For the love of dogs!
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!
One rule of thumb often repeated in dog food recipes is a healthy ratio of meat to vegetables, 75/25. However, restorative meals call for more vegetables (see article above). You will also find lots of claims that raw meat and raw vegetables are best for your dog's digestive system. Again, it looks like this is not the case for restorative diets. If vegetables are cooked properly with healthy oils in combination with meats and other ingredients, all of the ingredients are more digestible and therefore yield more nutrimental content. Boiling and steaming vegetables, contrary to popular belief, diminishes valuable nutrients. This is why the recipe I developed, calls for baking all ingredients together to retain the nutrients. This method affords the digestive system the opportunity to absorb the necessary vitamins, micronutrients, and minerals. Remember, there are conflicting claims looming about what to feed dogs.
We are living in a polarized culture. The proponents of raw diets are at odds with the proponents of diets that contain vegetables. My effort has been to rise out of the polarization and develop a diet that meets the needs of dogs not thriving on raw diets, grains, canned and kibble — even kibble with healthy toppings.
At this moment, given what is known, the most important tips to keep in mind about homemade dog food are:
1. Use only fresh, organic ingredients
2. Never include the unhealthy, toxic ingredients listed below
3. Variety is the spice of life — Change up the ingredients — Serve what’s in season!
Without further ado, here is Liberius & Lily's recipe, Loaves of Love!
Loaves of Love - A Healthy Restorative Recipe for Your Dogs!
Grain Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Corn Free, and Preservative Free
INGREDIENTS - Always Organic and Fresh
Protein
Turkey (Ground) — 6 Pounds
Alternative: Ground Beef/Ground Chicken
Eggs (Beaten) — 6
All fresh, organic, shredded fruits and vegetables.
Vegetables & Fruits
Sweet Potatoes/Yams (Fresh Shredded) — 4 large
Red Potatoes (Fresh Shredded) — 10 small
Carrots (Fresh Shredded) — 6
Zucchini (Fresh Shredded) — 6
Spinach (Fresh Shredded) — 1 bunch (5 oz)
Peas (Fresh or Frozen Thawed) — 16 oz
Pumpkin (Fresh or Canned) — 15 oz
Apples — 2
Spices & Oils
Parsley (Shredded) — 1 bunch
Olive Oil — 1 cup
Sea Salt (fine) — 1 teaspoon
Apple Cider Vinegar — 3/4 cup
Butter — 1/2 cup grated
Servings: Feeds Tibetan Mastiff, 120 lbs, and Yorkie Mix, 17 lbs, for one week.
Cooking Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a large bowl, add the vegetables and fruit, parsley, olive oil, sea salt, apple cider vinegar. Use your hands to mix ingredients. Add eggs, meat, and grated butter. Mix with your hands until well combined. Add mixture to large oblong glass baking dish.
A bowl of delicious and nutritious food for dogs. Oh, and people can eat it too!
Bake uncovered in the preheated oven 50 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Continue to bake 20 minutes to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
Let it cool for 8 to 10 minutes. Be sure the loaf is thoroughly cool and serve to the pups!
Cover with airtight lid and store in the refrigerator.
Kitchen Tools
Baking Dish with Lid for Storage - Glass
Food Processor
Grater
Measuring Cup - Glass
Meat Thermometer
Mixing Bowl - Large Stainless
Oven Gloves
Spatulas
Common Human Foods Dogs Should Not Eat
Keeping Lily safe from toxic foods.
Alcohol
Apple Seeds and Cores
Apricot stems, leaves, and pits
Asparagus* (in moderation)
Avocado
Bread
Broccoli* (in moderation)
Brussel Sprouts* (in moderation)
Butternut Squash
Cauliflower* (in moderation)
Cashews (in moderation)
Chamomile
Cheese (in moderation)
Cherry stems, leaves, and pits
Chocolate, Coffee, and Caffeine
Cinnamon
Citrus Fruits
Coconut and Coconut Oil
Coffee and Caffeine
Corn
Eggplant
Garlic (pressed oil is safe in moderation)
Grapes and Raisins
Gum
Hops
Legumes (Lentils in moderation)
Licorice
Macadamia Nuts
Marijuana and edibles
Milk and Dairy (in moderation)
Mustard Seeds
Nuts: including almonds, pecans, and walnuts
Onions and Chives
Peach stems, leaves, and pits
Peppers
Potato leaves, stems, skin, or any green parts and Russets are too starchy
Popcorn (in moderation)
Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones
Rhubarb
Rice
Salty Snack Foods
Tomatoes and tomato plant
Xylitol
Yeast Dough
Yogurt (Plain in moderation)
Wheat/Grains
*These vegetables may cause stomach irritation. Only serve in moderation.
Note: Exceptions are listed as "in moderation".
Other Healthy Ingredients for Homemade Dog Food
Other Vegetables
Asparagus (in moderation)
Beets
Broccoli (in moderation)
Brussel Sprouts (in moderation)
Broccoli
Butternut Squash
Cauliflower (in moderation)
Celery
Green beans
Parsnips
Rutabaga
Squash, Yellow
Turnips
Alternative Fruits
Banana
Blueberries
Legumes
Lentils in moderation
For other recipes
Cucumbers
Watermelon
Liberius — Rest in peace my sweet love (2010 to 2020)
Hats off to the doggie parents switching to homemade dog food!