Tiny morsels of food that are perfect for the diminutive Chihuahua would be like a crumb for the giant Great Dane. Dog food must fit comfortably into your dog's mouth to be safely consumed and easily digested. Meals like doggy meat loaf and polenta are easily customized into bite-sized squares.
Doggy Meat Loaf
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine the ground beef, wholewheat bread, milk, eggs, carrots, olive oil and vitamin E in the mixing bowl. Blend until all the ingredients are incorporated into a nice texture.
Spray the casserole dish with the olive oil non-stick cooking spray. Press the meatloaf mixture into the casserole dish to form a loaf about 2 inches thick. Bake for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out dry. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let cool completely.
Cut the meatloaf into bite-sized squares that are appropriate for the size of your dog, and serve. The daily ration for the doggy meat loaf is based on bite-sized squares measured by the cup: toy (up to 15 pounds) -- 1 to 2 cups; small (15 to 30 pounds) -- about 4 cups; medium (30 to 60 pounds) -- 6 to 7 cups; large (60 to 90 pounds) -- about 8 cups; giant (over 90 pounds) -- 9 or more cups.
Doggy Polenta
Saute the ground beef in the frying pan until uniformly browned. Remove from the heat, drain off any fat, and set aside. Scald the milk, and stir to avoid burning. Whisk in the cornmeal quickly, and blend until the mixture is smooth. Cover and turn down the heat to simmer. Cook until the cornmeal is soft and mushy, about 10 minutes.
Blend the ground beef, eggs, cheese and carrots into the hot cornmeal. Cool for about 15 minutes, then blend in the olive oil and vitamin E. Lightly spray the casserole dish with the olive oil cooking spray. Pour the polenta into the casserole dish. Refrigerate until completely cool.
Slice the polenta into bite-sized squares appropriate for the size of your dog, and serve. The daily ration for the doggy polenta is based on bite-sized squares measured by the cup: toy (up to 15 pounds) -- 1 1/2 to 2 cups; small (15 to 30 pounds) -- about 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 cups; medium (30 to 60 pounds) -- 6 to 7 cups; large (60 to 90 pounds) -- about 8 cups; giant (over 90 pounds) -- about 10 cups.
Tips
Soft foods like meatloaf and polenta are easy to chew, but still need to be in small or large enough squares to be enjoyable for your dog.
Tips
Soft foods like meatloaf and polenta are easy to chew, but still need to be in small or large enough squares to be enjoyable for your dog.
Items You Will Need
- Mixing bowl
- Frying pan
- Spoon
- Casserole dish
- Olive oil non-stick cooking spray
- Meatloaf:
- 1/2 pound lean ground beef
- 3 cups crumbled whole wheat bread
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup cooked carrots
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 100 IU vitamin E
- Polenta:
- 4 cups skim milk
- 1 cup coarse cornmeal
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup low-fat, grated cheddar cheese
- 1/2 pound cooked lean ground beef or diced cooked, skinless chicken thigh
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 100 IU vitamin E
- 1/2 cup finely diced raw carrots
References
- Perfect Puppy Care: Size Does Matter
- Dr. Richard Pitcairn's Guide to Complete Health for Dogs & Cats; Dr. Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M., Ph.D. and Susan Hubble Pitcairn
- Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog; Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown, D.V.M.
Resources
- The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook; Jessica Disbrow Talley and Eric Talley
- Three Dog Bakery Cookbook; Dan Dye and Jeff Beckloff
Tips
- Soft foods like meatloaf and polenta are easy to chew, but still need to be in small or large enough squares to be enjoyable for your dog.
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.