While it is possible to feed your dog a healthy meal consistently on a budget, many dog owners are not aware of this and end up spending more than they should.
The great thing with making homemade dog food is that you have complete control of what your dog is eating. You know that your pooch is getting the right nutrition every day and is safe from harmful additives. After all, many commercial store brands include additives that can threaten the health of your dog over time.
As far as the cost goes, homemade dog food costs a fraction of the store brands which ultimately saves you money.to feed your dog
What to feed your dog
One of the most important foods for any dog is meat. However, veggies are an important addition to their meals as well as they provide much-needed vitamins and minerals.
Dog owners don’t seem to agree on the ratio of meat to veggies. Some, for instance, believe that the protein content should be more while others believe that the ratio of meat to vegetables should be equal.
The meat
While dogs can survive on an omnivorous diet, they are carnivores and require high levels of protein in their diet to thrive. Make no mistake, your pooch is 98.8 percent wolf no matter how cute and cuddly he looks.
Beef, pork, as well as poultry meats such as duck, chicken, and turkey, are the most common sources of protein for dogs. Our pooches also require organ meats such as liver, lungs, heart, kidneys, and gizzards. These are a great source of phosphorus.
If you have a piece of meat that has been stored away in the freezer that you don’t care for, you can bet that your dog will appreciate it.
How much meat
As to the quantity, experts state that the amount of meat should be anywhere between 1/3 to ¾ of the dog’s diet.
Also, it is important to provide sources of calcium. Dogs need high amounts of calcium and you should add in bones or crushed eggshells.
The Veggies
When you are feeding veggies to your dog, make sure that they are going to be digestible otherwise they may cause flatulence. Also, it is better to cook the veggies as this makes it easier for your dog to digest. Keep in mind that the digestive tract of a dog is a lot shorter than that of a human which means that there is less surface area to absorb all the nutrients.
How much veggies?
The quantity of veggies you should feed your dog should be between 1/3 to ¼ of the dog’s diet.
As for the type of veggies to feed your dogs, pumpkins are considered one of the best. Your pooch may dislike the mere sight of leafy greens. However, you can add this to their food and they will consume with the rest of the tasty meats. It is a great way to sneak in more fiber, minerals as well as vitamins.
Make sure you avoid veggies from the pea family such as lentils, and legumes. Also, avoid potatoes and sweet potatoes. The FDA has found these to be a cause behind complications such as dilated cardiomyopathy.
Making a quick and simple recipe on a budget
One of the quickest and easiest ways to feed your dog on a budget is by making home-cooked meals. However, sometimes you may not have enough time to make home-cooked meals. Using a pressure cooker will make the whole process simpler for both you and your dog.
You will also need a hand blender in case you need to mix the fruits and veggies and grind everything up for easier cooking. This also makes it easier for the dog to consume the veggies compared to if they were in larger sized pieces.
Make sure that you do not add in any veggies that are harmful to dogs such as garlic or onions.
One of the main benefits of using a pressure cooker is that it cooks your dog food much quicker compared to using a stove or oven.
The other great benefit of using a pressure cooker is that you can choose the amount of food you want to cook. You can cook enough for several meals or just enough for a single meal. The choice is up to you.
Note that before you can fix this recipe for your dog, it is always a good idea to talk to your vet in case the dog has certain complications or health problems.
Also, the best way to change your dog’s diet is gradually to avoid any complications in the future.
The ingredients
- 3-pounds of beef, chicken, turkey or duck
- 1-pound chicken liver or beef liver
- 3 cups of water
- 3 cups of basmati rice
- 36 ounces of fresh veggies
Note that the meat can and probably should have bones to provide the dog with calcium. By using a pressure cooker or slow cooker such as these from hamiltonbeach, you can make the bones much softer making them easier for the dog to draw nutrients from them.
If, however you want to cook the meat much quicker, you can remove the bones and use ground beef or poultry meat.
Directions
- Start by soaking the rice for a few hours before cooking.
- Drain the liquid and set it aside for later.
- Add the meat and the liver in the pressure cooker and cook until it turns brown.
- Then take the drained water from the rice together with the rice and add them to the meat and stir.
- Take the veggies and add then on top of the mixture. However, ensure you do not mix them in the food.
- Close the pressure cooker and make sure that the vent is also closed.
- Go to the settings and select manual. Set it at 12 minutes. This is the time-lapse for releasing the pressure. Be careful and cover your hand with a wet towel to prevent you from getting burnt by the hot steam.
- If you have fruit, wait for 12 minutes and open the pressure cooker. Add in the fruit and stir everything into a mixture.
After the food is ready, divide it up for each meal and store it in the fridge for up to 5 to 7 days. Ensure you store the food in airtight containers.
Now you can feed your pooch regular meals until the food is done. This method is time-saving as you will not have to prepare a fresh meal every time your dog needs to eat.
