DOGGIE COOKBOOK
Why Cook for your Dogs?
Proportions are what makes dog food different from human food. We can go straight vegetarian, but dogs need at least 40% of meat in their meals. There are claims that dog food production companies put ‘things’ in dog food so that they’re getting all the vitamins and nutrients that a regular person can’t give them. What kind of vitamins and nutrients they are getting that they can’t get anywhere else? If that were true, wild dogs wouldn’t be able to live long. What do they need that they can’t get in a normally stocked kitchen?
We started because Lulu wouldn’t eat anything else. After starting though, we found that we saved a lot of money. We would spend roughly $1.80 on a single can of 10oz of food, on dogs that needed 12oz a day. In a month, that could be as much as $65 on food that they were ‘okay’ with. Now, we spend about half of that, with the majority of it being meats we buy.
Do you need to cook your dog’s food? Probably not. Most dogs are totally fine with dog food and you might not have the time to make the food. If you have dogs with issues with food or you just need to save money, this may help you.
Major benefits that I have now that I make their food: They love the food. Every meal can be completely different from the one before, so Menu Fatigue is a no show. They also are much happier. If you eat the same thing every day, you would be unenthused, right? Well, dogs can feel that. Since cooking for them, they are happier and much more affectionate towards us, especially Lulu. There is also a unique bond growing. Both dogs know when we are making their food and they always watch in anticipation.
About Us
My name is Hannah Martinez and I have two dogs: Lulu, a 13-year-old Maltese, and Izzy, a 7-year-old Yorkie. They are both behavioral opposites! Izzy loves to play, run around, and bark at people where Lulu loves laying around and cuddling in bed. We adopted Lulu from an abusive home, so she is a bit emotionally stunted – the has issues with showing affection. They are both healthy dogs, though Lulu’s eyes have been getting a bit hazy with age.
Why did I start cooking my dog’s food? Both my dogs were fine with wet dog food, you know the kind that you can get a can for $1.29, but Lulu was not particularly enthused by it. Suddenly, Lulu stopped eating it altogether. She would maybe take a few bites in one day. This scared my mom and me, because we were scared that her age was catching up with her. The one thing that gave us hope was the fact that she still wanted our human food. It was almost like a hunger strike she went on! Give me good food or give me death!
This got me thinking though… what is the real difference between dog food and human food? Their wet dog food looked like some shredded chicken with some veggies and rice. How different is that from the chicken, veggies, and rice we eat?
What Foods Are Good And Bad For Your Pet?
Good:
Mushrooms
- Shiitake, portobello, and other store-bought mushrooms. Cooked plain or with dog-safe herbs is good. Do not cook like you would cook mushrooms for yourself.
Zucchini
- A great veggie for dogs, as they contain a lot of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Pasta
- Pasta is only flour and water (sometimes with eggs), so it is dog safe. BEWARE if your dog has a wheat allergy though.
Bok Choy
- This Chinese cabbage is safe for dogs, but not whole. Chop the leaves since it is difficult for them to chew. The green of the leaves has more nutrients than the white parts.
Black Beans
- They are a great source of vitamin C and K, along with manganese. Also, they are a good source of protein and fiber. Plain canned black beans are good.
Bell Peppers
- They contain vitamin A, E, C, and B6! Red peppers are the most prolific in nutrients. In moderation, this is a great veggie for dogs.
Eggshell Powder
- Since it is difficult to get a good source of calcium into a homemade diet, crushed eggshell or powder is a great source. If you crush it yourself, make sure to wash the shells and let them dry, and crush very finely.
Chia Seed
- It is amazing how much nutrients are in chia seeds. They contain 3 times the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids as salmon. Sprinkling some on the top of your dog’s food will promote healthy skin, coat, joints, and immune system among other things.
Bad:
Avocados
- Contains persin, which causes diarrhea and heart congestion. The pit is especially harmful.
Cinnamon
- The oils in cinnamon will irritate dogs’ mouths and can make them sick. It will also lower their blood sugar and that can lead to harmful conditions, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and even liver disease.
