Molly’s Food
This is a frugal but nutritious recipe for dog food. Take 1 kg of chicken pet mince and place in a soup pot. Fill the pot up to about three quarters full and with a potato masher, mash the mince into the water. Add a pkt. of cheap, frozen vegetables and cook. This doesn’t take long. Turn off the heat and add a packet of cheap pasta. The heat of the mixture will cook the pasta. When it is cold I pack it in margarine containers in serve size portions and freeze. It smells pretty good – I am almost – almost – tempted to try it.
Thanks for submitting this recipe for dog food. I’ve recently started cooking more meals for my 4 dogs and I’m always looking for new recipes to add a bit of variety.
Where do you find chicken pet mince?
What is chicken pet mince and where can it be located?
I’m guessing it’s just canned chicken dog food (minced up). I believe a kg is the same as 2.2 pounds. You could probably use any canned meat, even human grade, which would probably be healthier as it wouldn’t contain all the “waste” added to commercial dog food.
I also keep a freezer container (clearly marked so no one thinks its a casserole) for our dogs. When I have those little dabs and bits of things that I know won’t get eaten as leftoevers, won’t work well into soup (it has it’s own freezer container), I add it to the dog’s freezer container. Then when I need to stretch dog food an extra few days or just replace it for a while to stretch the budget, I pull out their freezer container, boil it up with some rice, cornbread, etc. and the dogs think their life is good. I keep a smaller freezer container for raw meat trimmings (not really the fat, but those little pieces you can “harvest” while you are cutting up meat for dinner or the chicken giblets cut up. When I boil it I add a little salt and garlic, use the broth to cook rice in (or cook the rice along with the meat). Mix it with the leftovers from above and the dogs are set for a few days at a time.
what we do is wash vegetables that we are to eat very well and save the clean skins to make a mash for our dog.
the vegetable skins – not things like onion skins – are boiled with some chicken or beef stock powder – when they have softened we add some minced meat – cook then pack into containers in meal size to freeze.
we have some very hot days here so the frozen food is great for the dog and he loves it.
usually we just defrost and feed to our pup.
the peels are every bit as nutritious as the vegetable itself but humans just usually choose to not eat them.
regards
peter
How much do you save doing this, is it really worth it? I pay $22.00 for a 40-50lb. bag of Pedigree dry dog food….I would love to save money, I feed a 145lb. great dane and a 45lb. aussie shepared mix…so believe me, my husband is disabled after having 3 kidney transplants over the yrs. and I just became disabled from suffering and working with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue…I have not gotten disability yet, it could be 14mos. or longer…so we are pinching everything we can after losing my income. Also any other ideas to save money, please feel free to send to me…or legitimate home business..man there are alot of scams out there! I am only 38 and my husband is 41…God must be playing a trick on us I guess. Send ideas to lef1170@verizon.net Thanks so much…love this website! God bless you all.
Dogs should not be eating vegetables or pasta. They are not designed to eat either of these things. This recipe results in you feeding your dog crap that you make instead of crap that you buy at the store. We feed our 40lb dog a raw diet that consists of meat, bones, and organs for about 12 dollars a month. She only eats things she’s designed to eat and is supper healthy and happy.
jen, really?
then when my dog was really really sick and had trouble eating did the vet specialist give me a recipe of cooked rice mixed with peas and carrots to equal parts meat ( i.e. chicken or beef- cooked).
i know this was around 8-9 years ago and ever since then my dogs have been fed this mixture with a carefully selected dry dog food and they have been doing fine.
and yes, since it is human grade food- i eat it too (only i have to add a sauce or something since it does not have salt)
Maria I totally agree with you. There is nothing wrong with giving dogs “human food” as long as it is in the right way. Now to go to McDonalds and get them their own happy meal that would be in the wrong way but meats fruits and vegetables are very good for our pets. The dog food we buy for our dogs is a very expensive bag of food but made of everything I would eat in a given week. All I would have to do is add something to give it some kind of moisture because its hard and I prefer not to eat anything hard (just my choice) but its perfectly healthy for me to eat if I wanted to. My dogs and cats both had a very nice Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner!
Jen–totally agree. An animal should be fed what they would eat in the wild and no dog is EVER going to seek out pasta or veggies to stay alive. The trouble is we humans think we know what animals need rather than the way they were created to live.
