Homecooked Dog Food Recipes

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Homecooked Dog Food Recipes

Posted : 5/4/2007 10:47:34 PM

I've been homecooking for my Shih Tzu for over 3 years with this recipe, with wonderful results:

[linkhttp://b-naturals.com/Jun2004.php[/link]>http://b-naturals.com/Jun2004.php]http://b-naturals.com/Jun2004.php[/link]

It's called "Diets for Dogs with Cancer", BUT it is ALSO for "healthy dogs" (my dog is healthy). The recipes on this site are by Lew Olson, who is also the owner of the yahoo group: K9Nutrition. I use this recipe because it is the closest of her homecooked recipes to the RAW dog food model (because it uses low glycemic carbs, and is grain and starch free). The recipes list the supplements to use, incl amount of calcium to add. I ALT between using eggshell powder and calcium citrate (alt'g every few weeks). The mg of ca per tsp differs for each type of calcium.

CALCIUM BALANCE:
The rule of thumb is: 800-900 mg elemental calcium per POUND OF FOOD. 1/2 tsp eggshell powder = approx 800-900 mg elemental calcium. Whereas 1 tsp of Calcium Citrate = only 700 mg elemental calcium, so you need to double the dose of calcium citrate to equal the amount of eggshell powder ca mg. Read the label of the calcium you choose to see what the mg equivalents are.

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OTHER RECIPES:
There are MANY "health specific diets" also available on this site, as well as a lot of nutritional info articles. To access the recipes and articles, go to:
[linkhttp://b-naturals.com/newsindex.php[/link]>http://b-naturals.com/newsindex.php]http://b-naturals.com/newsindex.php[/link]

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AMOUNT TO FEED:
To determine how much of the "recipe" you should feed your dog, you can use this handy calculator tool:

[linkhttp://www.bravorawdiet.com/howmuch.html[/link]>http://www.bravorawdiet.com/howmuch.html]http://www.bravorawdiet.com/howmuch.html[/link]

I feed my dog at 2.5% of her bodywt. You can feed anywhere between 2-3%, on avg. Evaluate your dog's weight after a few weeks, and adjust amount of food, as needed.

NOTE:
Puppies require MORE nutrition, so IF you are going to feed a PUPPY....

lease read the articles on how to feed puppies, on the article link, above. Puppies' calcium requirements are also different.

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BALANCE OVER TIME:
The most important thing to note with this recipe is that VARIETY is key in order to achieve balance of nutrients over time. I rotate the meat and veggie types, each recipe. I use mainly beef, lamb, chicken, and wild salmon. I also include organ meats, in the amounts listed in the recipe (you should not overfeed organ meats). I also use egg, and I rotate between yogurt and cottage cheese. Veggies are always rotated. I sometimes will add in a few higher glycemic veggies, on occasion (carrots, peas, sweet potato), and from time to time I may use a bit of oatmeal. But usually I use the recipes as stated.
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SUPPLEMENTS:
I tend to rotate supplement brands every few mos, mainly between Bertes and Azmira. I use a multi vitamin/mineral supplement (usually Azmira Mega Pet Daily), trace mineral supplement (Bertes Kelp, or Bertes Green Blend...rotated), omega 3 fish oils (either Azmira Mega Omega, or one by Carlsonlabs.com, or the one by Bertes, or one by Animal Essentials).

Extra supplements (not stated in the recipe) that I do use are: taurine, digestive enzymes, extra b complex, vitamin c, vitamin e, and probiotics. I will add in some flaxseed oil on occasion. Again, I use a variety of both foods and supplements, rotating from time to time.

WATER:
I was once told that a dog should get a min of 3/4 oz to 1 oz of water for EACH pound of bodywt, per day. I don't know if that is true or not, but I do follow it. My dog is 15 lbs and a very poor drinker, so I make sure she gets a min of 12 oz of water per day, by making her meals a "soup" or "stew" consistency. I simply either add bottled spring water, or add the broth from the cooked meats.

YEAST ISSUES:
My dog is sensitive to yeast ingredients, so I make sure I never give any supplements containing "yeast" or "Saccharomyces cerevisiae". We also had problems with "asperguillus" ingredients. So, if you have a sensitive dog, make sure to check all supplement and food labels.

PROBIOTICS:
IMHO, probiotics are the single most important product to use if you have a dog with a very sensitive/reactive digestive system, and/or a weak immune system. Probiotics worked miracles for my "yeasty dog". Make sure to find ones that are "guaranteed though date of expiration", and not just through date of manufacture. We use the ones by Natren.com (Healthy Start System -- dairy free caps, and the Canine Dophilus).

***no one diet is perfect for every dog. The above info is being shared based only on the good results my dog has had from it.**

hth!