I Make Homemade Dog Food!

Every 2 ½ weeks I make homemade dog food for my Beagle, Daisy! I make it mostly because I love her, but I also have other reasons.

“The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog." - M.K. Clinton

Why do I make my dog homemade dog food and treats for Daisy?

• Commercial food is mostly unregulated! The USDA and the FDA don’t control it, and this means we cannot know the quality.

“Pet food quality control is governed by each state, and while certain regulatory codes exist, they do not pertain to the absorbability, digestibility or overall quality of commercially prepared foods for pets.” - Dr. Karen Becker

• Some foods have unsafe chemical and preservatives like BHA and BHT (can cause liver & kidney damage). They can also have negative effects on the dog’s brain.

• Some products contain Ethoxyquin (it prevents the food from going rancid). It is banned for human use.

• Homemade food improves digestion.

• It helps to improve my dog's energy and overall well-being.

“Your pet needs protein (animal meat, seafood, dairy, or eggs), fat (from meat or oil) and carbohydrates (grains or vegetables). He also needs calcium (from dairy or an ingredient such as egg shells), and essential fatty acids (from certain plant oils, egg yolks, oatmeal, and other foods).” - Marianne Wait

• I save a lot of money!!

• I do not want to support the dog food industry.

If you decide to make your own food, there are some foods your dog should not eat.

Human foods you should not give your dog:

• Chocolate: Chocolate contains theobromine and caffein, which are stimulants that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and even collapse and death. See the American Kennel Club's description of chocolate poisoning.
• Tea and coffee - A significant amount of these could cause caffeine poisoning!
• Grapes and raisins - The exact substance that grapes and raisins have that is toxic to dogs is actually not yet known, but they can cause vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration, and even kidney failure!
• Onions and garlic: These and some other members of the Allium family, can create anemia in dogs, which can cause side effects like pale gums, elevated heart rate, weakness, and collapsing.

(For reference, here's a list of the 12 healthiest human foods you CAN give to your dog.)

Here are two of my favorite recipes.

Dog Treat Recipe

• 2 cups of flour (white or wheat)
• 1/3 cup of smooth peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 1/2 cups of water

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put flour in a large mixing bowl. Pour in one cup of water and blend until smooth. Add in the peanut butter and honey. Mix until all the ingredients are well blended.
• Add the water and mix until the mixture has a thick and doughy consistency.
• Flour your cooking surface. Roll the dough onto the cooking surface to create a 1/4-inch thick sheet.
• Use a cookie cutter to create shapes. Place the cookies onto a baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes.
• Cool completely before feeding.

Turkey and Vegetable Dinner

The turkey is for protein and the vegetables for added vitamins and minerals. Turkey contains less fat than beef, so this is a good recipe if you want your dog to lose some weight.

Ingredients

• 4 cups of water
• 1 pound of ground turkey
• 2 cups of brown rice
• 1 cup of carrots, chopped
• 1 cup of green beans, chopped or peas (can also include spinach)

Directions

• Cook the ground turkey until meat is cooked through.
• Add the brown rice, turkey, and water to a large pot and bring to a boil
• Sauté the vegetables until they are tender.
• Add them to the rice and turkey mixture and cook for an additional 10 minutes on low heat.
• Cool before serving
• You can store extra servings in the fridge for up to five days, and you can freeze servings.

“I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren’t certain we knew better. They fight for honor at the first challenge, make love with no moral restraint, and they do not for all their marvelous instincts appear to know about death. Being such wonderfully uncomplicated beings, they need us to do their worrying.” - George Bird Evans