In our first blog post we started talking about food. Most of us get a dog and we head out to PetSmart and we walk down these aisles of dog food wondering what to get. We read the bag and think we are choosing something that will benefit our dog's health and keep them well. But buying that bag of kibble is like going out and buying Cheetoos for our new born baby. Kibble is over processed and so over cooked that the nutrients are barely there for our dogs. Plus the added carbs that they do not need can make them gain weight they do not need either. Then they add dies that make your dog have a brown beard. Seriously, we noticed this brown beard with feeding my Mother-in-laws Maltese. When we feed him raw or home cooked food, the beard was white again.
This is why raw food is so much better for our dogs. Raw food that is not cooked and processed has all the nutrients our dogs need. The most wonderful thing is there are so many options when you start looking at raw food. Now, Ellen and I love a brand called K-9 Kravings. It is a wonderful raw food that comes frozen that you defrost and feed as a complete meal. But I don't want to stop there. Why? Because even topping their raw food with other fresh veggies and fruits, they can receive even more nutritious benefits. For example: My dogs can get weepy eyes, so I add blueberries on top. Blueberries are not just great for their eyes but a super food that also helps with slowing down the aging process by repairing damaged genes and can help prevent cancer.
I love feeding my dog raw but I also love to cook for them my favorite dog food recipe: Dr. Judy Morgan's Pup Loaf recipe. When you watch Dr. Judy Morgan make her famous complete meal pup loaf recipe, she can tell you the benefits for every ingredient in her recipe. I make it with 90% lean beef or turkey. Sometimes you have to work with the ingredients you can find available at your local markets but substituted fresh cranberries for frozen is fine. If fact, I love taking frozen cranberries in my food processor to add to any meal or make a Greek yogurt with cranberry treat.
Not everyone can cook for their dogs or even provided a raw diet but adding toppers of fresh veggies and fruits to any dog food will help give your dog a more nutritious meal. We will share more about toppers in more upcoming blogs. In the meantime, here is the Pup Loaf recipe if you'd like to try it. My dogs absolutely love it and sometimes I feed them half raw and half pup loaf.
Complete Pup Loaf Recipe
3 pounds beef 90% lean
8 ounces beef heart
5 ounces beef liver
20 ounces chicken gizzards
3 cans sardines in water, minus the juice
6 ounces mussels
2 teaspoons ground fresh ginger
5 eggs with shell
3 ounces red pepper
5 ounces mixed dark leafy greens (kale, chard, spinach)
4 ounces broccoli
6 ounces butternut squash
3 tablespoons flax seed oil
4 ounces cranberries
4 ounces Shiitake mushrooms
Grind and mix all ingredients together. Pour into loaf, casserole, or muffin pans. Bake at 325 for 30 to 60 minutes depending on size of pan; should be lightly done, not overcooked. (juicy in the center) If your pet has a beef or chicken allergy, turkey could be substituted.
Use within 3 to 5 days, freeze extra portions. Feed warmed to room temperature.