Figuring out what to feed your doggie is a challenge. I tried all the best kibble - even a brand imported from Canada. Still, my pup, Liberius, a Tibetan Mastiff, was sick with tummy aches and owie paw pads. The vets did not know what to advise and the naturopath was perplexed too. Unwilling to let him suffer, I applied my clinical nutrition knowledge to solve the problem. You might be wondering what a Ph.D. in philosophy, a philosophical counselor, actor, and writer is doing meandering into the field of homemade dog food.
In a word, love!
Also, it is important to know a bit about me. A few days after 9/11, after having been exposed to the toxins in the air, I fell ill and was literally dying for five years. Diagnosed with Celiac Disease, some of my symptoms healed on the gluten-free diet. However, I was not thriving. The doctors told me to find a home for my dogs and "Put my things in order." The morning after receiving this directive I woke up to realize that if I could master Kant's Critique of Pure Reason (alleged to be one of the most difficult books in human history), I could solve my health issues. So, I went to work. I audited online courses on autoimmune disorders and nutrition, I read through mountains of literature on how bodies fail, what medicines do to help repair, and what is known about the relationship between nutrition, the digestive system, and the nervous system. With my findings, I developed a healthy diet, removed everything from my home with a "beware" label, threw away all cleaning supplies, and created a healthy, proactive cleaning system (I'll save this story for another blog). The point here is, my research yielded answers and I healed. So, when Liberius ceased to thrive, I went full tilt into researching healthy dog food. Today his tummy does not grumble, his paws do not hurt and no more flaky skin or ear aches! He's now healthy and as adorable as ever. So, I want to share my findings with you! This is not, however, the final word on what to feed your dog. I want to hear from you. Let's think of this as a space for problem-solving and working together to develop healthy meals for our fur babies!
As you likely know, lots of people are making homemade dog food. If you Google it, as I did, you will find many healthy sounding recipes and convincing stories of success. Indeed, I did not think this project would be difficult because there was so much information online. As it turns out, no one (Scientists, Veterinarians, Nutritionists, etc) knows for certain what dogs should eat. In philosophy this is an epistemological problem. Since there is a limit to human knowledge, what is claimed to be known is ever changing and developing. This is the case for human diets as well as doggie diets. Have you ever wondered if kibble occurs naturally? :-) Some say raw is the best, others that dogs need veggies. Still, others tout the necessity of supplements and fish oil. Most of you likely know the standard healing receipe — rice, boiled chicken, and cottage cheese. Perhaps good for some but I've heard countless stories about how it failed. For my first foray into making homemade dog food, working with a veterinarian, I chose the most highly rated homemade recipes. They did NOT work. Indeed, they caused new symptoms - rashes, flakey skin, and earaches.
Be sure to work with a veterinarian!
The next obvious step was to research canine nutrition. I read numerous articles, signed up for newsletters on the topic, and sought out all the latest findings. I contacted Veterinarian Nutrition Colleges and Animal Nutritionists. I made an extensive list of the foods that are unhealthy for dogs. I analyzed the alleged necessary nutrients and micronutrients touted as necessary for dogs. With all this and the research I had done for myself back in 2005, I developed a delicious and super-healthy recipe. Also, a way to cook weekly batches that is not time consuming, and is cost effective. Keep in mind, not all dogs are the same. They have different food sensitivities and taste preferences. Did you know some dogs develop Celiac Disease and need to be a gluten-free diet? The known breeds are: Irish Setters, Samoyeds, and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. For example, Liberius does well with turkey. My other dog, Lily does better with beef and chicken. So, I make separate batches and I've made this additional step easy too. Life is short, food should taste good and be nutritious!
