By fati Sunday, March 17, 2013

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How to Make Your Own Dog Food

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Consumers seem to be looking for more natural dog foods without preservatives or additives after occasional defects in pet food caused health problems. Many experts believe commercial dog food is actually unhealthy for dogs, as the meat that is used in dog food is often of a quality considered unfit for humans. Making your own dog food requires a simple mix of meat, vegetables and starches. Your pet will thank you!

Ingredients

Hamburger, Seafood, and Liver

• 2 lbs hamburger
• 10 oz shrimp or lobster
• 1 cup raw liver
• 1 boiled potato
• 2 cups of rolled oats
• ¼ cup blueberries
• ½ cup brown rice
• ¼ cup wheat germ
• ¼ cup brewer's yeast
• a pinch of cinnamon

Vegetarian Meal

• 8 cups oats
• 2 cups brown rice
• 6 cups barley
• 2 lbs carrots (grated)
• 3 to 4 bunches of broccoli (stems grated and flowerettes chopped)
• 6 zucchini (grated)
• ½ bunch parsley (chopped)

Dog Meatloaf with Veggies

• 1½ pounds lean ground beef
• 3 stalks celery (chopped)
• 2 carrots (grated)
• 1 apple (cored and diced)
• 2 eggs
• 2 slices white bread (torn into pieces)
• 1 cup regular rolled oats
• 1 cup wheat germ
• 6 ounce can of tomato paste
• 4 medium potatoes (cubed)
• 3 carrots (chopped)
• 1 stalk celery (cubed)

Steps

1. Check with your vet before switching to homemade dog food.
2. Rotate the foods you make for variety and a balanced diet.
   • Understand that dogs need a diet that consists of 40 percent meat, 30 percent vegetables and 30 percent starch.
3. Try making a mixture of ground turkey, rice and carrots for your own dog food. Meals made of ground beef, brown rice, brewer's yeast and carrots are also popular. Use oatmeal, pasta, rice or potatoes for your dog's starch requirement.
4. Keep cooked dog food in the refrigerator no longer than three days. Keep in mind that when you're using natural ingredients, the food spoils easily so you must just make enough food that could last for a span of a few days - depending on the shelf-life of the ingredients.

Hamburger, Seafood, and Liver This typical recipe for homemade dog food combines meat, vegetables, and grains into one meal.

1. Combine beef, boiled potato and shrimp or lobster in a food processor. Crush the blueberries into a mushy fruit paste.
2. Blend together all the ingredients Roll into a ball.
3. Feed your dog. This recipe is meant to be consumed fresh and raw.

Vegetarian Meal

1. Cook the oats in two 8 quart stock pots. Use another pot to cook the brown rice and barley.
2. Let cool, preferably overnight.
3. Chop the vegetables. Puree them using a food processor. Combine all the ingredients and shape into balls.
4. Freeze leftovers for future consumption.

Dog Meatloaf with Veggies

1. Preheat your oven to 350˚F.
2. Cover a large roasting pan with oil. Set aside for later use.
3. Use your hands to mix the ground beef, celery, carrots, apple, eggs, bread, oats, wheat germ, and tomato paste together in a large bowl.
4. Divide into four equal parts. Shape each part into a loaf. Place the loaves in the roasting pan from earlier. Surround with left over potatoes, carrots, and celery. Then, cover the pan with a lid.
5. Bake for 80 minutes, or until meat is cooked through. If you're using a meat thermometer, the internal temperature should be 175˚F when finished [1].
6. Allow food to cool. Then, give your dog 1/3 of a loaf with a few vegetables and, if desired, a handful of doggie kibble.

Video

Here is a recipe for a great chicken and rice dish for your dog.

Tips

• Consider adding crushed eggshells to your dog food, as egg shells are full of nutrients.
• Eggs and organ meat (such as liver, kidneys, etc.) are two foods that are both healthy and tasty to your dog.
• Be aware that not all human foods are beneficial to your dog. For example, regular consumption of bacon can easily lead to pancreatitis. Also, many dogs (like most mature mammals) are intolerant of dairy products due to the presence of lactose. For this reason, dairy products remain one of the three most common allergens. Know your dog's limits and feed accordingly.
• When you first switch to homemade dog food, try mixing commercial dog food to the food you have prepared to help your dog make the transition.

Warnings

• Always check with your veterinarian before you embark on any homemade diet.
• Cook meat before feeding it to your dog.
• Its important to make sure your proportions are right to your dog. 75 protein 25 vegetable/starch is optimal for a healthy dog. There are modifications for overweight or with health issues. A good dog vitamin is critical with calcium (unless you offer it in foods: tricky as they could be fattening)

Related wikiHows

• How to Choose Healthy Dog Food
• How to Get a Dog to Stop Eating Dirt
• How to Keep a Dog in Good Health
• How to Persuade Your Parents to Get a Dog

Sources and Citations

• List of foods that should not be given to dogs.
• How to make dog food
• Homemade Dog Food
• http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Doggy-Meatloaf-with-Vegetables/Detail.aspx

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Your Own Dog Food. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.