Homemade Dog Food

More and more people are getting interested in making homemade food for their dog.  In the years I have been feeding my dog a well-rounded meal, she has remained healthy and active, with a soft coat and no dandruff.  Every vet we have been to has commented on the lack of tarter build up on her teeth, assuming that I must be brushing her teeth on a regular basis.  I didn’t stick a toothbrush in a dog’s mouth until after she was 10 years old.

It can also be much cheaper to be making your own dog food.  I spend an average of $10 or less on one batch of food that lasts about a week.

We experimented a bit with different variations of food before settling on this easy recipe.  Jaya used to get a combination of some kind of grain, with raw meat, a vegetable, and a form of dairy, either cottage cheese or yogurt.  She still gets to lick the yogurt containers clean in this household, an activity she looks forward to when she sees that I am finishing the last of the yogurt.

The best thing about this recipe is that it can also be a meal for humans.  I have been told many times by guests in my house that they might dip into the dog’s food as a midnight snack.

So try it!  And by try it, I mean, feed some to your dog and to yourself.  😉

However, you should consult with your vet if you are considering switching your dog’s food, especially if they are used to getting the same thing on a daily basis.  It will be best to start slow, as a mix of the two, to let the dog’s digestive system adjust to the change.

Please share any comments, concerns, or suggestions!

Homemade Dog Food

Recipe by Mary Wallin

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

25

minutes

Ingredients

• 2½ cups rice (any kind will do)

• 5 cups water

• 1 lb of meat of choice (hamburger, ground turkey, etc)

• 1 lb package of frozen mixed vegetables (peas, corn, carrots, etc)

• ¾ cup nutritional yeast flakes

Directions

• Combine the first four items into a large pot on the stove. A rice cooker is ideal if you have one big enough!
• Start on high heat to bring to a boil, then lower the heat down to a simmer.
• Add the nutritional yeast in and stir it in. I usually stir half in at a time. You may use more or less than the intended amount, it is up to you.
• When the rice is done, it’s done!

Notes

• Jaya, who weighs 32 lbs, eats this food twice a day; once in the morning, about a cup worth, with an egg on top, and once at night, about 1½ – 2 cups. In that amount, it lasts about a week.