Jen if you would help me know more about your raw diet that is only $12 a month I would love it!!! I have been looking for more info and some pricing but it is hard to find!!! My 40lb mutt needs really good food because of allergies and I really think that the raw diet would help my budget and her skin. Now I am spending at least $35 a month on dog food and would love to cut it!!!
Kathryn
Kathryn, I just switched my beagles to a raw diet and so far I have seen great results. My dog was pooping 3 times a day, had horrible gas, and would have stomach problems all the time, due to all the wheat and “junk” in commercial dog foods. Go to the web site rawmeatybones.com It is a great resource for switching your dog to a raw diet. Your area might have a yahoo group you can join that buys their meat together and get it at a large discount. Think 80% meat 10% bone (raw bones are great for your dogs dental health, since they are raw they do not splitter like cooked bones do.) and 10% organs. You can also throw in your vegetable table scraps. Dogs are carnivores by nature. Feeding raw is like giving your dog the most expensive all natural dog food, for the cost of the cheapest kibble out there, maybe even cheaper if you find a good meat source.
God created animals and humans to eat plants. After the fall and the flood, the atmosphere changed and so did God’s instructions for our diets. Now we need meat. Animals and people. BUT we also need plants. Ever see a dog with an upset tummy eating grass? Makes him feel better.
You’re making the assumption that dogs are just like wolves. that is a false assumption (i made it too). Over the millenia that dogs have been domesticated, humans have switched what they ate from wild caught things to whatever the humans were eating. I have a dog i fed only raw meat and he has kidney problems from it now. I worked for a vet and if dogs were sick, we always suggested scrambled eggs and rice to calm the stomach.
@ Wally- I fully agree with everything you said! This is exactly what my vet told me for my 15 year old shihtzu when his tooth infection sent him close to renal failure. We can’t put him through an operation so we got rid of infection with anti biotics and manage him with low dose maintenance anti biotics and diet. Scrambled eggs are sometimes all he will eat. This worried me because of cholesterol but vet said eggs have good fats not bad ones and are great for his kidneys. Since we changed his diet his blood work shows the bloods of a puppy! He is healthier and happier than he’s been in years and were saving money! A tiny bag of high quality dry food lasts us forever because most of their food is home made and frozen when the ingredients are on special.
Jen, I’m quite interested in what specifically you buy your dogs to eat. I have 2 little dogs, shitzu, yorkie and a very overweight labrador. I worry my lab eats to much because the store bought food isnt filling enough. I keep thinking if I made it at home he would be more satisfied. It’s not so much for the money (but that would be nice) its because he needs to lose weight.
Jen, are you a Vetinarian?
I have been wondering about feeding our 2 dogs (an 11 month old Chocolate Lab, and a 9 yr old Black Lab) something more nutritious than kibble, but on a budget. I am 27, hubby is 32, kids are 2 and 7- he has a decent job but I am off work because I broke my ankle. So, we are looking for ways to REALLY cut down our $3500 a month budget. Dog food costs a lot, so we are looking at a raw diet… I do throw scraps into their bowl, too. One thing I do make for them that I mix in with their kibble (1/2 the regular ammount of kibble plus this—>)—-
-make some homemade stock in your crockpot (about 6 horus on low, 6 cups water, one ham hock or soup bones)
-Remove bones from the stock, leave in bits of gristle, meat shreds, etc.
-mix in 2 cups barley, odds & ends of veggies (my dogs love everything EXCEPT corn)
-let simmer all day. Makes a fair mount of what I call “dog mush”. I mix a cup of this in their kibble at night (they eat when we do) and they love it. I leave it in the fridge, but freeze half in some small containers. In winter, I heat it up a bit for them (yeah I know I spoil them). Summer, I leave it cold. They seem to like it, and have a clean bill of health from our vet!
Kibble and RAW foods are digested at different rates. It’s never advisable to feed at the same time as your dog may end up with an upset stomach. I feed RAW and it’s so easy. Bulk chicken or turkey split breasts, legs and thighs, drumsticks. Whatever they have on hand. 20% of their ideal body weight split into 2 feeding per day. Doesn’t need to be ground up. They love chewing and crunching. I also do chicken necks and marrow bones. it doesn’t get more natural than that. Anything you can buy at the grocery store that comes in a bag is most likely crap and if you can’t pronounce the ingrediants, DON’T BUY IT!!
Jen is incorrect. Dogs derived from wolves, and wolves have been observed in their natural habitat by scientists, who documented their diets. They ate potatoes from the ground, barley, sweet potatoes, fish, poultry, rabbit, venison, bison, eggs, and other vegetables. Dogs should NEVER be given onions, grapes, raisins, or chocolate.
