Basic Homemade Dog Food Recipe

I find cooking for my dog to be incredibly rewarding.  Not only am I saving a ton of money, but I’m ensuring that only the best ingredients are being fed to my favorite boy.  Like many dogs, my Lab Mix Sam suffers from a variety of different allergies.  Making homemade dog food keeps him feeling great and symptom-free.

Here’s a basic homemade dog food recipe for you to try.  Once you’ve made it once, you’ll see how easy it is to customize by adding different proteins and vegetables to suit your dog’s nutritional needs and tastes.

Ingredients:

6 c. Water (or low-sodium broth)

1 lb. Ground beef, turkey or chicken (you don’t have to use ground meat)

2 c. Brown rice

1/2 tsp Garlic powder

1/2 tsp Dried rosemary

16 oz. Bag of assorted frozen veggies (or preferably, 2 cups fresh), thawed and/or finely chopped.  NOTE:  NO Onions!

Directions:

1.  Add everything but the veggies to a large pot or dutch oven and cook on the stove on medium heat.

2.  Stir mixture until the ground meat is broken up and distributed evenly throughout the pot.

3.  Bring to a boil.

4.  Once boiling, cover and bring the heat down to low.  Simmer for 20 minutes.

5.  After 20 minutes, add veggies and cook for an additional 5 minutes or so.  The time will depend on how long it takes for the veggies to get tender.

Done!

Serve warm, not hot and make sure to let the homemade dog food cool completely before storing it in the fridge.

This dog food recipe makes about 10 cups or 5-2 cup servings depending on the size of your pooch.

It should keep in the fridge for about a week.

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What Do Cats Eat For Basic Nutrition?

Cats are also known as obligate carnivores which mean that they must consume meat like fishes and mice for basic nutrition. Just because they look cute and furry, you cannot expect her to graze out in pastures like cows and sheep.

The digestive tract of cats has been shortened and what they consume from fishes and mice meat contained optimized proteins. Unlike cows, sheep and even us, they simply do not have dental and digestive apparatus to process plants and vegetables unless they are well-grinded into tiny pieces. That explains why you may see some cats nibbling on tiny stalks from time to time.

A number of reasons arise from this from what people concluded after observing their behaviour. Maybe they are tired of eating fishes everyday and want something new for a change. Or they chew those stalks once and became addicted to the taste. Or they just did them out of curiosity. Whichever the actual reason may be, one thing remains certain.

Cats have feelings and thinking like us humans even if they are pets. It is very obvious from their reactions when you feed them. Either they started tucking in right away out of hunger. Or they just stared at the food or you before walking away. They could either be feeling unwell or as I just said above, they are no longer interested in what you have been feeling them.

Fortunately in the 21st century, we no longer need to spend time figuring what our cats like or do not like. Apart from fishes and mice which is all most of us know as cats? food in theory, there are plenty of great nutritional meal product in pet stores and supermarkets to choose from.

Most manufacturers, suppliers and shop owners are extremely particular about the food quality so as to help the cat grow and develop its potential naturally and well.

But even so, cats do not like to have too much variety. They just pick one which they like eating and stick to it for life. Yet for a start you have to experiment with different foods or even consult with vet before finding out what your cat or cats like most and whether she likes is suitable for long-term.

Nutritional requirements for your cat vary in ages, portion and size. What she needs as kitten will be different from what she needs as cat. As much as you want to make your cat happy all the time, you also need to follow the instructions on the cans or from shop owners. Such as not feeding it with too little or too much.

Studies have shown that most cat need about 1 full cup of food everyday. They also want to be fed at certain times. If you can, feed them well before you eat your dinner. Otherwise it could be quite distracting when they keep looking at you or even try to climb up the chair or table while you eat by yourself or with family.

Not all we eat are suitable to cats. Snacks like chocolate, potato chips and preserved food contain fats, salt and sugar may be pleasing them in taste. But if you keep feeding them, they will become fat and overweight. Same goes for burgers and French fries.

When feeding them with fishes, be sure to remove all bones or cut the fish into tiny pieces which are easier for them to digest. Like us humans, cats do choke at times if they are too hungry and eat too fast. For meat like chicken, mutton and pork, it is best to mince them after removing the bones. But for baked beans, corn and mashed potatoes, that will not be necessary.

Other than food, be sure to feed them with water, fresh milk and fruit juice so as to provide them with additional vitamins.

With that said, this is what cats basically eat for nutrition.

If you want to get a cat as your pet or just bought one, be sure to check out my review on Cat Traits.

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Basic First Aid For Dogs & Cats

Many of us regard our pets as members of the family. When accidents strike, it's only natural for panic to set in. But if your pet has suffered an accident, you must act quickly. Knowing the proper ways to address a host of potential incidents could save you from losing the one you love.

Traffic Accidents

Traffic accidents are the most common cause of severe injury to dogs and cats. When the unfortunate occurs, approach the pet with caution as even loving, domestic animals tend to react aggressively when in pain.

Move the pet as little as necessary. If you must move the animal, slide a blanket beneath it. Seek the help of another and hoist the pet gently from the street to a safer area. Check the animal's heartbeat and look for signs of hemorrhaging. Stem severe bleeding by pressing a clean, cloth pad or handkerchief over the fresh wound, constricting blood flow with a temporary bandage. Contact the nearest veterinary surgeon and warn him/her of your arrival.

Burns

Clean off any offending substances and immerse the burned body part in cold, fresh running water. Contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Heat Stroke

This typically happens when an animal is left alone on a warm day without adequate ventilation. Look for panting, vomiting, frothing at the mouth or, in severe cases, loss of consciousness.

Wipe away any froth and place the animal in lukewarm water, effectively lowering its body temperature. Drive the pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible where it will be treated with more cool water and medications.

Poisoning

Symptoms of poisoning include muscular twitching, bleeding, vomiting, collapse or convulsions. Do not hesitate to call your veterinarian if you suspect that your pet is behaving erratically. If you are sure a poisoning has occurred, bring a sample of the toxic substance to the veterinarian with you. If the pet has recently consumed the poison, induce vomiting by feeding the animal a mixture of mustard and salt in water or by pushing a small piece of sodium carbonate down its throat.

The ASPCA also has a 24/7/365 Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435. They have experts standing by. A $65 charge may apply.

Drowning

It is a common misconception that all dogs swim well. This is not the case. If your pet appears to have drowned, act quickly. Empty the animal's lungs of fluid as soon as you can. Position the pet's head so it is lower than the rest of its body. Open the mouth and press down on the ribs. Repeat several times at 5-second intervals.

Choking

Small items such as stick fragments, rubber balls and bones can lodge in a dog's throat. If your pet appears to be choking, take swift action.

Open the animal's mouth and try to view the object. Pump the chest just as you would if it was drowning. This may displace the foreign object. If you are able to free the object enough to allow the animal to partially breath, take the pet to the veterinarian as soon as you can, where the object will be extracted under anesthetic.

We all hope we never have to apply basic first aid especially to our furry companions. But it's better to know first aid and not need it than to need it and not know it.

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