meat
  • 1 1/4 cups pureed veggie and fuit mix
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1/4 tsp. iodized salt
  • Daily vitamin/mineral and bonemeal supplement according to dog’s weight

Precook rice, meat and make a veggie/fruit mix ahead of time

Use any lean meat such as chicken, turkey, venison, lamb, beef. Remove fat.

Use brown or white rice (or subsitute cooked macaroni potatoes)

For the fruit/veggie puree I usually stick with the favourite of carrots and apples.

I mix 3/4 vegetables to 1/4 fruit. Cook fruit, cool and puree in food processor.

Mix meat, veggie/fruit puree, starch and salt together, drizzle with oil and serve.

Separate into 4 equal servings and feed 2 servings per day. (This equals 2 days worth of food.)

Make bigger batches when you have the time and freeze in portions for easy meal time

Dog Vitamins And Supplements: Adding vitamins and supplements to our home made dog food is essential as the food will be deficient of certain necessary vitamins and minerals for optimum health.

Bone meal (Calcium) is essential to a homemade dog food diet. Dogs calcium requirements are given according to body weight. The calcium is to replace bones that wild dogs originally ate when feeding in the wild.

This necessary addition can be found in human grade bonemeal, which is available through pet supply stores, health-food stores and of course speciality on line pet stores.

Make sure you NEVER use the garden grade bone meal as this contains toxins, such as lead.

Only Natural Pet Store – SEE CALCIUM OR BONEMEAL HERE, OR find some at your local pet supply store or vets office.

I also give my two Labs, Lady and Lola a daily multi-vitamin for dogs, according to their weight also when they are on their homemade dog food diet such as Natural Vitamins for Dogs at Only Natural Pet Store


CLICK LOLA FOR MORE DANGEROUS FOODS TO AVOID

FOODS THAT ARE KNOWN TO BE TOXIC TO DOGS!

  • Onions and onion powder
  • Chocolate
  • Coffee and all coffee related products
  • Chocolate covered espresso beans ( extra toxic !! )
  • Tea
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Hops (used in home brewing beer)
  • Grapes and raisins ( including juices or anything with grapes or raisins as the base)
  • Tomato leaves and stems
  • Green part of potatoes (peelings, sprouts and foliage)
  • Rhubarb leaves
  • Avocados
  • Pits and seeds from fruits (plum, apricot, peach apple and cherry)
  • Bitter almonds
  • Moldy or spoiled foods
Filed under Basic Home Made Food Recipe, RECIPES. Tagged , , , , ,
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