Tag: homemade dog food

Did you miss any of BestBullySticks.com BARK-tastic blogs this week?  If you did miss any of the Dog Training/Dog Rescuing/Food Making/Wolfhound  fun, catch up before Monday with all of this week's great BBS Blogs!

So snuggle up to your favorite pooch (or pooches) and read the BBS Healthy Dog Blog! Happy Weekend Reading! Click the links below to find out more about:

Tip #196: Successful Dog Training Tips • Rescue Spotlight: In Harmony With Nature •  DIY Homemade Dog Food • Breed Spotlight on the Irish Wolfhound

Also in your free time this weekend, check out our fun Pinterest Page! We've got TONS of great dog videos, adorable dog photos, funny dog photos, DIY dog project and more!

Finding a great dog food can be a pain. Many dog parents might think about making their dog’s food for them! But you might say, “Isn’t that expensive?” or “Isn’t that time consuming?” Today, we’re breaking both of those myths!

BestBullySticks.com is sharing a healthy and tasty DIY Dog Food recipe that won’t break the bank! Vanessa Cordero from the Whoreders Blog (a blog about savings!) shared her DIY Homemade Dog Food recipe that her little Boston Terrier pup, Oliver loves! But Oliver is a finicky pup! Read more about Vanessa and Oliver’s journey to find the perfect dog food!

I only want the very best for my little dumpling Oliver, so I've always tried to feed him high quality dog food. The food his breeder had been feeding him caused some vicious gas, it was a nightmare. I switched him to a higher quality food and noticed an improvement right away. After some research, I started feeding Oliver raw food (raw meat, bones and veggies). His gas cleared up almost completely, his coat was soft and shiny and his eyes brightened up significantly. There were two problems: one, Oliver wasn't always 100% down with the food. Sometimes he'd scarf it down, and other times he'd turn his nose up at it. There was no rhyme or reason, I'd just have to cross my fingers at every meal and hope it was a good day. Problem number two, it was really expensive... about $80 a month. Every time Oliver refused to eat a meal and it had to be thrown out, it was like a dagger in my heart and wallet.

My vet had been suggesting homemade dog food forever, and I always thought it would be too much trouble and too expensive. So when I took Oliver in for a follow up on a mystery insect bite (which left my poor little monkey with a swollen face and me with a nervous breakdown at the pet ER), I asked for more info about his recommendation for the home cooked food. I decided to try it out by making a small batch to try, I figured there was nothing to lose. Read more

BestBullySticks.com knows that dog lovers have to be the healthy conscience for their dogs.  Making smart feeding choices is a large part of those choices, but it’s not always easy to know what’s best for your dog. Feeding high quality kibble is a great foundation, but each dog has different nutritional needs. Talking to your vet about a good feeding supplements might be best for you four-legged best friend. But, BestBullySticks.com thinks this Easy Crockpot Chicken & Brown Rice recipe is a great start! Packed with great veggies and protein, your pet will love this addition to his food bowl! This hearty addition to your dog’s food is perfect for the cooler months as well.

Ingredients
Base
1 cup brown rice

2 cups water

Vegetables
1/2 lb. green beans, broken into segments

1 medium sweet potato, raw, cut into medium-sized chunks (leave skin on)

3 carrots, sliced into about 1" thick rounds

Protein
2 boneless chicken breasts (with or without skin)

Directions
1. Put all ingredients into the crockpot in the order given (layer, don’t mix).

2. Cook on low for about 8 hours, on high for about 5 hours.

3. When done, stir, breaking up the chicken into small pieces. Everything will be quite soft.

4. Let cool and serve; can be used with a quality kibble or by itself, in a serving size appropriate for your dog’s weight and activity level.

Refrigerate unused portion; keeps up to three days.

Substitutions are allowed! For vegetables, try broccoli florets, zucchini, spinach or any of several types of squash. For the protein source, beef cubes, turkey or lamb also work. Use organic ingredients if possible.

Bone Appétit!

Be sure to check out all of Best Bully Sticks Weekly Drool Recipes to find a great homemade treat for your pooch! We've got great Fall recipes like Gluten-Free Cheddar Pumpkin Treats, 1-Ingredient Sweet Potato Treats, Peanut Butter Pumpkin Biscuits and more for a great festive Autumn treat! 

Since the heat and humidity has ramped up recently, Best Bully Sticks has been sharing lots of great “Beat The Heat” recipes on Wednesday’s Weekly Drool Recipe blog. This week we wanted to still give our readers a recipe to chill out to, but as a main dish, not a treat. Hearty & cool, Rachael Ray’s “Cool-as-a-Cucumber Gazpacho” is guaranteed to please! (“Please give me more,” that is!)

Ingredients

1 cucumber, peeled and seeded
1 small tomato, seeded and coarsely chopped
1/2 bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper (for people portions)

Directions

1. Using a blender or food processor, pulse all of the ingredients together.

2. Thin with 1/2 cup to 1 cup water as desired.

3. For people portions, season with salt and pepper.

Recipe Notes:
Makes 6 servings.

