DIY Healthy Home-made Dog Food - Part 1

Many of us give great importance to our health and what food we eat, so why shouldn’t we feel the same for our dog? Home cooked food will have much less preservatives and additives when compared to dry dog food. Home cooked food will provide your four legged friend with a varied diet, which includes much better ingredients that are beneficial to their health. Preparing your dog's food will also keep him happy as he will always have interesting and new food to eat.   

BEEF AND VEGETABLE BALLS (SERVES 2 DOGS)

It is a well-known fact that most dogs favour meat treats. So they’ll definitely love this one!

INGREDIENTS

2 jars of organic beef and vegetable baby food

1 cup of whole-wheat flour (This may be substituted with white flour). 

2 cups of dry milk

1 cup of water

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and drop the mixture onto a baking sheet. Bake for around 12 to 15 minutes and allow the treats to cool down completely. You should then store any leftover beef and vegetable balls in the fridge for up to five days.

Tip: Cut the recipe in half if you only own one dog.

TURKEY AND VEGETABLE DINNER (SERVES 2)

Turkey is a very healthy alternative to beef, hence it can be beneficial to those canines that need to lose some weight.

INGREDIENTS

4 cups of water
1 pound of ground turkey
2 cups of brown rice
1 cup of carrots, chopped
1 cup of green beans, chopped
1 tablespoon of fish oil (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Cook the ground turkey in a non-stick pan over a medium heat until the turkey is cooked through. Get a large pot and add the brown rice, turkey and water, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium – low and cook for another 15 minutes, or until the rice is soft and tender.  Add the carrots and green beans and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Allow them to cool down before serving and store the extra in a fridge for up to five days.

Tip: Avoid using heavy oil to brown the turkey as it has a high fat content which might upset your dog’s stomach.

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

These cookies will be a great way to sneak in some fish oil into your dog’s diet as this improves the dog’s coat by making  it shiny, soft and healthy looking .

Note: Some brands of peanut butter have unhealthy hydrogenated oils and additives therefore you might want to make your own peanut butter using some raw peanuts and peanut oil and processing the mixture in your food processor.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups of flour (white or wheat, if your pup has no wheat allergies)

1 cup of rolled oats

1/3 cup of smooth peanut butter

1 tablespoon of honey

1/2 tablespoon of fish oil

1 1/2 cups of water

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and then mix the flour and oats together in a large mixing bowl. Then pour one cup of water and blend until it becomes smooth enough to add in the peanut butter, honey and fish oil. Mix until all the ingredients are blended well together. Slowly add the water until the mixture has a thick and doughy consistency. Lightly flour a cooking surface and roll the dough onto the cooking surface to create a ¼ inch thick sheet. Then use a cookie cutter to create shapes. Place the cookies onto a baking sheet and bake for around 40 minutes. Allow to cool completely before feeding it to the dog.

Tip: If the dough is very sticky to roll, slowly add more flour.

FRUIT PARFAIT

This parfait has a mix of dairy and fruit and gives your pup a nice dose of vitamins and proteins.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup plain, non-fat yogurt

1/2 cup of strawberries, diced

1/2 cup of blueberries, diced

1/2 cup of applesauce

DIRECTIONS

Blend all the ingredients in a mixer or mash until the yogurt is smooth and the fruit is well blended. You should serve in small amounts and store in the fridge for up to seven days.

Tip: When you plan to serve your dog with a fruit parfait, you should reduce the amount of regular food by one half to one cup to keep from over-feeding.

What Food Can Your Dog Eat?

Ever had leftover food from lunch and wondered whether you could give it to your dog? If so, this blog post will answer your question!

FOODS SUITABLE FOR YOUR DOG

There are various human foods which are beneficial for your pup. Namely, fruit and vegetables, which give your pup vitamins, fibre and that canine crunch.

Pasta and Rice (plain and cooked)

• Pasta and Rice (plain and cooked)
• Meat
• Fish
• Pumpkin
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Peanut butter
• Egg – not raw!
• Pears
• Sweet potato

However, there are also fruit and vegetables which are considered toxic to your canine friend. In many cases, it’s actually the seeds, pits or stems of these fruits that are poisonous. For example: An Apple is considered poisonous because of the seeds which are unhealthy for a dog, but if you slice it up leaving the skin attached and removing the seeds it’s a healthy treat! Apricot pits, cherry pits and peach pits are all toxic to dogs, although the fruit is ok.

IN MODERATION

The following are foods which may be unhealthy for your pooch if he eats them in large amounts. For example, giving your pup a lot of bread will cause it to gain weight. Also, giving it too much cheese may cause diarrhoea.

