| What’s Really in Pet Food? Read this. http://www.api4animals.org/facts.php?p=359&more=1 Sample Homemade Diets for Dogs and Cats. Disclaimer: Before you start to feed your companion animal a home-prepared diet, API strongly recommends that you discuss your decision with your veterinarian or a holistic veterinarian in your area. These recipes are intended to get you started, to supplement a commercial diet or to suffice until you can obtain more information or a book on the subject. They have not been balanced for long-term use. These are “mix-and-match” diets. Select one ingredient from each category (protein, starch if applicable), and add up to one cup of puréed raw or lightly steamed vegetables (up to three or four at a time of the following: broccoli, squash, sweet potato, cabbage, peas, carrots, green beans, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale). Ingredients may also be split, 1/2 of one plus 1/2 of another from the same category. Use organically-raised meat sources whenever possible to minimize antibiotic and hormone residues; this is required if feeding liver. The importance of variety cannot be overstressed. (This applies to any and all diets and recipes!) Do not get in the habit of feeding just one or two combinations of ingredients. Pay attention to your animal companion’s health: his weight, activity level, skin and coat quality. If these are not maintaining or improving, consult your veterinarian about changing elements of the diet. To make a large batch of food, mix protein source, starch source (if applicable), oil, vegetables, and calcium together. Freeze in meal-sized portions. The other supplements should be added fresh at each meal. Read the whole article here. http://www.api4animals.org/articles.php?p=360&more=1 DIET FOR ADULT DOGS Amounts given are adequate for one day’s feeding of a 20-35 pound dog (depending on age & activity level). Adjust amounts proportionally for your dog’s weight. Starches may be decreased or omitted in case of digestive problems or for weight loss. CHOOSE ONE PROTEIN SOURCE: Animal Proteins: (meat amounts given in raw weight) 1/3 pound boneless chicken breast or thigh, chopped, ground, or minced 3 large hard-boiled eggs 1/3 pound lean beef Optional: once a week, substitute 4 oz organic liver for 1/2 of any meat source Vegetarian Proteins: 1 cup cottage cheese 1/2 cup tofu, firm 1 cup soybeans, cooked 1 cup lentils, cooked CHOOSE ONE STARCH SOURCE: With Animal Proteins: 2 cups cooked macaroni 3 cups cooked potato, with skin, chopped or mashed 2 cups cooked rice 2 cups rolled oats, quick, cooked With Vegetarian Proteins: 2 cups cooked brown rice 2 cups cooked potato, with skin, chopped or mashed 2 cups cooked macaroni 1 cup cooked rice 1 cup plus cooked black-eyed peas 2-1/2 cups rolled oats, quick, cooked (1-1/4 cup raw) 1-1/2 cups cooked brown rice plus 1 cup cooked kidney beans SUPPLEMENTS: puréed veggie mix (up to 1 cup) 1 Tbsp olive oil, or 1/2 Tbsp olive and 1/2 Tbsp flaxseed oil 400 mg calcium (elemental, as calcium citrate or carbonate) or 1200 mg (approximately 1-1/2 tsp) bone meal powder (human grade) 1/4 tsp salt substitute (potassium chloride) — give 3 or 4 times a week 1 multiple vitamin-mineral supplement (human quality) 1 probiotic/digestive enzyme supplement Vegetarian dogs should get Vitamin B12, carnitine (250 mg) and taurine (250 mg) once a week. Vegetarian dogs of breeds prone to developing dilated cardiomyopathy should get supplemental Carnitine (50-100 mg) daily. DIET FOR ADULT CATS Feed an adult cat as much as she will eat in 20-30 minutes. Refrigerate leftovers promptly. Feed adult cats twice a day. Recipe provides approximately 3 servings. CHOOSE ONE PROTEIN SOURCE: (meat amounts given in raw weight) 1/2 lb boneless chicken breast or thigh, minced 6 oz ground turkey, or minced turkey (dark meat) 1/2 lb lean beef, minced 1/2 lb beef, chicken or turkey heart, ground or minced About 3 times a week, include 1 chopped hard-boiled or scrambled egg Optional: once a week, substitute 4 oz organic liver for 1/2 of any meat source Optional: once every 2 weeks, substitute 4 oz tuna (packed in water, no salt), 6 oz sardines (canned) or 5 oz salmon (canned, with bones) for any meat source. Do not use canned fish as a protein source for cats who are prone to urinary tract problems. Optional: for cats needing a lower protein diet, add cup cooked white rice. SUPPLEMENTS: 2 tsp olive oil, or 1 tsp olive and 1 tsp flaxseed oil 300 mg calcium (as carbonate or citrate), or about 1 slightly rounded tsp bone meal (human grade) (if using canned fish with bones, decrease calcium to 1/4 regular amount) 1-2 Tbsp puréed vegetables — many cats prefer their veggies lightly steamed — or vegetable baby food (without onion powder) 1/4 tsp salt substitute (potassium chloride) — give 3 or 4 times a week 1 cat-size dose of multiple vitamin-mineral supplement (human quality) or cat vitamin 1 probiotic/digestive enzyme supplement 80 mg taurine (about of one 250 mg taurine capsule or tablet, powdered) (omit if using cat vitamin) Our dogs love carrots already, so we’ll use this menu as a supplement. As stated they should have alot of variety. I posted this to show what they say are ok for your animals to eat, but you should always check with your veterinarian. |
| Check with your veterinarian before starting any homemade diet for your pets. |