The Everything Cooking for Dogs Book by Lisa Fortunato is a must-have for dog owners who want to feed their dogs wholesome, natural dog food without having to buy it.
This book is a collection of 150 quick and healthy recipes, for everything from dog treats, to rice and pasta dishes, to desserts and party foods.
Besides the recipes, the book includes helpful hints and tips, information on doggie nutrition, and ingredients to stay away from.
All of the mouth-watering recipes in this book use ingredients that you can find at almost any grocery store or health food store. Some of these recipes look so good, you may have the urge to try them yourself.
Here’s a recipe for Turkey Sausage Crumbles, one of the Training Treat recipes in this book.
Turkey Sausage Crumbles
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, whole
1/4 pound sweet Italian turkey sausage
Steps:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Heat olive oil and garlic cloves in small skillet over low heat.
Remove sausage casings and add meat to skillet.
Break sausage into little ‘crumbles’.
Cook until sausage bits are brown and crunchy.
Remove sausage bits from pan and drain on paper towel.
Discard the garlic cloves.
Sprinkle meat crumbles on a parchment-covered cookie sheet.
Bake 15 minutes, or until crumbles are dry and firm to touch.
Cool crumbles, then place in a plastic storage container with lid. Line the storage container with a paper towel before placing the crumbles inside.
Store in refrigerator for up to one week.
August 12th, 2009 by Beth VanHoose | Posted in Dog Food | Comments (0)
A few years ago, I took a trip to Indiana to visit my then- boyfriend, now- husband and his family for the holidays. I had never met any of his family, so I was nervous and wanted to make a good impression.
Since it was the holidays, I wanted to get gifts for everyone. Part of making a good impression I guess. His parents are divorced, so I had two parent meetings, one with his dad, and one with his mom and stepfather. Since I had flown to Indiana and was staying two weeks, I waited until I got there to do my Christmas shopping.
The day before we were to meet his mom and stepfather, I had my husband take me shopping. I wanted to make sure I got something that his mom would appreciate. After selecting a gift for them, we headed to the pet department. His mom had a small dog named Zippy. Since dogs are part of the family, I was determined to get a gift for him as well. My husband thought I was crazy, but I love animals, and wasn’t going to ignore the dog.
I couldn’t decide what to get. Should I get a toy? A bed? Treats? I walked up and down the aisles, looking for just the right item. I finally decided on a jar of gourmet, organic dog treats.
The night arrives, and we head over to his mom’s house with a pizza and presents. Still nervous, we exchange introductions and small talk. The four of us are sitting around the table eating pizza and talking, while Zippy is running back and forth, under the table and around our legs, looking for handouts. After we eat, his mom opens her gift and we continue talking. The jar of dog treats for Zippy is sitting on the table.
After a while, my husband, his mom and I notice that his stepfather is looking at the jar of dog treats. He takes the lid off the jar, picks up a treat, sniffs it, and pops it in his mouth. As we sit there staring in disbelief, he just chomps away, stating that it tastes pretty good. I’m trying hard not to laugh, after all, I’d just met him. My husband can’t help laughing, though, and neither can his mom. She finally says to him, you do know those are for the dog, don’t you? He thought it was some sort of snack mix, because the treats were small, and the jar was rather fancy for dog treats.
While I don’t recommend eating dog treats, tasting them is probably not going to hurt you – especially if they are organic treats.
It seems that there is fluoride in everything these days … toothpaste, mouthwash, water … and dog food. While fluoride may help to develop strong teeth, high amounts of fluoride have been found to be potentially dangerous to dogs.
According to a recent independent study by the Environmental Working Group, 8 out of 10 dog foods they tested contained high levels of fluoride. There is no set standard for the level of fluoride in pet foods, but there is a set standard for water. The levels in some of the dog foods were anywhere from 2.5 to 5 times higher than the safe standards for water.
For humans, high concentrations of fluoride can cause cancer. Is it the same for dogs? No one is entirely sure. Fluoride is found naturally in a lot of water, and it has also been used as a safe, regulated additive in many products. Once fluoride is ingested, it settles into the bones. Many types of dog food use ground bones and internal organs as by-products.
Always read the label of dog food before you buy it to see if there are high concentrations of ground bone. The Environmental Working Group study has indicated that foods containing ingredients made with chicken by-product, poultry by-product, meat and bone meal, and animal digest all may contain high levels of fluoride. If you are uncertain of the ingredients of the dog food you use, contact the manufacturer for clarification.
Cat foods were not included in the study, but it’s probably safe to assume that cat foods that contain the same ingredients will most likely be questioned as well.
Photo credit: MShades on Flickr
July 8th, 2009 by Beth VanHoose | Posted in Dog Food | Comments (1)
My friend’s boxer, Savannah, recently began having problems with arthritis. Claire tried a variety of medications to help her pup, many of which had horrible side effects. After doing a little research, Claire stumbled upon the answer: a diet featuring veggies, brown rice and lamb. After just a few days, Savannah was back to her happy, playful self.
Homemade dog food is a great way to ensure that your dog is eating healthy, wholesome ingredients. However, there are some foods you should avoid, including:
Grapes
Raisins
Onions
Chocolate
Garlic
Artificial fats
Artificial sweeteners
Raw meat.
Here are a few healthy ingredients for your dog:
Cooked meat
Cooked poultry
Organ meats, such as liver (only give small amounts)
Cooked eggs
Cultured milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products
Complex carbohydrates, including beans and rice
Fiber sources, including fresh veggies and whole grains.
Ask your vet if a homemade dog food might benefit your dog.
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