Healthy Dog Food Recipe

[tahitigirl]

Here's a recipe I just started making for my very picky Yorkie and she loves it.

Healthy Dog Stew
4 - Boneless Chicken Breasts (Provides Protein)
1 - 14oz Can Salmon with Bones & Skin (Provides Protein & Omega Fatty Acids for healthy skin & coat, Bones Provide Calcium)
1/2 - Bag Frozen Sliced Carrots (Vitamin A)
1/2 - Bag Frozen Green Beans (Vitamin C, Iron)
1/2 - Bag Frozen Broccoli (Vitamin C)
6 - Hard Boiled Eggs (Save the Shells - They are Calcium Carbonate)

In large stock pot, combine chicken breasts, carrots, green beans, and broccoli.  Add enough water to cover.  Bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes until water is mostly reduced and chicken tears apart easily.  Add salmon and heat through.  Remove stew from heat.  Peel and chop eggs.  Add chopped eggs to stew, stir.  Grind egg shells to a powder using a coffee grinder.  Add shell powder to stew, stir.  Using a food processor, grind stew into a puree on high speed.  Refrigerate enough food to last 2-3 days and freeze the rest in portion size containers or freezer bags.

[karatemom2]

I like your recipe.  I considered using canned salmon for my girls, but I wasn't sure about the bones, though they are soft and crumbly.  I have a small Pap and Pom.  I take it your Yorkie doesn't have any problem with digesting them since you put them thru the processer?  I guess salmon is going to be on the menu in our house.  It already is when I make salmon patties for the husband (not my thing though...)   

[tahitigirl]

Hi karatemom.  Once the salmon goes through the food processor, you can't tell it ever had bones in it.  The food comes out with a pate consistancy.  Or, if you leave more water in, it will be an applesauce consistancy.  My Yorkie doesn't like a lot of water in it.

[willyagogo]

Wow!!!...These recipes sound great!

Now, I'm home-cooking for my doggies....but I'm in the hunt for a good dog supplement. I've seen "Missing Link" mentioned a couple of times in the blogs so I would love to know...if anyone here in this forum has used it or heard anything about it (good or bad..I need to know).

I know they probably have a website that I can check,....but lately folks,....I'm not to trustiing of any companies.....and would rather hear from the people that I trust most.....pet parents!!!

So, If anyone has ANY info on this product.....I'd love to hear about it!

I thank you all in advance!!!!......

[tahitigirl]

Hi willyagogo.  Love your screen name!  I don't know anything about "missing link", but I am giving my Yorkie a supplement called Nupro.  The ingredients are all natural.  If you want to find out more about this supplement, the web address is www.nuprosupplements.com.  I don't work for their company or anything, I just like their product.

[willyagogo]

Oh tahitigirl!!!!!.....thankyou so much for the info!!! Since I'm home-cooking, I'm aware that they are not getting EVERYthing that they need from this current diet that I'm giving them. I am going to the vet in 2 days...and I'd like to arm myself with as much info on supplements as I can...before I ask him.....as I've said before...I trust pet parents (who have nothing to gain financially that is)...more that anyone!

Glad you like the screen name....I have 2 Shelties (my babies which I love so much!!)......Male--Willy......Female--GoGo........hence the screen name!....

[Cindy Nevarez]

I forget who originally asked the question about the Missing Link. I did use that stuff about 20 years ago, which might not have that much impact today, but back then when I first starting having concerns about the "real food" in pet food, that naturally carried over into pet supplements. At some point it occurred to me that pet supplements were a lot more expensive for what they were in comparision to people supps. and I decided awhile back to use the same supps. for the animals that I use myself. I felt better in that all ingredients are usually listed on the people supps., whereas they are not always on the pet ones, and also I could get them at the same places making it convenient for me. So that's what I have done ever since.

[willyagogo]

Hi Cindy!

That was me asking about the Missing Link...I've been waiting for a few days to hear from people about it. Someone said on the blogs that it was $20 a bag (not sure what size...but assumed it lasts for awhile).....anyways they said that they love it.......but...and this is the BIG BUT for me.....they got it at Petsmart.

So basically...I just wanted to hear about it....if people know where it's made etc.....

When you supplement your pets with human supplements...how did you know how much to give them? I had thought of doing that too....but was scared that I might give too much of something (like vitamin D for instance).....and I was concerned about if the minerals for humans/pets!

