I thought it would be funny to say we were drinking "The Hair of the Dog", and listening to "Who let the Dog Out", but in actuality our cooking was accompanied by Vivaldi and ice water.
Gretta my Miniature Schnauzer and I have prepared her food for 3 years. I cannot impress upon you how her Ophthalmologist blamed her blindness on Commercially prepared dog food and over vaccination. Dogs have very quick digestive systems so you have to "pre-chew" their food in a food processor for them to absorb all the vitamins and minerals. To quote my husband, "I'll have what the dog is having." In Gretta's case her food is 50% meat and 50% vegetables. I follow the book "Dogs, Diet and Disease".
Gretta's Delight
3 pounds ground turkey
1 pound chicken livers
1 cup water
1 cup cabbage
1 cup broccoli
2 cups spinach
1/2 bell pepper
3 stalks celery
1/2 cup carrots
Boil the meat until medium rare, remove from heat. Add all the vegetables to a food processor and pulverize. Remove veggies to a large bowl. Scoop out the meat and pulverize it in the food processor. Combine the veggies with the meat, add the left over water from your pot. Stir and let cool. Put dog food into freezer plastic bags. Gretta weighs 22 pounds and I serve her 3/4 cup per day. (Plus she gets a soft scrambled egg and 1/2 banana in the morning, fresh fruit and or cheese for snacks during the day). Note: Check your internet for foods to be found bad for dogs, i.e., grapes, raisins, avocados, chocolate.
When you first put your dog on home cooked meals, go gradually. For the first few days, combine her regular food with your home cooked food, then continue cutting back on the regular food until she is completety on home cooked food. Note: Your dogs "droppings" will reduce significantly due to the fact that her body is now adsorbing most of her food and her water intake will probably reduce.
If you want more information about different diets for your dog, check out "Dogs, Diet, and Disease", a great book for preparing meals for diabetic, or urinary problem dogs.