I agree but would have to add pistachios to the no-no list, they cause an irregular heart beat.
Carol, you made the first bit of sense in all of these comments. As a vet tech, I have to disagree with your take on nutrition. There is no evidence that a raw diet is good for dogs. They are not getting the vitamins they need when you cook for them. It’s very hard to feed a balanced meal this way. Raw chicken can lead to salmonella, for your dog or you or your kids. Dogs should NEVER EVER EVER be fed bones. I have seen bones get lodged in intestines, in rectums, in esophagi and worst of all, in mouths. I actually saw a dog once that was chewing a chicken bone and it lodged vertically in his mouth, piercing the roof of his mouth. The owner didn’t realize it for a week, when he brought him in, the poor dog was in so much pain and agony and the rotting bone stunk. You could smell it from the waiting room. Lots of expensive antibiotics and pain medication. A bowel obstruction from a bone can be fatal at worst and thousands of dollars for emergency surgery to remove it at best. Please, please, please do not give your dog bones.
Also on the list of things to never give your dog:
onions, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, garlic, tea tree oil, tylenol, or really any other over the counter medicine unless you are instructed by your vet. They are constantly changing the formulation of medicines and something that was once safe may no longer be, such as pepto-bismol. Chocolate is actually the least dangerous of all the above items.
I had a golden retriever mix who loved my grapevines. I gave up trying to get her to stop eating them and never harvested grapes from any vines within her reach. She was 13 when we had to put her down because her arthritis, cataracts and diminished hearing made her snappy and dangerous to have around our grandkids. I don’t think her almost lifetime diet of grapes had anything to do with that. When she once got hold of some chocolate she was sick for a couple of days while the only side effect our smaller dachshund/pug/chihuahua mix had was that he was more hyper than usual. Are these restrictions a “most dogs” rule?
i dont understand how you can save money cooking for your dogs. i to am on a tight budget, i think everyone is these days, i have 3 dogs. one is a lab mix that eats whatever is in front of her. i am researching fillers to give her along with her dog food to make her full. she is not overweight, she just likes to eat. i have recently been giving them 1 hardboiled egg and 1/2 cup of oatmeal along with their normal ration. and tommorow i am trying to mix rice in with it. I dont understand how making them chicken or beef mix everyday can save money. my dogs eat a quality dog food but shadow (lab mix) just isnt satisfied. if anyone has a similar problem to mine i am open for suggestions. also does anyone think feeding them 2 times a day would satisfy her more? they have only eaten 1 tme a day since ive had them.
Dogs that are “constantly hungry” usually do better when fed twice a day. For a filler that does not add a lot of calories, try green beans. You can feed them straight from a can or steam frozen green beans until soft. Just put on top of their regular food:)
One of my dogs that has passed loved broccoli. We would give her left overs (yes, a big no no) and she would eat the broccoli before anything else. If we ran out of dog food, we would just open a bag and cook for her.
Nicole- I would definitely try breaking up their food into 2 (or even 3)meals. It works for me, they certainly seem more content and don’t inhale their food as much when they eat! I looked at it this way, would I rather eat a big meal once a day or a smaller meal twice a day?
I don’t really buy into the whole argument that we cannot feed our pets a natural diet because they wouldn’t get the nutrients they need. Who has perpetuated the idea that we cannot do so? Pet food companies?? I would love to try a natural diet for my dogs, or as near to it as I can get. It bothers me that usually the first item in most dog foods is corn! My dogs love veggies and all, but having corn as their chief food ingredient just seems wrong. Are you not going to get more and better nutrients by eating the actual meat, beans or whatnot as opposed to something processed with other things you cannot pronounce and put in a bag that sits on the shelf for who knows how long?!? As far as the bones go, raw bones do not behave the same as cooked. They are more easily chewed up and do not splinter the way cooked bones do.
My vet suggested a raw diet of chicken for a picky eater lab–bones and all. I questioned raw chicken for samonella and she replied dogs digest samonella and unless ill with an acute or chronic illness, would have no problem. I questioned bones and she said RAW bones cause NO problems for any dog as they are digested it is only when bones have been changed by heat do they become brittle and cause problems. I kept the dog on raw for about 5-6 mmonths and we had no problems, she overcame allergies and lost her pickiness.
