I’m a dog lover and an owner of several dogs. My pound basically eats store-bought dog food just because I don’t have the time to cook for them every day. But I do cook them special homemade dog food recipes from time to time, especially when one of them isn’t feeling well, and he or she turns its nose up at the regular chow. Have you checked out the ingredients in a bag or can of dog food lately? It’s common for them to contain animal by-products, artificial colorings, and chemical preservatives, just to name a few things your canine doesn’t need. Homemade dog food is much healthier for your pet than most store bought food. There’s no argument about that. Homemade food is made with fresh food ingredients that your dog needs in order to maintain his or her best health. Not to mention the money you’ll save with making your own homemade dog food. The best brands of dog foods are expensive to buy!
The first recipe I’m going to share with you is one that all of my dogs love. It originated because my Beagle had an upset stomach and wouldn’t eat. Normally, dogs aren’t picky eaters like cats can be. But if your dog isn’t feel up to par, they can easily turn down their normal food.
This recipe is inexpensive and easy to make for your dog:
Turkey and Vegetable Mix
I use two pounds of ground turkey and a bag of chopped, mixed vegetables. I chose turkey because it’s easier to digest than beef. (Using fresh veggies is actually a better idea because they have more minerals and vitamins in them.) This made a day’s meals for my little Beagle. How much you’ll need to make will depend on the size of your dog. You can always make up a big pot of this recipe, then refrigerate the leftovers. You can refrigerate the leftovers for up to a week. Then, for his or her next meal, just take out the desired amount and microwave it until it’s just warm.
Place the ground turkey and the vegetables into a large skillet with a little bit of water. Cook on the stove over medium heat. When the ground turkey is cooked clear through, and is no longer pink, the veggies should be tender. You can add some other healthy things to this Turkey and Vegetable Mix, if need be. Such as, if your dog is suffering from Diarrhea, stir in a couple cups of cooked white or brown rice. If fleas are a problem, just sprinkle in a teaspoon of garlic powder. Or, if you want to fortify your dog’s diet, crumble up some doggy vitamins and mix them in. To help build my Beagle up because he had lost a pound or two, I stirred in a scrambled egg for protein.
You can make this recipe with any type of meat or poultry your dog likes. You can use beef, pork, ham, lamb, and chicken also. And, instead of the white or brown rice, you can add in some cooked rolled oats for fiber.
Finally, serve some of this mix to your dog, and watch him or her scarf it down!
The second healthy, homemade recipe is one that I call “Chopped Liver Delight.” I use the word “delight” because I detest liver, but my dogs love this food. You should be able to find both beef and chicken livers at your local supermarket in the meat department. They’re always cheap to buy.
All I do is boil some beef or chicken livers in a pan of water on the stove. I usually boil two to four pounds at a time. I boil them until they are completely cooked and are tender. Then, I drain most of the water off. Stir in a cup or two of steamed, diced vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, green beans, et cetera. Then, stir in some kibble. Serve warm to your dog and refrigerator the leftovers for up to a week.
Mix some of the homemade food into their regular food. Add a little more of the new food and use less of their regular food at each meal until the switchover is complete.