Onions
- A part of the Allium family and is toxic to dogs, along with leeks and chives. The symptoms of poisoning may be delayed, so it will not be immediately apparent if your dog is in danger.
Garlic
- Also a part of the Allium family. Garlic is five times more toxic than onions and can cause anemia, and cause side effects like elevated heart rate and weakness.
Macadamia Nuts
- Some of the most poisonous foods for dogs. They can cause vomiting, inability to walk, and affect the nervous system.
Raisins and Grapes
- Very poisonous due to the skin. There have been stories of dogs going from a handful of grapes, and they can cause vomiting and depression.
Peach, Permsimmon, and Plum Pits
- Pits and seeds from any food can cause intestinal issues, but peach and plum pits also contain cyanide, which is highly dangerous.
Chocolate
- Contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are harmful to dogs. The darker the chocolate, the more poisonous the chocolate is. Chocolate consumption may cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, and death.
A Recipe To Try
Ingredients:
Any Type of Meat
- This can be chicken thighs or beef. The meat portion should be 40%-45% of the meal. For this recipe, the meat will be flap meat, which is just fajita meat strips before it is sliced. This meat is great for holding in flavor.
Various Veggies
- Any dog-safe veggie, like carrots, broccoli, or any of the above will do here. For this recipe, the veggies will be bell peppers, carrots, and broccoli. The veggies should be 30%-35% of the total meal.
Mushrooms (optional)
- Mushrooms are not a required part of a dog’s diet, but they go great with beef and not only help enhance the flavor of the meal, but they help fight cancer too. Portobella, baby Bella, shiitake, or white mushrooms are good. For this recipe, baby Bella mushrooms will be used.
Grain or Starch
- Healthy grains are needed in a dog’s diet, so foods like pasta, brown rice, barley, oats, and beans are great. Note that starches should be cut back in comparison to grains. You can add both, but in total, it should amount to 10% of the meal. In this recipe, orzo, pasta rice, is used.
Seasonings (recommended)
- - Ground Coriander
- - Parsley
- - Basil
- - Oregano
- - Tumeric
- - Fennel
- - Thyme
- - Small Pinch of Black Pepper
- - Small Pinch of Salt
- - And while not a seasoning, Eggshell Powder
Tools to Use
- Large Skillet
- Small Skillet or Pot
- Butter or Olive Oil
- Chopping Board
- Chopping Knives
- Peeler (if using fresh carrots)
- Large Bowl
- Spatula
- Chicken Broth (reccomended)
- Plastic Tupperware
Preparation
- Chop and Season Meat
Meat should be shopped to bite-size pieces and put into a plastic Tupperware. Season with seasonings listed, except for eggshell powder, enough to lightly coat the meat. Stir in seasonings.
- Prep Veggies and Mushrooms
These should all be washed off. Chop the mushrooms, keeping in mind that they will shrink when cooked. Peel, if optional, and chop carrots, broccoli, and bell peppers if using fresh. Frozen veggies are acceptable.
- Prep Grain
Wash rice and beans if bagged. Canned beans are acceptable. Set aside enough to amount to less than 10% of total food.
Cook
- Begin Cooking Grain
In a pot or small skillet, begin cooking orzo in chicken broth or water at medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce to simmer for 10 minutes.
- Cook Meat
In a large skillet, heat a tablespoon of oil or butter until hot but not smoking. Add meat and cook until brown, turning the meat frequently. When done, set aside in the large bowl. Do not wipe pan.
- Cook Veggies
In the same pan, add mushrooms to the remaining juice. If none, add water or broth. Cook for 3-4 mins, turning frequently, then add the rest of the veggies for 4-5 minutes, until they’re soft.
Serve
- Combine foods.
In the bowl the meat is in, combine meat, veggies, and orzo. (Mix thoroughly.)
- Add Eggshell
For calcium, add a tablespoon of eggshell powder (store-bought is fine, if crushed at home, make sure the granules are fine) and mix the food until powder is mixed in.
- Serving
Make sure your pet is getting the right amount of food. Once in their dog bowl, if you have chia seeds on hand, sprinkle a pinch on top.