Our 4-month-old Welsh Corgi is on a corn-free dog food called Blue Buffalo. He has benefited greatly from this food, and when he’s older we can certainly supplement his diet with things like brown rice, etc, if he needs extra. The most important thing about a pet’s diet is that they’re not eating modified or processed corn or meat by-products. Even brands like Pedigree and Science Diet are made like this and are really no better than the cheap store brands. Corn and by-products are unhealthy fillers that are cheap to product, and do not help fill a dog up or give them proper nutrients needed as reflected in their non-domesticated counterparts.
by products in pet foods are NOT a bad thing. the definition of by products has changed from the definition of 20 years ago. by products are now considered organ meats, which are the meats that our pets need to survive. if you look at a bag of food that says no by products, i’m pretty sure if you read the ingredients it would specify a certain organ, such as chicken liver. this is still a by product, however because the food company doesn’t want their bag to say by product in the ingredients, they’ll pick a certain organ meat and label it as by product free, when in actuality, it’s not.
We feed our dog Blue Buffalo as well. He had itchy skin that the vet could not find the source of so I decided to look into a change of diet. He was already on ProPlan Lamb & Rice – a pretty decent food – real meat first ingredient, etc. but I wanted something better. After much research, I decided to try Blue Buffalo. Although it is a more expensive food, our dog eats less of it while maintaining his weight and his skin imporved. Another food I have tried with similar quality is the Taste of the Wild brand. I add a little of it sometimes to his BB diet just for variety. Really, a high quality dog food is an investment in your dog’s health & happiness.
I alternate between these two formulas for our 4 pitbulls:
ground turkey (2 lbs) (85/15)
2 sweet potatoes
2 cups brown rice (cooked)
1 diced apple, peel and all.
(cook ground turkey, dice and boil sweet potato, stir in cooked brown rice and apple.) OR
2 lbs ground vension, turkey or chicken [browned]
1 small bag of peas
1 package of cheap whole wheat noodles.
1/2 can low sodium chicken broth
(once everything is cooked, toss it all together)
Drizzle a little olive oil over the top. Good for the coat!
Our dogs also get one raw feed every morning. Usually a chicken leg or thigh…straight out of the fridge or FREEZER! Very cheap! I usually buy them when they are .99/pound.
I spend about 40.00/month feeding these big dogs!
How much per day do you feed each dog of this mixture?
We feed raw- it is very cheap and there are a lot of options out there- lots of butcher shops will have “dog grade” dog food- basically it means food that is not marketable to people. We do the BARF diet- bones and raw food- our pretty pittie eats chicken necks, backs, organs, and some ground meats- as her diet requires. She also eats a small amount of plain yogurt, a diet supp called missing link, a variety of healthy mixed veggies and fruits. I feel its safe to feed dogs a variety of fruits and veggies that are safe for them- dogs will scavenge in the wild and will eat what is available.
We spend less than $40 for a 3-4 month supply of raw food and out vet always comments on how healthy and great our dog looks.
PLEASE DO NOT EVER FEED YOUR DOG:
grapes/raisins
onions/garlic
pear, peach, plums, peaches, apricot and apple pits, seeds etc.
potato peelings and green potatoes, raw potatoes
rhubarb leaves
macadamia nuts/walnuts
yeast dough
coffee grounds, beans and tea
tomato leaves and greens
nutmeg
turkey skin and fat trimmings
citrus oil
mushrooms
raw fish
large amts of liver and broccoli
these are all poisonous foods to dogs- this list is on our fridge as a reminder and I pass this list along to all the dog lovers we know.
Dogs will eat anything and as their guardian and protector, its our responsibility to only put the best in their body.
If you must do a kibble diet (dry store bought dog food) find one that is CORN FREE and that lists at least the first 3 ingredients as MEAT- corn is nasty for dogs as many have allergies to it and it is literally a wasted useless filler.
We started raw for the health benefits (great coat, teeth, weight, less poop- really this is serious, more natural) and because it was more affordable. If you are on a budget and are determined (it takes a bit of research and a little work until you get the hang of it) then this may be a good route for you and your 4 legged family member.
I must disagree with some of the things on your list of “poisonous to dogs” items.
Our 16 yr old Shepherd/Husky mix & 2 Jack Russels (1 & 4 yrs old) absolutely love raisins (esp. chocolate-covered raisins), and get some as a treat whenever we’re eating them, with no ill effects from raisins OR chocolate.
