Organic Dog Food Recipes

Organics are Best for Pets, Too

Many people, having become more aware of the need for organic products in their own diets, are searching for organic alternatives to the commercial pet foods. Mass production and international imports have taken a toll on the quality of the food that is available for pets in the grocery store.

You can now buy organic dog food at most pet stores as well as on the Internet. For those people who want to have even more control over what their canine companions eat there are homemade, organic dog food recipes nearly everywhere you turn.

Spend some time talking to your vet before you begin making homemade dog food. He can give you the best advice as to the individual dietary requirements of your pet. Always make dietary changes gradually over a two-week period of time to give your dog’s digestive system time to adjust to the new, healthier foods.

Canine Nutritional Needs

Dogs need to have approximately 18 percent protein and 15 percent fat in their diets, with the other 67 percent made of complex carbohydrates found in organic vegetables and whole grains.

This is easily accomplished by using variations of this basic recipe:

• 4 cups organic meat, finely chopped
• 3 cups organic vegetables, finely chopped
• 4 cups of organic whole grains
• 1 teaspoon of organic olive oil

Cover with water and simmer for an hour, or until grains are tender. Store the homemade food in the refrigerator or freeze for longer storage.

The food can contain any number of meats, vegetables and grains. Meat scraps and vegetable parings work well for this, as does leftover breakfast oatmeal. Some items that you should never add to your organic dog food recipes are:

• Raisins
• Onions
• Garlic

Never feed your dog garlic

• Chocolate
• Artificial sweeteners
• Raw meat
• Grapes
• Fake fats
• Egg shells
• Mushrooms
• Macadamias
• Citrus oils
• Persimmons
• Avocado
• Anything uncooked
• Anything moldy
• Spoiled foods

Use fat trimmings very carefully. The richness of the fat can cause pancreatitis in some animals. Also be careful with milk and dairy products, which are usually best left out of your pet’s diet.

This is an incomplete list. Any foods that you plan on feeding your dog should be checked with your veterinarian. Homemade Dog Food Alternatives has more information.

Remember that everything you add to the dog food should be thought out and clearly labeled organic, or you should know that it is. Any dog food recipe will be an organic dog food as long as you use only organic ingredients.

In addition, if you have a dog that has allergies or a highly sensitive stomach you should use mainly organic lamb and brown rice as the basic ingredients of his food. These ingredients are the least likely to cause problems with a dog that has health issues of any sort.

Where to Find Organic Dog Food Recipes

If you want to make homemade dog food for your pet there are several places to find recipes:

• Big Paw Designs
• Dog Treats
• Homemade Pet Food
• Health Recipes

Organic Dog Food Cookbooks

There have also been several organic cookbooks published exclusively for pet owners that wish to make their own pet foods.

• Real Food for Dogs: 50 Vet Approved Recipes to Please the Canine Gastronome, by Arden Moore and Anne Davis
• Pet Food Nation, by Joan Weiskopf
• The Natural Pet Food Cookbook, by Wendy Nan Rees, Kevin Schlanger, and Troy Cummings
• Barker’s Grub: Easy, Wholesome, Home Cooking for Dogs, by Rudy Edalati

Finding a recipe that you feel comfortable with and making it with organic ingredients can give you a feeling of control over your dog’s health. By being careful with what you feed your companion animal he can be a healthy friend for years to come.