• Potatoes
• Broccoli
• Cheese
• Bread 
• Yogurt
• Tomatoes
• Fruit such as pineapple, banana, cherries, watermelon, apples, strawberries and blueberries

FOOD HARMFUL TO YOUR FURRY FRIEND

More importantly, as a dog owner, you need to be aware of the foodstuffs that are harmful for them in order to avoid giving it to them at all costs.

• Chocolate. It contains caffeine-like stimulants known as theobromine which, if ingested in large amounts can cause them vomiting, diarrhoea, irregular heartbeat, seizures and even death.
• Candy and gum is unhealthy and bad for their digestive system.
• Nuts. Certain types of nuts can cause toxic poisonings, an upset stomach or an obstruction in your dog's gastrointestinal tract.
• Onions and garlic. Large amounts cause damage to their red blood cells and can make them anaemic.
• Grapes and raisins. While this fruit is nutritious for you, it's toxic to dogs and can cause them kidney failure.
• Alcohol. Even drinking a small amount of alcohol can result in significant intoxication for a dog, which can lead to vomiting, seizures and even death.
• Avocado. Avocado leaves, fruit, seeds and bark contain a toxin called persin that can cause upset stomach and breathing difficulties.
• Pomegranates should also be avoided.
• Corn on the cob. The corn is digested however the cob blocks Fido’s intestine.
• Coffee, tea, and other caffeine. Caffeine in large quantities can be fatal.  Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits, and bleeding.
• Bones can splinter and cause an obstruction or lacerations of your dog's digestive systems. It's best to just give them the special bones created for dogs as a nice treat.

IF YOUR DOG EATS SOMETHING THAT IT SHOULDN'T

However always controlling what your dog eats may be difficult especially if their favorite hobby is wrecking the garbage bin! So if your dog swallows something it shouldn’t, contact your vet immediately. You can also make use of the following numbers in case of emergency:

• Animal Emergency Service – 5250 2000
  This is a 24 hour service. Your pet would be seen to and treated. Each call costs €5
• Veterinary Emergency Helpline – 7940 4030
• Professional advice will be given during an emergency
• Animal Welfare - 1717

5 Reasons Why You Should Adopt a Senior Dog

1. WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET

Many questions come up before adopting a puppy about its size and personality traits. Generally the only way to answer such questions is to wait and see what the dog will turn out to be. This kind of problem would be wiped away when adopting a senior. While this might not be an important feature for the less selective adopters, this might be important for other adopters, especially…

• If you have young kids in the house
• If you already have other pets
• If you have a particular or specific daily routine
• If you are an elderly person

2. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PUPPY TRAINING

 “Older dogs cannot be trained” – False! Regardless of the dog’s age, it will be able to learn new tips and tricks. Very often, these four-legged friends would have already been trained and are accustomed to certain routines. Also, dogs who have spent a long time in the streets have learnt the meaning of the word 'no'. Hence, a senior dog would adjust to your routine in no time. Remember: your house, your rules!  

3. THEY ARE GREAT COMPANIONS

Most seniors have spent many years hoping for a loving home and a human to call their own. For this reason, their craving for affection will make them the most loving companions anyone can ask for. And just like fine wine, dogs become better with age. Seniors are devoted and loyal buddies and will simply shower you with love!

Warning: they are not responsible for what is broken by excessive tail-wagging that occurs when they see their human!

4. THEY HAVE MELLOWED AND ARE LESS LIKELY TO CAUSE YOU TROUBLE

You don’t have to worry about a senior being a destructive chewer! That’s right, no need to hide your slippers (although storing treats on a high shelf would not be a bad idea). During their golden years, these pooches would have started to enjoy the beauty of ‘Rest-and-Relaxation’. They appreciate bed time as much as you do, and a goodnight sleep would be guaranteed. This still means that they would need a dose of exercise, but they would not have you running a mile! 

5. BE A HERO!

Senior dogs are the most likely to be overlooked by adopters. This may be for a variety of reasons, one of which is the misconception that it is easier to train a puppy rather than an older dog.

Yet whatever the reason is, these tail-wagers are the least likely to get adopted. Knowing that these dogs may have spent the majority of their lives in the streets or in a shelter, they would be desperately craving a loving home that can provide them with loads of affection. By adopting one of these dogs you would become a hero in these creature’s eyes. Adopting a senior dog is a very rewarding and noble gesture, and it would mean the world for your dog! And let’s be honest, these creatures are simply adorable!