Garlic has long been recommended as a flea preventative when mixed with food, even by our vet.
Most of the many dogs we’ve had over the years ate whole apples, peel, seeds & all, and enjoyed them! The never got sick.
Yeast dough is used in just about every type of bread, donuts, etc….so are we not supposed to give bread either?
Green beans have been listed as a good veggie to add here, and my dogs thoroughly enjoy baked beans, as well as mushrooms & broccoli in leftover dishes or raw.
Raw liver is an organ meat rich in iron.
Raw turkey is just as good for your dog as raw chicken.
Our dogs are in excellent health, with no shots, no heartworm meds. They are fed mainly on a store-brand mixed dry dog food, with the addition of cooked leftovers, raw meat when available, and the occasional sweet treat. The only allergies we’ve ever run across are an allergic reaction to nylon carpets (which made our old dog scratch & lose hair like crazy), and the usual reaction to flea saliva.
The meat prices in my area are way to high for me to afford a raw diet for my dogs, no matter how good it may be….I have enough trouble paying for meat for ourselves!
This dog food is incomplete nutrition for a dog. I do homecooked food and have for years now. Dogs need bone meal in their food to establish a calcium/phosphorus balance. Without this your dog will be malnorished and more prone to diseases like hip dysplasia.
I’m glad to see this discussion. Our dogs, a 16-year old cairn terrier and an 8-year old dachshund, are in great health and have been on a raw food diet for years. These dogs are now the picture of HEALTH!
I remember considering feeding them this way and wondering if they would starve. Talk about advertising indoctrination. My cairn was suffering from hip dysplasia when I began researching this approach and implementing it into his then absolutely painful life.
I can feed my TWO dogs chicken legs and beef bones, sale items always, for far less than a GOOD brand of dog food. Even when I fed kibble, I used Iams or Science Diet, and they’re expensive. Personally, I don’t want to support the kinds of testing they do on live animals, either.
Occasionally, I cook broth (beef/chicken), corn meal (no, I don’t think a cup of cornmeal is a problem), leftover rice, quinoa, oatmeal (scraps), allow it to congeal overnight, and then feed them that. They love it. I also boil beef bones down, and they love that.
My dogs live outside, too. They come in when the weather is too hot/too cold for them. I keep a medium-size kiddie pool in the back yard for them, emptying it at least twice a week, watering plants with their leftovers.
Dare I say that they don’t take any meds for fleas/ticks/heartworms? On the few occasions that we’ve had problems with fleas, I have used diatomaceous earth (DE) to control them. I simply am NOT going to feed my dog poison to prevent heartworms when I know a decent diet/clean environment will prevent them.
People who are struggling to pay their bills shouldn’t be deprived of the pleasure pets can give them, but if we listen to what advertisers say, a dog simply cannot thrive without kibble, pet meds, toys for cleaning their teeth, et cetera. I simply disagree, and I have two, well-adjusted, well-fed dogs to prove it.
I understand why well-intentioned people resist this approach, but my dogs, especially my beloved cairn, is proof positive that kibble and heart meds will make a dog very ill…
Well said. We had a dog we dearly loved she was a part of the family. We was trying to get custody of our grandchildren and the state required our dogs to have a list of checks and shots. Our poor girl who we got at 5 weeks old died at age 18 years less than 2 weeks after getting the shots. The vet said he had never seen a dog her age so healthy (before shots). Our dog ate whatever she wanted, she was a picky eater. She loved salads though and the vet said if she loves them that much let her have them. While our dog was a collie and I don’t believe that many of the small breed dogs should have whatever they want (my opinion) our girl did great on her diet and was always healthy.
I know it’s not always easy to make sure you are doing what is right for an animal and so much info. out there is misleading and contradictive to add to the confusion.
Good luck to all who have found alternatives, may your pet always be happy and healthy. Now….which one of these am I going to try first…..?
what kind of testing does science diet do on animals other then feeding trials? have you been to the science diet plants to see how the animals are treated? 2 out of the 4 veterinarians that i work with have visited the science diet plant in kansas, and from what i’ve been told by them (and shown by their pictures) the dogs and cats that live at their facility are treated like royalty, and they’re all rescued from shelters to boot. i can’t speak for other pet food companies that do feeding trials (and many don’t- a lot are formulated, meaning they punch some numbers into a computer to see if your pet will like the food), but science diet seems to do a wonderful job taking care of their animals.
