"Healthy Homemade Meals For Your Dog"
Cooking For Yor Pet - It's Not As Strange As It Sounds
If being in the kitchen is one of your great pleasures or you are one of those who equate food with love, then maybe you should try your hand at cooking for your dog. May thousands of people do this regularly, and others do it on special occasions or when a pet’s health requires it.
This is part of the national trend toward healthy cooking and eating, as well as one which has us nest building for ourselves, our families and our furry children. Only time will show if this is will be long lasting, or simply become one of those fads that disappear quickly. In the meantime, that bowl on the kitchen floor can be every bit as attractive as the food you prepare for yourself and you can be completely creative without spending huge quantities of time on these efforts.
As we are empowering ourselves with information and the effect of food on our health, it is no surprises that we are also doing research into sustaining healthy pets since dogs, after all, share certain illnesses such as cancer, arthritis and diabetes, as well as suffering from a range of problems that can be affected by diet.
There are numerous approaches to preparing homemade food for your dog. One professional chef we know prepares a pet-friendly meatloaf made from ground beef, breadcrumbs, slivered garlic (a natural flea repellent that is good for the blood), and flaxseed oil for a shiny coat, brewer’s yeast and parsley. The dish is prepared on Sunday and slices are cut and chopped up for serving throughout the week.
On what she describes as “special occasions”, the same chef boils and demons a whole chicken, cuts it up and freezes it for mixing with a healthy commercial dry food recommended by her veterinarian. She saves the stock from cooking the chicken for her human dishes. Other favorites, she says, are fresh raw hamburger (think steak tartar before the poisoning scares) and cottage cheese, served with the special dry food and supplements that are always an accompaniment.
“This is not a diet of table scraps that includes things like sugar, salt and pizza,” she says. If you are making a recipe for you and your dog to share – like twin meatloaves prepared at the same time, keep seasonings out of the dog’s portion and just add spice for yourself.”
Vegetarian cooks always put their dogs on a similar diet. A typical menu might be a vegetarian stew that can even address problems like allergies. One chef, for example, makes a 10-day supply in a crock pot. The ingredients: rice, beans, spinach, wheat germ, garlic and flaxseed oil. Portions are then stored in the refrigerator in airtight containers.
To provide the variety that she says her dog craves, the same chef is always on the lookout for veterinarian-sanctioned recipes and ingredients. She uses eggs, soy and peanut butter as protein substitutes, and sometimes purchases prepared bakery items at the fancy dog bakery in her city. These are fairly common today and, should you be in an area that does not boast one (and you don’t want to bake dog treats yourself) websites such as this one can make suggestions.
As raw meals have become the stuff of fancy restaurants throughout the country, many dog owners have also turned to this type of diet. This is not a cost-effective solution for most pet owners, but some breeders and trainers swear by it for keeping their dogs healthy and stunningly attractive.
One owner of champion bull mastiffs gives raw meat, vegetables and fruits, as well as supplements recommended by her breeder. Her 125-pound adult male, for example, gets two cups of raw meat – turkey, chicken, beef, liver, gizzards, tuna or mackerel – with one cup of fresh or frozen vegetables, especially dark green and leafy ones – at a sitting. All meats include the bones. Sweet potatoes, carrots, cottage cheese, garlic, apples and bananas are everyday treats. The owner spends two days each month preparing the raw diet packages and either uses them at home or for dry shipping to competitions.
She also uses raw specialties and supplements that are biologically approved, and supplements the diet with ester-C, brewer’s yeast, vitamin-E, olive, salmon or flaxseed oil, kelp and alfalfa, as well as eggs (including the shells), and cider.
Vets Stress the Importance of Doing it Right
- While pet healthcare professionals have a variety of opinions on home preparation of dog food, they all agree that it requires a major commitment and even the right foods, improperly prepared or stored, can cause terrific health problems. Raw diets can be especially risky, they say.
Some important advice: if you are considering a change to your dog’s diet – either to strengthen the dog/owner bond or to address health problems like allergies – seek out a veterinarian who understands what you are contemplating and who can work with you to assure a healthy and nutritious diet.
In some cases this special care can help to save a dog’s life. Many pet oncologists believe that preparing special foods for a sick dog can be empowering. Chemo, surgery and radiation all affect a dog’s appetite, and – if a dog is going to live – it is critical to get the animal to eat. The most palatable foods help, according to the doctor.
Cancer patients need a high fat/low carb diet, especially fish oil, fat and protein. This has been scientifically proven to increase the length and quality of life for cancer patients, including dogs.
Some Cooking-for-your-Dog Resources
If you are thinking of cooking for your dog and would like some good references, the following three books are a good start, along with general health books by well-respected veterinary authors.
- Real Food for Dogs by Arden Moore (Storey Press, 2001) On her vet’s orders, Moore’s family became their dog’s personal chefs. The book includes 50 veterinarian approved recipes that the author says will, “get your dog drooling with delight”.
- Throw Me a Bone by Cooper Gillespie with recipes by Sally Sampson (Simon & Schuster, 2003) Cooper Gillespie is a Welsh Springer spaniel who helped James Beard-nominated cookbook author and his owner, Susan Orlean (author of the Orchid Thief) pen an extraordinary cookbook that is also a great read.
- The Three Dog Bakery Cookbook by Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2001) Lots of tasty tidbits from the founders of the famous pet bakery now franchised throughout the United States.
Note: All authors and pet nutrition experts say that every dog is different. Consult your veterinarian or pet care specialist before making any changes in your dog’s diet.
Top of page
