Free Homemade Dog Food Recipes

After posting: Surprise…Surprise… the Best Food for Dogs Is Homemade Food  A friend forwarded me the following, which includes this free download collection of dog and cat foods at Free Dog and Cat Food Recipes. (Have added a few comments in italics… plus some extra links and recipes. …Ask Marion)

The current crisis in our pet food supply has many of us looking for homemade dog food recipes for our beloved pets. I have been cooking for our dog for many years and find that he likes mostly the same foods that we do. Each animal has his own preferences, just like we do. For instance, our Oscar will not eat tomatoes, but Bonnie loves them. Use these recipes as a starting place for homemade dog food recipes. Then, as you discover your pets preferences you can customize them more. One caution: you should not serve onion or chocolate to dogs as they contain substances that can be toxic to dogs.

Some veterinarians prefer raw meat for our pets. I prefer to cook the meat because of concerns over E Coli and other bacterial contamination. If you wish to use raw meat, do not use ground meat. The grinding process increases the possibility of contamination by providing more surface area for the bacteria to grow.

Dogs are omnivores so veggies (fresh and cooked… just no onions or avocadoes), rice, barley, potatoes, etc in addition to their meat, is good for them, but they require more protein than humans.  Cheese and eggs are also good for them.  Some even like fruit, especially apples, but no raisins or grapes! As Diane Watkins notes above, animals like people have individual tastes… and like people eating the same dry or even canned wet dog food daily is pretty boring as well as leaving them under-nourished. 

Our dogs really don’t like or eat fruit, so we give them a natural high-quality supplement and add raw carrots (won’t eat cooked carrots) and sugar peas to their snacks.  We also feed them natural all meat chicken and duck strips or sticks as snacks.  And we add veggies that we are having for dinner to their plate.  We often just fix them whatever meat is on sale in the broiler or bbq, add brown or white rice mixed with some meat juice and cooked veggies (favorites are peas, yams and sometimes kernels of corn), but if I am fixing something that would be good and healthy I adjust that by not using the no-no foods and often less salt.

Just make sure you observe the absolute no-no list.  It is funny (not haha funny) but the people who will argue or take the stand that cheap (or any) commercial dog food is the way to go and won’t feed their pets real food are sadly usually also the people who will feed their dogs the few items of so-called people food that will harm or kill them!

The “Not So Safe Food For Pets” List

The following foods are not safe for dogs, cats, potbellied pigs, or guinea pigs. Never give the following foods or beverages to your pets:

• Alcohol of any kind
• Anything with Caffeine
• Bones from Ham, Chicken, or Turkey (any fowl)
• Candied Yams
• Casseroles (unless you absolutely know that none of the no-no foods are in them)
• Chocolate and Cocoa (this includes things like brownies and chocolate chip cookies) and dark chocolate is the worst… exactly opposite from people.
• Jell-O Molds
• Macadamia Nuts (this includes things like cookies and pies) and go easy on nuts in general
• Pecan Pie
• Potato Skins
• Careful of processed Pork Products because of the nitrates, especially ham.
• Stuffing, unless you made it from scratch yourself. (it usually contains onions, which is very harmful to pets)
• Anything with onions in it (and garlic should be fed in moderation)
• Anything with Xylitol in it
• Grapes or raisins
• Raw eggs – this is only on the list because of possible exposure to salmonella bacteria, not because the raw eggs are bad for them.  (It is the same as concerns over E Coli and other bacterial contamination with raw meat, even though the raw meat is great for them!)
• Mushrooms
• Baby food if it contains onion powder
• Milk (and American Cheese) can be a problem for some dogs. And be aware that some animals can be lactose intolerant like some people.
• Avocados – especially for birds and cats
• Sage as well as many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils. (Often used in dressing and stuffing)
• Also keep them away from any rising bread dough or other rising dough.  It can kill them and kill them very quickly.

Canine Meat and Grain Menu

2 cups cooked brown rice
2/3 cup Lean beef
2 teaspoons lard — or veggie/olive oil
1/2 cup vegetables — no onion*

Mix all together. You can serve the beef raw if you use chunks of beef. Do not serve ground beef raw, the grinding process increases the chances of bacterial contamination. Use any vegetables you like. You will find over time that your dog will leave any vegetables he does not like. Mix the above. Serve slightly warm, but not hot.

Chow Chow Chicken

You must remove the meat from the bones in this recipe. Chicken bones can easily splinter and cause choking problems in dogs.