Thank you for the information on Science Diet, Kristen, but you’re missing the point. Feeding animals natural, whole foods is better for them and, in the long run, cheaper than feeding kibble. As I understand it, this venue is for people who want/need information so they can make alternative choices. If you decide to feed your dogs otherwise, that’s up to you; however, like many of the other discussions taking place on this site, I refuse to give my hard-earned money over to corporations if it’s unnecessary. Manufactured dog food is over processed and expensive.
actually i’m not missing the point- the post i was responding to made it seem like they do cruel animal testing on dogs/cats, and i was correcting her since it’s obvious that she was misinformed or assuming. i did not want others to read her post and automatically think that science diet is an evil corporation that subjects animals to unnecessary treatment when in actuality they care more about the animals welfare then most dog food companies on the market (trust me it happens- i hear it every day at work).
i was not saying i was against feeding raw/home cooking for pets (i’m actually for cooking, not a fan of raw but if it works for the person and their pet and no one’s getting sick then that’s cool), i was just correcting a statement made in the the original post because i knew it was completely off base.
Well, I stand absolutely corrected, Kristen. Thank you for pointing out my use of the pronoun “they” which refers to Science Diet (and Iams) as companies that do animal testing. I don’t care how well Science Diet or any other company carries out animal testing. I didn’t say they were doing anything wrong: I said I don’t wish to support it, and I don’t. You assumed I was making a negative statement about their Science Diet’s practices, so please be assured that you assumed that. I didn’t say that.
oh, and heartworm is spread by mosquitoes- just because you’re environment is clean doesn’t mean anything, and if your pets live outside then they have a very high exposure to mosquitoes. and if you live in the south (where heartworm disease is most rampant) your pet should be on heartworm preventative. it’s such an easy disease to prevent, but it’s hard and painful for your pet to get rid of.
I offer this website for those who wish to pursue this further:
. I believe in eating whole foods and practicing holistic medicine, for myself, my children, and my pets. Healthy food and a clean environment are crucial in preventing heartworms, whether a pet is on meds or not. Anyone who believes that by simply swallowing a pill to prevent something as serious as heartworms, is again, IMHO, entirely missing the point. However, I understand that we are coming at this from very different perspectives.
Kimberly, could you please explain how to use diatomaceous earth to control fleas? I haven’t heard of this before.
Hi, Lynne.
Diatomaceous earth is a natural, bio-degradable substance made up of the skeletal remains of diatoms from ancient oceans. It is mined and packaged to sell as a pesticide, primarily, but there are other uses for it, as well. I can’t include a link here, but there’s information on-line if you want to know more. DE works by cutting the exoskeleton of insects which then dessicate, and it’s very effective, but it’s NOT poisonous.
We keep a 50 lb. sack of it in the garage and treat the yard, patio, back steps, et cetera, by sprinkling it everywhere 1) when/if we have an outbreak of fleas, which has happened but more pro-actively 2) to prevent an outbreak of fleas. It is available in much smaller, but more expensive, quantities at health food stores, too.
When we have had a flea problem, it has been when the weather conditions were very dry. When it rains, or I hose down the patio, for instance, I have to retreat the area because water breaks down DE due to its being a natural substance. You can use it in the house, as well, to control insects. However, you wouldn’t want to put it down on your carpet if you have toddlers because it’s not good to inhale it for exactly the same reason it works on insects. Obviously, there are considerations in using DE, just as there would be for any pesticide you might use, but I feel better knowing that I’m not poisoning my animals! Best wishes, Kimberly
All,
I’d just like to reiterate that I have a 16-year old cairn who is doing extremely well for his age, but several years ago, when I put him on a RAW diet and took him OFF heartworms meds, he was not doing well at all. He was very sick and couldn’t really get around. Now, he runs all over the yard!
This may not be the right thread for this discussion, but I also had a military macaw, General Patton,
, for a time who ate an extremely varied diet–never from packaged mixes. He’s gone to live with a scarlet macaw, but he was very healthy. I did quite a bit of research to figure out how to feed him by talking to people who own large birds, and, of course, what I learned is that pre-packaged foods just weren’t healthy for him AT ALL without giving a full complement of bird “products.” He was a rescue, having been raised by a true bird lover who died of cancer, but had been placed in a home with a small child, which hadn’t gone well. He lived with me until I could place him, about three years! Now, working with him was an education. I love animals, and I know that you can feed them much cheaper than advertisers would have you believe, but doing so demands a completely different mindset from buying “pet” food.
heartworm med will hurt a dog? I thought that was the whole point of it so they woulnd’t get sick?! I have a blue heeler mix pup about 1 1/2 yr old, and have been looking at some ways to change his diet, he has very dry skin and the poor fellar itches to death, other than that he is a happy and healthy pup. I didn’t know about some of the things not to feed him, and I give a heartfelt thank you for the list. If anyone has any suggestions about diet and for his dry skin I would appreciate any and all comments. Thank You love the website.
