Have you ever tried making a homemade meal for your dog? In case you're missing the memo, these meals have numerous benefits. One of the prominent effects is how your dog can be healthier, so they can live a longer, happier life.
Why Choose Homemade Meals?
1, Tailored for Their Needs
One common problem in finding the right brand for your pup is finding one that offers complete and balanced nutrition. You want it to be rich in protein but still filling, with enough carbs and fiber.
With homemade meals, you can easily adjust the nutrition to meet what your dog needs, especially when they have dietary restrictions. You can gradually include or remove some ingredients without any issues.
2, Shinier Coats
Homemade meals also mean keeping the ingredients in their original form. So it means your dog will be interested in showing off the benefits. And you can notice it right away from how their coats shine and feel.
3,Resolving Digestive Issues
In addition to ensuring what's inside their meals, you'll feel better knowing it contains organic ingredients you use in your own meals. But more importantly, your dog can say goodbye to constipation and other bowel issues. You also don't have to worry about their water intake and what you can do to improve it.
4, Improve Bonds
It is one of the most underrated benefits that almost nobody talks about. After cooking homemade meals for your dog for several days, you two have built an unbreakable bond—better than before.
Now you can tell when they're feeling anxious or maybe even excited about their meals. You can also sense when your pup has some health issues before they become more noticeable.
Of course, you must choose what your dog will love. Even though most dogs enjoy meats like beef and chicken, you can also occasionally include duck and pork. However, you must know the protein content of each serving of meat to keep the meal balanced.
5, Nutritional Balance
If you have been cooking regularly, getting this balance is a walk in the park. Even so, it's still tricky, since your dog has different nutritional needs than you do.
You're a pescatarian or maybe even a vegan. Does that mean your dog has to eat tofu and mushrooms instead of chicken and pork?
Getting the balance must suit what you envision for your dog. When you compare a senior dog to a puppy, the senior one may need more fiber and additional joint health supplements.
Another thing you must consider is your dog's breed. Medium-sized dogs, such as a Golden Retriever, have different nutrition needs than a Pitbull, even though they may not look much different in size.
6, Frequency
Surprisingly, many dog owners still have this question weighing on their minds. But if you think about it logically, a homemade meal is no different than what you have every day. Thus, should you have a question about the frequency?
Also, homemade meals mean there are no preservatives. You can store it in the freezer to extend its shelf life. But it will only add a couple of days at most.
You should feed your dog the homemade meals as soon as they're ready. Like many other meals, it tastes better while still fresh.
Easy Recipes to Try
If you don't know where to start, here are two easy recipes to follow. Both recipes require many ingredients and seasonings.
Easy Chicken and Rice
Ingredients:
3 pounds ground turkey (you can also use poached chicken breast, shredded)
2 medium carrots, shredded
3 cups baby spinach, chopped
½ cup peas
1 ½ cups brown rice, cooked separately
Olive oil
Cooking Instruction:
You can cook the rice on the stove or use a rice cooker. Follow the cooking instructions on the package. And if there's none, you can use this ratio: 1 cup of water for ½ cup of brown rice. Thus, for this recipe, you will need 3 cups of water for 1 ½ cups of rice.
In another pan, heat the olive oil, then add the ground turkey until it starts to brown. Add in the vegetables and continue stirring until they wilt. Turn the heat off and transfer to a large bowl.
Mix in the rice with the meat and vegetables. Let it cool before you start portioning and storing. You can use a Ziploc or an airtight container. And if you keep it in the freezer, it can last up to 4-5 days.
For Cats and Dogs
Ingredients:
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 pound of chicken breast, cubed
1 can of sardines, drained
2 pieces of chicken liver, chopped
½ cup of carrots, cubed
½ cup of broccoli, chopped
Cooking Instructions:
Heat the pan and add the coconut oil; stir-fry the liver until it starts to change color and becomes more fragrant. Add the chicken breast and continue stirring.
Keep on stirring while you add the vegetables and sardines. Add water until it slightly covers everything. Put the lid on and let it simmer for 15 minutes on low-medium heat.
When the water is almost completely gone, turn off the heat and let it cool. You can give the meal right away or store it for later.
Both of these recipes are fun to recreate, as you can easily switch up the ingredients to match your dog's preferences. Whether it's pork, turkey, beef, or maybe even duck, you are free to rotate and switch them up.
The list of vegetables you can use is also almost endless. For carbs and some fiber, you can use potatoes or small pasta like fusilli, orzo, or orecchiette. Even if your dog is a picky eater, you can easily add supplements to boost their appetite.
Making homemade meals for your dog is only one of many ways to show them your love. It's also an excellent opportunity to include necessary supplements in your dog's diet, especially if you have a senior dog that requires meticulous attention.
Anyhow, you have to check with the supplement dosage to give your dog the right amount. Several supplements use a dog's weight as the basis for calculation, while others use portion sizes.
