Buffalo meat or bison meat has less fat than beef, and another benefit: Game animals such as buffalo are usually organically raised and grass-fed, which makes their meat richer in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids than other traditional meats. It's easy to incorporate nutritious ground buffalo into your dog's diet with a scrumptious DIY muttloaf.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Peel and cube the carrots, cook until tender, then dice into coarse pieces. Finely chop the fresh parsley. Combine the ground buffalo, whole wheat bread, milk, eggs, cooked carrots, parsley, olive oil, vitamin E, eggshell powder and multivitamin or powder supplement in the mixing bowl. Mix together with your hands or a spoon until all the ingredients are well-incorporated.
Spoon the meatloaf mixture into a parchment-paper-lined casserole dish. Form it into an oval loaf about 2 inches thick, then bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Check for doneness by inserting a clean butter knife into the center of the loaf -- the knife will come out dry when the loaf is ready. Remove it from the oven and let it cool completely.
Slice the buffalo meatloaf, then cube it into smaller pieces. Place the pieces into a measuring cup to make accurate daily rations according to your dog's size and weight as follows: for dogs up to 15 pounds, feed 1 to 2 cups daily; dogs 15 to 30 pounds, about 4 cups; 30 to 60 pounds, 6 to 7 cups; 60 to 90 pounds, about 8 cups; and dogs over 90 pounds, 9 or more cups
Tips
Different sources of protein add different essential nutrients to your dog's diet. Substitute lean ground chuck beef, lean ground chicken or ground turkey for buffalo, and rotate your recipes throughout the month.
For a healthy powder supplement, refer to "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to the Natural Health of Dogs & Cats." Use the book's healthy powder recipe according to the guidelines.
Vary the veggies you use in the meatloaf. Cooked vegetables, such as green beans, squash, sweet potato and others may replace carrots. Meanwhile, you can dice carrots and serve them raw, as well as alfalfa sprouts and zucchini.
Fresh or dried herbs, such as oregano, basil and rosemary, add flavor and beneficial nutrients to your dog's diet. Add or substitute with them in the meatloaf.
For convenience, double or triple the recipe and freeze extras. Thaw before serving.
Warnings
Consult your dog's veterinarian for tips and guidance in developing a home-prepared diet to ensure your dog's nutritional needs are met.
Gradually introduce new foods into your dog's diet to ensure the pup tolerates the food with no adverse affects. Mix a little of the new food with the existing food over the course of a week to 10 days, increasing increments of the new and decreasing the old to keep the daily caloric intake to remain stable.
Warnings
Consult your dog's veterinarian for tips and guidance in developing a home-prepared diet to ensure your dog's nutritional needs are met.
Gradually introduce new foods into your dog's diet to ensure the pup tolerates the food with no adverse affects. Mix a little of the new food with the existing food over the course of a week to 10 days, increasing increments of the new and decreasing the old to keep the daily caloric intake to remain stable.
Tips
Different sources of protein add different essential nutrients to your dog's diet. Substitute lean ground chuck beef, lean ground chicken or ground turkey for buffalo, and rotate your recipes throughout the month.
For a healthy powder supplement, refer to "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to the Natural Health of Dogs & Cats." Use the book's healthy powder recipe according to the guidelines.
Vary the veggies you use in the meatloaf. Cooked vegetables, such as green beans, squash, sweet potato and others may replace carrots. Meanwhile, you can dice carrots and serve them raw, as well as alfalfa sprouts and zucchini.
Fresh or dried herbs, such as oregano, basil and rosemary, add flavor and beneficial nutrients to your dog's diet. Add or substitute with them in the meatloaf.
For convenience, double or triple the recipe and freeze extras. Thaw before serving.
Items You Will Need
- Mixing bowl
- Casserole dish
- Saucepan
- Spoons
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cup
- Parchment paper
- 1 cup ground buffalo
- 6 slices whole wheat bread, crumbled
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup cooked carrots
- 2 tablespoons chopped, fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 100 IU vitamin E
- Canine multivitamin or powder supplement
- 1/2 teaspoon ground eggshell powder
References
- Nutrition Data: Facts About Buffalo Meat
- "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to the Natural Health of Dogs & Cats"; Dr. Richard H. Pitcarin, D.V.M., Ph.D. and Susan Hubble Pitcairn
- "Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats, The Ultimate Diet"; Kymythy R. Schultze, C.C.N., A.H.I.
- "Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog"; Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown, D.V.M
Tips
- Different sources of protein add different essential nutrients to your dog's diet. Substitute lean ground chuck beef, lean ground chicken or ground turkey for buffalo, and rotate your recipes throughout the month.
- For a healthy powder supplement, refer to "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to the Natural Health of Dogs & Cats." Use the book's healthy powder recipe according to the guidelines.
- Vary the veggies you use in the meatloaf. Cooked vegetables, such as green beans, squash, sweet potato and others may replace carrots. Meanwhile, you can dice carrots and serve them raw, as well as alfalfa sprouts and zucchini.
- Fresh or dried herbs, such as oregano, basil and rosemary, add flavor and beneficial nutrients to your dog's diet. Add or substitute with them in the meatloaf.
- For convenience, double or triple the recipe and freeze extras. Thaw before serving.
Warnings
- Consult your dog's veterinarian for tips and guidance in developing a home-prepared diet to ensure your dog's nutritional needs are met.
- Gradually introduce new foods into your dog's diet to ensure the pup tolerates the food with no adverse affects. Mix a little of the new food with the existing food over the course of a week to 10 days, increasing increments of the new and decreasing the old to keep the daily caloric intake to remain stable.
Writer Bio
Based in Ontario, Susan Dorling has written professionally since 2000, with hundreds of articles published in a variety of popular online venues. Writing on a diverse range of topics, she reflects her passion for business, interior design, home decorating, style, fashion and pets.