Fine Dining For Your Furry Friends

When was the last time you looked at the ingredient label of your favorite dog or cat food? Behind innocent-sounding words like “meat byproducts” and “meat meal” are horrific manufacturing practices that would turn your stomach. The nutritional considerations of pet foods go beyond the sources of meat in them. Pet food manufacturers add dangerous preservatives and vitamin fortifications that actually make your pets’ food less healthy.

What if we fed our pets a simpler version of what we eat ourselves? Just like feeding yourself, it might take a bit of planning, and little knowledge, but it’s worth the effort. Your pets will thank you.

Here are some tips along with a couple of recipes to get you started.

1.    Variety is important. Rotating protein and carbohydrate sources will help cover all the nutritional bases.

2.    Good protein sources include human-grade raw ground round or sirloin; ground poultry (higher –fat dark meat is best— pets require more fat than humans do); and occasionally organ meats, all from animals raised without antibiotics or hormones. If you are concerned about feeding your pet raw meat, cook it lightly.

3.    Good sources of carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables. Pets usually like apples, carrots, green beans and yams just to name a few.

4.    Both cats and dogs have high calcium requirements. Add one teaspoon of powdered calcium , eggshell powder or bonemeal to each pound of raw meat and work it in before you add anything else.

5.    Portion sizes vary according to size, age and activity level.

6.    Make sure and monitor your pet closely when introducing new food. If you notice excessive licking, inflames ears, or digestive problems switch to a simplified diet.

Beef Dinner For Dogs

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
1 ounce beef heart or liver
10 ounces cooked brown rice
2 ounces mixed greens
1 teaspoon eggshell powder or bonemeal
½ teaspoon iodized salt

Method

1.    In a frying pan, cook meat until lightly browned
2.    Mix cooked meat, rice, greens, and other ingredients.
3.    Divide into portions and immediately freeze what cannot be eaten in the next two or three days.

Daily ration:
Toy- 1-2 cups
Medium- 6-7 cups
Large- about 8 cups
Giant – 9+ cups

Cat Dinner

6 oz. roasted turkey breast.

1/2 c. cooked white rice.

5 tsp canola oil.?1/4 tsp salt substitute (potasium cloride).

1/8 tsp salt with iodine

1000 mg taurine (health food store).

1 ground up childs vitaman/mineral tab. (garlic press works so well!)

1 1/2 tsp bone meal (health food store)

Divide into portions and immediately freeze what cannot be eaten within the next few days.

Can you share any of your ideas on eating healthy for pets? We would love to hear from you. Leave in the comments section below.