How to Make a Natural Dog Diet at Home

Natural homemade meals provide optimum nutrition for your dog when carefully prepared.
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Preparing a natural, homemade diet for your dog is more involved than opening a bag of kibble, but according to homeopathic veterinarians like Dr. Richard Pitcairn, it greatly enhances your dog's quality of life. This is just one of many natural dog food recipes you can prepare at home.

Mix the yeast, lecithin granules, kelp powder, powdered eggshells and sodium ascorbate together in the 1 quart container. Place 6 rounded tablespoons of this mixture into the large mixing bowl, and store the rest of the powder in the refrigerator for future meals.

Peel and cube the sweet potato, then cook for about 20 to 25 minutes until tender. Remove from the heat, drain and mash with the potato masher, ricer or a fork. Peel and dice the carrots. Chop the alfalfa sprouts into small pieces. Set the vegetables aside.

Bring 10 cups of water to a boil in the large pot. Add the oats and cook for 10 to 15 minutes until soft. Do not stir or the oats will become mushy. Pour the oats into the mixing bowl, then add the ground beef, vegetable oil, vegetables, bone meal, vitamin E and garlic. Gently combine all the ingredients without stirring. Turn the mixture out on a platter or baking sheet to cool. When completely cool, serve your best friend the following daily ration based on his size: toy -- 1 to 2 cups; small -- about 4 cups; medium -- about 6 to 7 cups; large -- about 8 cups; giant -- 9 or more cups.

Tips

  • This recipe yields about 18 to 19 cups, with about 230 kilo-calories per cup.

    This recipe is based on a natural, raw meat diet, but the meat may be cooked before adding to the meal by sauteeing until done.

    Store any leftovers in the refrigerator and use within three days. This meal may also be kept in the freezer in individual portions and thawed when required.

    It's a good idea to rotate foods in the diet to make sure there is sufficient variety, ensure your dog is getting important nutrients and prevent deficiencies.

    Substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the beef.

    For a vegetarian meal, occasionally substitute 2 cups of cottage cheese and 4 eggs, or 2 cups of tofu and 4 eggs for every pound of meat. Substitute 1/2 cup of bulgur, millet, corn meal, or barley for 1 cup of oats. Substitute a scant 1/2 cup of brown rice or 2 1/2 cups of potatoes for 1 cup of rolled oats.

Warnings

  • Check with your veterinarian before switching your dog from a commercial diet to a natural diet.

    This recipe should be followed precisely to prevent dietary deficiencies.

Warnings

  • Check with your veterinarian before switching your dog from a commercial diet to a natural diet.

  • This recipe should be followed precisely to prevent dietary deficiencies.

Tips

  • This recipe yields about 18 to 19 cups, with about 230 kilo-calories per cup.

  • This recipe is based on a natural, raw meat diet, but the meat may be cooked before adding to the meal by sauteeing until done.

  • Store any leftovers in the refrigerator and use within three days. This meal may also be kept in the freezer in individual portions and thawed when required.

  • It's a good idea to rotate foods in the diet to make sure there is sufficient variety, ensure your dog is getting important nutrients and prevent deficiencies.

  • Substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the beef.

  • For a vegetarian meal, occasionally substitute 2 cups of cottage cheese and 4 eggs, or 2 cups of tofu and 4 eggs for every pound of meat. Substitute 1/2 cup of bulgur, millet, corn meal, or barley for 1 cup of oats. Substitute a scant 1/2 cup of brown rice or 2 1/2 cups of potatoes for 1 cup of rolled oats.

Items You Will Need

  • Large pot
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • 1 quart container with lid
  • Knife
  • Small saucepan
  • Potato peeler
  • Potato masher, ricer or fork
  • Baking sheet or platter
  • 2 cups nutritional or brewer's yeast
  • 1 cup lecithin granules
  • 1/4 cup kelp powder
  • 2 tbsp. powdered egg shells
  • 1/4 tsp. sodium ascorbate
  • 10 cups water
  • 5 cups raw, old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 3 lbs. raw or cooked lean ground beef
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup diced, raw carrots
  • 1/4 cup raw alfalfa sprouts
  • Small sweet potato or yam
  • 4 tsp. bone meal powder
  • 400 IU vitamin E
  • 1 clove garlic