Enjoy & Bone-Appétit!

(Recipe & photo courtesy of Rachael Ray)

Remember to check out more of our recent recipes in the Weekly Drool Recipe Archive!

With recent pet food recalls many pet owners are opting to make their own dog food to gain peace of mind & save on cost. Contrary to popular belief gathering up last night dinner leftovers and throwing them in your dogs dish is not the same as making nutritional homemade dog food. Remember that not all human food is good for your dog to devour.

Although recycling your dinner leftovers sounds like a tempting, easy, quick & simple solution it can be hazardous to your dogs health. So for your pets safety & overall well-being here is a better solution for all you Suzy homemakers, health conscious pups & dog loving DIYer's.  Into the kitchen we go! Making dry dog food from scratch is a simple process using fresh & healthy ingredients. With so many wonderful recipes to choose this is sure to please any finicky or fussy canine of all breeds, shapes & sizes. Making homemade dry dog food puts you in control over what your loyal companion consumes. You can feel good knowing you feed your dog preservative-free, nutritional food.

So what are the benefits of homemade dog food?

1. Prevent or reduce the risk of a number of health problems that result from eating potentially toxic or contaminated commercially prepared items. While providing your dog with essential nutrients & minerals for healthy life.

2. With the current state of the economy it can also be easier on your pockets & reduce overall cost of each meal. You can save big by buying whole grains & staples in bulk.

3. Feeding a dog freshly prepared food instead of commercial products filled with additives and preservatives may also give them more energy and reduce the risk of obesity.

4.  Homemade dog foods usually cause fewer allergic reactions than commercial dog foods. Easier to manage a dogs diet who have food allergies & sensitivities.

So, whats the scoop on homemade dog food ingredients?

1. Pet owners need to use fresh and natural ingredients, and ensure that every meal is nutritionally balanced. Your dogs diet should consist of protein & carbohydrates.

Protein ingredients include: skinless roasted chicken breast , ground beef, lamb chop, Atlantic salmon,  hard boiled whole egg, cottage cheese & tofu

Carbohydrates ingredients include: long-grained brown or white rice, pasta, white potatoes, sweet potatoes,  oats, pearled barley, couscous, dry tapioca

2. Remember not all vegetables are good for your canine & their digestion. Choose asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and zucchini. Cook vegetables with hard rinds prior to feeding. Select darker vegetables, because they are typically higher in nutritional value.

3. Process all vegetables before adding them into the dog food, as many are hard to digest. Use the puree setting on your blender to guarantee that the mixture is as smooth as possible.

4. Avoid meats that are more prone to carry parasites such as Trichinosis, as dogs are sensitive to contracting the disease from eating raw, unclean or ill-prepared meats. Cook all meats thoroughly and dice into small pieces before feeding them to your dog or adding them to a mixture.

5. Select lean protein sources such as chicken, tuna, venison, beef and small amounts of organ meats. Too much liver, for example, can cause bloating and diarrhea.

6. Eggs are a safe, strong source of lean protein. Add them to dog food mixtures or simply drop a well cooked, scrambled egg or two into the dog bowl as a treat. Don't feed them to your dog raw or undercooked.

7. Follow the general proportion of 1 part lean protein to 2 parts vegetables when making dog food at home.

8. Because homemade dog food doesn't have preservatives and additives, the pet owner will need to monitor the food regularly to make sure it does not spoil.

9.  If you are going to make your dogs food be sure to consult with your vet or nutritional pet expert for advice to help you develop a well-balanced, nutritionally complete diet for your dog to meet his or her specific needs.

What foods should your dog avoid?

There are several foods that are toxic to pets and can cause your dog to get deathly ill. Here are a few things you should avoid putting into your homemade dog food. Grapes, raisins, chocolate, artificial sweeteners, raw meat, onions, garlic and artificial fats should not be on your pets grocery list.

Droolworthy Homemade Dry Dog Food Recipe

Here's a wonderful delicious, easy & healthy homemade dry dog food recipe that Fido will love.

Ingredients:

2 ½-cups of whole wheat flour
1 ½-cups of brewer's yeast
½-cup of nonfat, dry powdered milk
½-cup of cornmeal
4 ½-cups of water
3 medium eggs
2-tsp. of flaxseed oil
2-tbsp. of natural peanut butter
½-cup of pureed cauliflower
½-cup of pureed zucchini
½-cup of pureed green beans

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Wash cauliflower, zucchini and green beans. Combine vegetables in food processor with ½-cup of water and puree until completely smooth.
3. Combine dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Add 3 medium eggs and blend thoroughly.
4. Add wet vegetable puree, remaining 4 cups of water, flaxseed oil and peanut butter. Mix together until consistency is homogenous and resembles a thin pancake batter.
5. Pour mixture onto cookie sheet and bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes.
6. Let the hard sheet of kibble dry, break into bite size pieces, and store refrigerated in freezer bags or plastic containers. The food will stay fresh for up to five weeks. Freezing is also an option if you want to make your dog food in bulk.

Servings:

This recipe yields 30 cups of dry dog food.

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