2 chicken thighs — or white meat
1 stalk celery — sliced thick
3 carrot — peeled and halved
2 small potatoes — peeled and cubed
2 cups rice — uncooked

Place chicken pieces in large pot. Cover with cold water (5 -6 cups). Add carrots, celery, and potatoes to water. Add salt to taste if you want. Cover and simmer on low heat about 2 hours until the chicken becomes tender. Add the rice, cover and cook over low heat for about 30 minutes until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Remove soup from heat. Pull the chicken meat off the bone ( it will practically fall off), discard bones. Return shredded pieces to pot. Stir well. Let cool. Store in the refrigerator or freeze.

Meaty Dog Biscuits

Use beef, chicken or lamb strained baby food for these biscuits.

2 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
8 to 10 tablespoons water
2 jars baby food meat, strained

Mix all ingredients together and knead for 3 min. Roll out to about 1/2 inch thick. Use a dog bone shaped cookie cutter, and place biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 min.

Makes approximately 2 dozen doggie biscuits

Bacon Bites for Dogs

6 slices cooked bacon — crumbled
4 eggs — well beaten
1/8 cup bacon grease
1 cup water
1/2 cup powdered milk — non-fat
2 cup graham flour
2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup cornmeal

Mix ingredients with a strong spoon; drop heaping tablespoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. Bake in a 350 oven for 15 minutes. Turn off oven and leave cookies on baking sheet in the oven overnight to dry out.

Ace’s Favorite Cheesy Dog Biscuits

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups grated cheddar cheese
1/4 pound margarine (I would substitute butter) – corn or olive oil
1 clove garlic — crushed
1 pinch salt
1/4 cup Milk — or as needed

Grate the cheese into a bowl and let stand until it reaches room temperature. Cream the cheese with the softened margarine, garlic, salt and flour. Add enough milk to form into a ball.

Chill for 1/2 hour. Roll onto floured board. Cut into shapes and bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until slightly brown, and firm.

Makes 2 to 3 dozen, depending on size.

I hope that these free dog food recipes will inspire you to cook safe and healthy food for your pet.

Do you need more free dog or cat food recipes? Download our free collection of dog and cat foods at Free Dog and Cat Food Recipes. and instantly download the ebooks.

Are you interested in traditional southern cooking? Diane has just finished a free cookbook of her favorite southern recipes. Download Easy Southern Favorites today. These recipes are guaranteed to have them begging for more. Best of all, its free!

Diane Watkins is a traditional southern style cook. She enjoys cooking, teaching, and writing about good food and family. For more information on southern cooking and recipes visit her website at Easy Southern Cooking

Article Source: EzineAricles.com

Posted:  Just One More Pet

Additional recipes:

Peanut Butter Dog Treats

2 tbsp corn oil
1/2 cup peanut butter (make sure you are using organic or non-tainted peanut butter)
1 cup water
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups white flour

Preheat oven to 350F. Combine oil, peanut butter, and water. Add flour 1 cup at a time, then knead into firm dough. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and cut with small bone shaped cookie cutter. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. For hard and crunchy treats, leave them in the oven for a few hours after baking.  Makes about 3 dozen.

Simple Roasted Organs

(This is a great recipe to make up for Thanksgiving to feed your canine friends… you can substitute chicken for the turkey and add a few turkey scraps at carving time, or just bake the liver and giblets and add the warm turkey as you carve… just go easy on the skin and watch for bones.)

This dish can actually double up as a treat, or healthy topping to your pet’s usual meal. Turkey giblets (hearts, livers and kidneys) are available from butcher shops and many natural food markets – and also come included with most Thanksgiving turkeys!

This recipe is super-simple and just about all pets love it! Since this recipe is cooked, turkey necks should not be used.

Ingredients

Up to 1 lb Turkey scraps, organs/giblets (don’t include bones)

6 tbsp Olive Oil

½ tsp Dried or Fresh Rosemary

1 Clove Garlic, crushed or finely diced (optional)

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the organs on a baking sheet. Slowly pour on the olive and gently shake the pan so that the oil is evenly distributed. Sprinkle on the rosemary and crushed garlic. Place in the oven and cook for about 35 minutes, until golden brown. Cool before serving and refrigerate any leftovers for up to 3 days.

For cats, dice the organs finely with a sharp knife before serving. This technique also works well to create bite-sized training treats that are a little bit different.