Any advice on that for me......I'd surely appreciate it as I'm trying to do what's best for my doggies....I don't want to ever feel like I need to go commercial again in fear that they're lacking things in their home-cooked diet!.....

[Cindy Nevarez]

Sometimes, I go by weight if it's not involving something that is a definate no-no for either the cat or dog, and I haven't yet found in my research a definitive chart for the specific supp. Like for example if I already know something is safe to give them, but don't know the dosage, I would look at what the dosage is for a human, and cut down from there to the size for the animal. Fortunately, I don't have to do this very often, as now that we have the internet, I can usually find something to give me a better idea of how to dose.
In another example, which is easier than you think is compare the amount that is on the pet supplement like a joint complex, which usually states the amount of the active ingredients, to one that is for people. I have to get joint supp. for my oldest dog, so I bought one from Trader Joes, which has similar ingredients and dosage amounts and give one capsule to her twice a day in her food.
Most of the time unless your pet has specific health concerns, you shouldn't have to supplement at all. My largest dog is the only furkid in my house who doesn't get any...he just doesn't have any health problems right now. He gets such a variety of foods in his diet that he gets all his necessary daily nutients from that, and btw, hardly any grain. And he is the picture of health...he's going to be 10 next year, and he still runs around like a big goofy puppy.
The other 3 dogs each get added fiber, which is a combo of whole flax seeds and psyillium meant for people. They also get Omega 3 fish oil softgels (not cod liver oil...too much D) I buy at Costco. The oldest dog also gets Estrologic (meant for women) for her incontinence due to being spayed too young, although now that she's VERY old it's not working as well as it once did. The 2 little dogs if they get impacted anal glands, they get a bit of powdered Vit. C to fight the infection, and warm compresses of the herb Yarrow. But since I've been adding fiber and Omega oil to their diet, those episodes have been cut down drastically.
BTW, any good book on holistic feeding or holistic medicine for pets will tell about a lot of this stuff.

[willyagogo]

This is really interesting Cindy! A lot of great info! I'll just give you an idea of what I've been feeding them....here's today's "nummies" for instance:

Lean ground beef (cooked in water)
Beef liver (just a bit....cut tiny and cooked together w/ground beef)
shredded carrots and brocolli (steamed)
1 hard-boiled egg
chopped up pasta-angel hair (my grains usually make up about 20% of their diet)
flax-seeds
dash of garlic powder
dash of salt
tiny bit of veg. oil.

I just give them a variety by switching around the veggies,meats,carbs.

I also add a spoon of dry milk powder in the mix for added calcium.

And.....I make their cookies...which they love! I use Rice flour,and whole wheat flour(both gluten free)...liver...eggs..ground up egg-shells...squash...flax-seeds....milk powder....oil....garlic...

How does that diet sound to you? Both my Shelties run around like "Maniacs"...they are 5&6 yrs. old respectively.....and all round pretty healthy !    ..........let me know what you think......

Anyone who reads this post.....I'd love to hear your comment on this home-made diet (I'm new at this ) ...and value all advice!.....Thanks!......

[Cindy Nevarez]

I have to make a correction to this last post; Duke, my biggest dog is the only DOG in my household not on supps. My 3 cats are also not on supps currently as they no longer eat homemade food. The arthritic one is doing best on whole canned fish with bone, better than anything I tried before going homemade with her. They only get extra supps if are sick or something.

[Cindy Nevarez]

This does sound "nummie" from a non-vegetarian POV. The only thing I would omit would be the pasta. That's just me though. It seems that they get plenty of grain from those yummy cookies you make for them. The treats my kids get are pure meat jerky, plus they get a .25 cupful each of hi-meat quality kibble (if the ingredient list is truthful  ) in a toy with holes in it to burn off energy...and they don't even get that very often - maybe 2-3 times a week. Check too about the garlic...I keep forgetting if it's toxic to both dogs and cats, or just cats.

[ancona]

I prefer Nupro, as opposed to Missing LInk, compare and you will see


Sandi

[ancona]

I am cooking either ground chicken, turkey and beef, sometimes all together.

Also cooking veggies, adding Nupro at feeding time, how about brown rice?/

I need to be economical any suggestions?


I am feeding  6 dogs,

Now, my cats, I think, I will get Felidae for them   all five of them

[ancona]

Nupro has calcium in it.