*I agree with Carol & Heather/Vet-tech regarding diet.
*Doggie Filler-uppers: we give raw carrots & apples to our dogs, and any veggies except onions/garlic. We started by eating the carrots & apples in front of them, and offering them pieces of fruits.
*Feeding times: we feed twice a day, and they’d like to eat more.
*Doggie Scratching: we ended up having our dog tested for allergies and have been giving allergy shots for years plus allergy pills and lamb/rice dog food, it was cheaper than him slashing himself up all the time, plus all the antibiotics.
I can’t imagine either a raw diet or a homecooked diet being economically feasible for our pet family of 6 dogs and 3 cats. I currently have 1 5 yr old German Shepherd (80 lbs), one 13 yr old Shepherd mix (70 lbs), a 5 yr old Shepherd/Rott (75 lbs), and 3 long coat Chihuahuas, ranging in age from 4 to 10 yrs and in weight from 3 1/2 to 6 lbs.Due to job loss we have dropped down to using Pedigree and spend about $25 a month to feed the dogs. Judging from the costs quoted here and there on the raw or home-cooked diets for just one or two dogs it would cost us a fortune for our dogs. The 13 yr old shepherd has never been ill in her life, even with heartworm preventive and topical flea/tick treatments on a regular basis. She has spent her entire life on commercial dog foods.
I agree with the heartworm preventive because even just one mosquito, in your home possibly, can spread heartworm. If your dogs are not treated and they have not contracted the disease simply consider yourself very, very lucky.
We have 3 dogs and save a bundle by cooking their food. A 50# bag of rice is $15 at Sams. We make rice and beans in the crock every couple nights. We have a BIG crockpot. We mix Broccoli stalks for their calcium, and cheap or left over veggies in the crock and any left over meats. The vet has said this is a great diet. Sometimes we use oatmeal, sometimes brown rice. Beans and rice are the staples, everything else varies.
My breader recommended kirland’s lamb and rice formula for my dog with a sensitive bowel. It has some high quality ingredients, and isn’t very expensive.
I have toyed with the idea of feeding the dog “real food”, because it occurred to me one day that when dogs were created they certainly didn’t eat dry dogfood. My biggest question is how do we know what is a nutritions diet for them.
…I am so pleased to see that so many people are passionate about the pets in their lives. I think we need to remember that pets are individuals and that what works for one pet may not work for another. Just as the South Beach diet may be very effective for one person and puts the pounds on another, dog diets may act in various ways with different pets. Your best option on deciding what to feed your dog is to consult with your animal’s veterinarian. Veterinarians have studied for years to learn how to keep animals healthy. Dogs can have allergies and food reactions that a good veterinarian can diagnose. Just as you need to find the right doctor for your family, you need to find the right vet for your pet. If you aren’t satisfied with your doctor, you find another physician. You should do the same thing for your pet. We worked with several vets before we found one that we all (including the dog) felt comfortable with. I was sure he was the right one when on our second appointment he remembered the dog’s name, but not ours. Our vet was able to guide us to combination diet that includes an affordable dry lamb and rice kibble, supplemented with table foods such as rice with broth and cooked meat, and dog treats. The diet was not only affordable, but greatly improved our dog’s quality of life.
One vet’s opinion:
http://www.suite101.com/content/natural-dog-food-ingredients-a67459
A Dog Food Comparison:
http://www.dogfoodscoop.com/
An Article About the Origin of Domestic Dogs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_the_domestic_dog
Thanks for all the great information! I have SO many recipes to use now! I will see what my doggies like!