**  On a side note… We do buy a breed specific vet approved kibble that we set out when we are gone… and there is always some in a bowl next to each of the water bowls spread around the house and patio.  Our dogs think it is a treat, but because it is always available and not their main food source, they do not over eat and only touch it when they are hungry because we’ve been gone or it strikes their fancy.  Two of our four play a little game with it where they toss one small nugget up in the air at a time and then juggle it between their paws until they finally toss it up a second time, catch in their mouth(s) and finally eat it.  They definitely use up more calories playing with it, than they get from eating it that way. We also feed them ‘natural’ duck and chicken strips as well as a natural supplement, but 90%+ of their food is “real” so-called human food.  Each dog and all breeds are different, but we have noticed that since there is never a food shortage at out house for them and they eat well, that they only eat when they are hungry and save or let it sit until they are. 

Some things to consider… Pets can have or develop allergies to food like dairy products, grains or a specific item, just like people.  Bur they would have those same allergies and possible to a worse degree if you were feeding them commercial pet food.  The breed specific pet food that we buy (and many kibbles) address tartar.  Brushing your dogs’ and cats’ teeth is important, especially certain breeds and even more important without kibble.

As for snacks… generally if you feed your pets well, they will eat and beg for less snacks.  As I mentioned above we use kibble and chicken and natural duck strips, sometimes with yams, as snacks for our pups and make homemade biscuits.  We let them lick a little ice cream (no chocolate, coffee or with nuts) now and again, sometimes sprinkle freshly grated cheese on their food, and for their birthdays, I make a carrot cake or a cheese cake.  Everyone of our 4 gets a little sliver; 2 prefer carrot and two prefer cheese cake.  But generally we stay away from the sweets. (It is funny how the people who know the least about the benefits of feeding their pets natural or human food and protest the loudest, are usually the same people who feed their pets bites of a lot of junk food, sweets and items from the “no-no” list (above).

Someone passed me an article after I posted this one with some good information as well as the argument that if you feed your pet real food that it will cause undesirable behavior. Saying that:

Dogs are opportunists.  Counter-surfing, garbage diving, begging, stealing from plates, food guarding, nipping: these are all behaviors that will continue if allowed. 

It’s not a matter of human food; it’s a matter of training.  If you don’t want your dog begging at the table, don’t feed him at the table; put the table scraps in his bowl.  And since most dogs find human food far superior to their regular dog food or dog treats, you can actually use human food to train desirable behaviors to counteract undesirable ones.

It can be argued that the feeding of commercial dog food encourages unwanted behaviors.  A dog that is voracious will have little self-control around food, and a lot of manufactured dog food lacks the nutrients and/or quality protein to keep a dog sated.  The authors of Not Fit For a Dog! believe feeding manufactured pet food can lead to a variety of unwanted behaviors such as (but not limited to) “constant food soliciting/hunger; increased aggression/irritability/hyperactivity”( p.145). As well, there is strong evidence that commercial dog foods are largely responsible for many of the medical conditions that can require dogs to be put on medications that cause an increase in appetite (i.e. Prednisone).

From personal experience, our four eat only when they are hungry and when we say “NO”, they sit and wait until they are given a bite or food is set out in their bowls are set out.

To me the bad behavior argument is like saying, I only feed my kids TV dinners so that they don’t ask me to fix a real mea! And as for my friends and guests… they know it is a house with dogs and it is the dogs who live there… not them.   ** Ask Marion~

If your pet has health issues, check with your vet before making major changes to their diet.  And always consider a holistic or natural vet, at least for a second opinion!!

Related:

Surprise Surprise… the Best Food for Dogs Is Homemade Food

The Nutrient Your Dog Needs More of As They Age:  Protein  -  And Expecting Your Pet to Get It from Rendered Pet Food Is the Worst of the Worst of the Worst Options!

Pupcakes

Gourmet Doggie Biscuits and Some Holiday Snacking Tips

Beef Verses Bison for Dogs  – Variety is critical for your pet to receive the full spectrum of amino acids, essential fatty acids, trace minerals, vitamins and antioxidants necessary to thrive.

Pets and Toxic Plants

Resources:

Not Fit for a Dog!: The Truth About Manufactured Dog and Cat Food

See Spot Live Longer – How to help your dog live a longer and healthier life!

Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs: The Definitive Guide to Homemade Meals

See Recipe Books at:  Surprise Surprise… the Best Food for Dogs Is Homemade Food

Web Resources from Oberhund on this topic:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/02/05/pets-grains.aspx

http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/dogsbreakfast.html

http://www.healthypetjournal.com/default.aspx?tabid=25107

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2009/07/07/pets-protein-dry-food-and-disease.aspx

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/KnowledgeBase/knowledgebasedetail.aspx?articleid=147

www.SeeSpotLiveLonger.com

www.carnivora.ca

Posted at Just One More Pet by Ask Marion