DIY Dog Stew – just to clarify: this is for them, not of them!

Dogs are primarily carnivores; however, they need more than just meat or dry dog food. In the wild dogs eat all parts of their kill and often go for the stomach, intestines, and liver first. These have partially digested plant material and many vitamins and minerals. By adding a variety of cooked vegetables to your dog’s diet you will optimize his health and performance.

WHY?  You might want to make homemade dog food if Fluffy:

• Could use better nutrition
• Needs to lose some weight (Is your dog a healthy weight?)
• Has allergies to common kibble ingredients such as poultry or wheat
• Exhibits signs of a dietary imbalance (regularly eating grass, dirt, or other non-food items)

Or you:

• Have seen a decline in Fluffy’s energy or agility
• Live in a country without any pet food safety laws
• Would like Fluffy to live as long and healthy a life as possible

HOW? There are endless possibilities for substitutions. In fact, it’s best to add variety over time. Here is my base dog food recipe to get you started.

You will need: the biggest pot you can find (I use a 9 L IKEA pot), a steamer that fits on top, a long stirring spoon, and a food processor – or a knife and cutting board. Then gather your ingredients: Brown rice, 1-2 pounds of ground or diced meat, a variety of produce. For example: 6 carrots, 3 potatoes, a head of broccoli, a head of cauliflower, 5 cloves of garlic, and an apple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yield

10-20 meals for a medium-sized dog. This will depend on how much meat, rice and vegetables you add, as well as your dog’s calorie needs. If you end up with more than 1 week’s worth, I recommend freezing the remaining. I have two dogs: Mia – 40 lbs. and Lola 48 lbs. I feed them stew once a day so I end up cooking about once a week.

Instructions

1. Fill the pot with 3 L water. Bring to boil.
2. Add 3 c brown rice and note the time. Brown rice needs to boil at least 15 minutes, 20 is better for digestion, longer than that won’t hurt. (Substitute barley, oats, or other grains if desired. I do not recommend white rice as it breaks down quickly, burns easily and is not as nutritious)
3. Slice, dice or shred your vegetables. *To save time I do the vegetable preparation while the water boils and rice is cooking. Add any hard root vegetables first (carrots, potatoes, yams, etc) and put them in the steamer over the pot of boiling water. Add softer and more finely sliced vegetables and fruits(broccoli, cabbage, apples, garlic, etc) to the steamer as they are ready. I typically steam the first round of vegetables for about 10 minutes, then add them to the boiling rice. I then steam the second round of vegetables for another 10 minutes.
4. After the rice has cooked and vegetables are steamed, mix them into the pot. *If it has been longer than 20 minutes you may need to add more water so the rice doesn’t burn. I boil a kettle of water on the side so adding it won’t lower the temperature.
5. Add meat. Mix it thoroughly to cook it and flavor the rest of the stew.
6. Turn off heat and allow to cool. The stew will continue absorbing remaining water as it cools; however, if it is very soupy, just add some oats or couscous.
7. Dish portions into containers and refrigerate or freeze. (Our 3 x 5 x 8 in IKEA containers hold up to 8 cups or 4 meal portions)

What not to include:

• Citrus fruits or large amounts of tomato products
• Eggplant
• Water chestnuts
• Avocado
• Grapes or raisins (although not harmful in small quantities, large doses can cause kidney issues)
• Excessive amounts of garlic (I add this to my recipe for the health benefits, but in large doses garlic can cause heart problems and bleeding disorders – similar to humans)

Some tips for feeding DIY dog stew

• If you refrigerate or freeze the stew for future use, be sure to heat each meal somewhere between room temperature and body temperature before serving. Eating cold food can cause dogs to regurgitate the meal in favor of a warmer second version. This is not pretty or good for your carpet.
• Dry food actually provides friction on dogs’ teeth helping to prevent tartar buildup. Despite all its nutritional benefits, dog stew does not help prevent tartar buildup. To get the best of both you may try alternating dry food and stew, brush their teeth (see tips on brushing Fluffy’s teeth here), or occasionally feed them a raw diet with bones. When we were in China I fed our pups stew twice a day and brushed their teeth most days of the week. Now that we’re back stateside I feed them dry food in the morning and stew in the evening.
• Continue adding variety to the recipes so they get adequate nutrition and do not develop allergies to any of the proteins. Alternate your meats, grains, and vegetables from time to time.
• Dogs need a lot of calcium in their diet. To include this you may rinse used egg shells, bake them, grind them with a mortar and pestle, and add them to the stew. You could also feed a raw diet with bones occasionally. The egg-shell option is cheaper, but more time-consuming. The second may be expensive and messy. (click here for tips on feeding your dog a raw diet)
• See how your dog responds to the amount you feed him with energy levels and weight gain/loss (Is your dog a healthy weight?). This dog stew has all natural ingredients without any fillers or preservatives so you may be able to feed a greater amount than you would think and still see a healthier weight. The whole foods help fluffy get nutrients and feel full. I feed my pups about 3/4 c of dry food in the AM and 1 1/2-2 c of stew in the PM.
• Cooking for dogs doesn’t require diligent washing, peeling or other preparation of vegetables. Just chop up the vegetable cores, peels, and leaves along with the rest. A little dirt on the potatoes will not hurt them.
• As long as the produce or food items are not rotting or on the list of “nots” you can put almost anything into the stew and use it as a way to reduce waste from your kitchen.

 

 

Have you had a pet who experienced negative side effects or a shorter life expectancy from eating processed dog food?

Do you feed your dog homemade dog food? Any type of cooked vegetables? Have you seen a difference in agility and energy levels?

Please share your story!