I have been reading this post with great interest, mostly b/c over the last ‘forever’ yrs, I’ve been lead to believe that dog food from the store labeled ‘natural’ was the best for your dog. I really bought into all that, and as a result, i think was a partial cause of the early demise of my beloved Rottie. My daughter brought me a rescue dog when she came home from college one year. Almost as soon as I started giving her canned food and kibble, she started getting sick. It didn’t matter what brand I tried. Organic, natural, not natural, it all made her ill. I then got the idea of a very bland diet and started making my own. I alternate between beef and chicken, and a batch will do me a little over a week at a time. I take a package of stew meat…cheapest cut available and cut the chunks down further, or if it is chicken week, I get the cheapest pieces possible and will either bake them or boil them. I simmer the pieces of meat in a skillet just adding a little olive oil to keep it from sticking. I add no spices or onions, etc. I steam approximately 2 cups of white rice in the steamer, then add 1 pkg of mixed vegetables…plain, no sauces or spices. This is all put into a big bowl and mixed up. Living in a high desert area that has very dry air, I will add either chopped avocado to her dinner or a little olive oil. If she needs a little ‘extra,’ I will give her a 1/2 cup of kibble. She’s never been sick since I started her on this diet, and my vet is amazed at how glossy her coat is and how healthy she is! Kathi
I like your idea, Kathi!
I have read *almost* every reply to this and I have a question for anyone that can answer…
Is there anything like what Kimberly uses for fleas in the yard that I can use for mosquitoes in the same way? We live out in the COUNTRY and in a low-lying area to boot. When it rains (and here in Texas it can RAIN!!!!) our yard turns into something of a marsh. Our goats and horse can be sprayed with a store-bought repellent, but that does nothing for the actual mosquito larvae that hatch by the THOUSANDS. We’ve put up a bat box (like a birdhouse), but no bats have found it yet. The dogs go INSANE when they have to go outside to do their business during the spring/summer months. I DO feed them small amounts of garlic in some of the foods I make for them, but that works on fleas mostly, not mosquitoes. Any suggestions to anyone? Is there a safe product I can put on the dogs themselves or use in LARGE quantities (we have about 5 acres) on the yard?
Totally off-topic, I know, and I apologize, but it seems this has turned into more of a pet-health discussion along the way…
Rebecca…yes, for the mosquito problem…spray some Avon skin so soft of them, or do like i do…give them a bath and put the skin so soft in the water…i also spray it around the eyes on my horse, cows, goats, sheep, etc…also, for the mosquitoes…skin so soft is great to use on yourself!! keeps them and the chiggers off..we have lots of chiggers here in the midwest. My husband would be eaten up by them until I told him to spray the skin so soft on.
Now, for fleas…i give my dog a pill called Comfortis once a month. She gobbles it down and the fleas just jump off her.
I hope this helps. The skin so soft on my dog and horse was a lifesaver!
Chickens…they eat them
Thank you Julianna! I’ve used SSS for years on myself and my son, but I never ever considered it for the animals. That’s a great idea!
Ok I am dense I guess what is pet mince ? lol
“mince” just means ground
mince beef= ground beef and so on… 
dogs are omnivores i go by 30% meat/and or dairy 30% grains 40% vege/fruit my mutt has been fed this for 3 weeks and he loves it. where i live i can’t get slow feeder bowls so I just add a bunch of vege juice or warm water it slows him down he accidentally ate a chocalate cooky today any remidies
I had a friend whose small dog ate large bag of Hard Cholate candy. I used a small basking tube to gently feed Hydrogen Peroxide (1/2 cup +) to the dog which cause the dog to regurgitate the candy and wrappers. Guessing at the amount of candy we did this 2-3 times as the dog regurgitated.
We were at a Bluegrass Festival in Fl. and they were far from home. I called my vet for instructions.
Ron
Jen- dogs most certainly can eat most veggies! Clearly things such as onions are not a good ideas. In addition, some dogs do well on your raw diet but dogs are more domesticated these days and just like people have different nutritional needs than back in caveman days. Chicken necks even raw can splinter btw and cause dogs lots of probes si be careful! I suggest sticking with lamb bones!
One thing is certain- commercial food is expensive and lacking in nutritional value. I have two dogs with different needs. I feed my younger kelpie/rottie shepherd a similar diet to this one where as my 15 year old shihtzu does best with eggs pureed asparagus green beans a bit of ground dry dog food. They both eat lamb bones- good for teeth- and the home made dog ice cream treats posted on this site (ran it by my vet) I use a lot more honey though- honey is a super food for dogs too! Also pure spirulina supplement is great when you can get it cheap!
Consult with your trusted vet before dietary changes- maybe next time you take them for shots! Vets are expensive but investing in their advice when needed will save you a lot of money in the long run!