Welcome to Pet Peeves, a monthly series that aims to provide answers about puppy care and expert tips for challenging situations involving your beloved animal companions.
Like many puppy sitters who try to keep their four-legged friends as healthy as possible, you may have come up with the idea of feeding your puppy homemade dog food. With puppy food recalls, the development of science on puppy nutrition, and the multitude of new puppy food delivery facilities on the market lately, swapping out your dog’s kibble for homemade or new food is an attention that is gaining popularity. But is it really healthier for your puppy, and where do you start?And if you just do it If you don’t have time to cook for your puppies, are there nutritionally more nutritionally favorable opportunities than store-bought puppy food?
To answer those questions and more, I spoke with veterinarians and other experts in the field of puppy care to understand the best way to supplement homemade dog food, and add how to ensure the replacement meets your dog’s nutritional needs. brain that the answer is not one-size-fits-all; What works for some animals probably won’t work for others. There’s no shortage of online resources to advise beginners, adding recipes, serving charts, and information on the most productive practices in general. Ultimately, however, if you decide to pass on to a dog homemade food, consult with your veterinarian and/or a certified veterinary nutritionist beforehand.
Homemade dog foods are just recipes you prepare for your puppy, and they’re not much different from human foods: each is made up of protein, starch, and some toppings and vegetables. While the ideal ratio may vary depending on your pet’s age and medical needs, Dr. Francisco DiPolo, a New York-based veterinarian who is an expert in integrative medicine, proposes a nutrition consisting of 40-50% protein and 25-30% complex carbohydrates and/or rice; Vegetables and nuts make up the remaining percentage (note that some experts provide more protein, while others provide more carbohydrates).
In addition to adding supplements through your veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist, omega-3 fatty acids are another must-have ingredient. Regardless of what you give your puppy, in fact, even if you buy it at the store, Dr. Karen Shaw Becker, veterinarian and co-author of The Forever Dog, recommends taking an omega-3 fatty acid supplement, as manufactured foods don’t need it. “Dogs and cats have very high needs for EPA and DHA, and in fact they don’t get them. of puppy food,” she says. So, if you don’t give your puppy anything that contains omega-3 fatty acids (like sardines) or a high-quality fish oil supplement, you may simply be deficient.
As for the proteins it uses, DiPolo says, “some of the proteins that humans most commonly use, because they’re the easiest to find, are probably also the most likely to be related to certain types. “allergies [in dogs. ], such as chicken. Pork, turkey, fish, and even beef can be bigger than chicken, and they’re all smart choices. As for carbs, DiPolo recommends restricting them or complex carbs like quinoa, barley, or squash. Compared to undeniable carbohydrates like rice, “they’re a bit more complex and provide more nutrients and nutritional value,” he adds.
Christine Filardi, of Home Cooking for Your Dog and a puppy habits specialist, recommends starting with a single fruit or vegetable and then adding additional produce over time (pureed blueberries, mangoes, or bananas are among her must-haves). He adds ingredients like apple cider vinegar and bone broth, and also suggests incorporating eggs into dog foods, which involve 100 percent biological protein. And as a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids, he cites sardines: “They’re in the food chain for a short period of time and aren’t heavily contaminated. “
Instead of randomly picking certain ingredients from your fridge, it’s vital to cook nutritionally balanced foods with vet-approved recipes. “Dogs and cats have complex nutritional needs, but just as you can stick to a recipe for making lasagna, you can stick to a recipe for making dog or cat food,” Becker says.
In recent years, more and more puppy owners have become curious about the benefits of homemade puppy food, and several conceivable (and overlapping) points come into play. On the one hand, dog food delivery facilities are gaining popularity, and many are employing what those brands call human-grade ingredients (as opposed to what’s used in most manufactured puppy foods, which are food-grade ingredients or those deemed unfit for human consumption).
More and more studies are being conducted on the topic of dog food ingredients. According to Rodney Habib, co-author of The Forever Dog, we’ve gone from dry nutrition that accounted for about 99% of the global puppy food market a decade ago to 67% today. This shift may also be a result of humans’ growing distrust of foods made with many ingredients and preservatives that we can’t pronounce, and the fact that they are more involved in incorporating more total foods into their own foods. Nutritions.
Many other people are also turning to homemade food as a solution to help their pets with chronic illnesses, such as allergies or gastrointestinal issues. Rebecca Shumaker, a Connecticut-based veterinarian, notes that many of her clients end up cooking for their food-sensitive dogs: “I think most people who need to cook for their dog end up cooking maybe. Partly, and the other part is a prepared and balanced nutrition developed through an accredited company that has what’s called AAFCO certification.
That said, veterinarians and other professionals in the puppy care industry don’t universally follow homemade dog food. “Most veterinarians are concerned about puppy food other than kibble or canned food because there is no unbiased education on other categories of puppy food in veterinary school. nutrition classes,” Becker adds. None of the puppy food corporations that sponsor veterinary schools produce fresher diets (including raw, gently cooked, freeze-dried, or dehydrated diets), so those puppy food categories aren’t analyzed enough for graduates to take advantage of the puppy food industry.
As Habib and Becker explore in their book, there is clinical evidence that a diet low in processed foods is linked to a longer life span in dogs. When it comes to the couple’s studies of the diet of the world’s longest-lived dogs, Habib says, “It’s the same thing your mom and mom would tell you: avoid ultra-processed foods as much as you can and eat as many minimally processed foods as you can. He also mentions a Finnish study that showed how fresh, minimally processed foods, such as Their effect on the human body can lead to less inflammation in dogs, which can have effects not only on physical fitness but also on increased cognitive function.
In addition, Becker advocates for new or homemade foods, as U. S. puppy food formula standards are not the same. The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are established for very active animals. This means that if you give them less food than indicated on the bag (for example, if you have an obese dog and are looking to reduce their food intake), your puppies may suffer from nutritional deficiencies. On the other hand, he says, if you have a very active animal, such as a sporting breed that hunts in a box for hours, and you have to feed it two or three times the recommended amount of manufactured feed, you may be wasting your time. Consuming toxic levels of minerals you don’t need. So, by cooking your dog’s food yourself (assuming you do it correctly), you’ll have more control over which nutrients are suitable for your puppy’s lifestyle and expressed needs.
What’s more, Filardi, who is also an animal habitalist, cites anecdotal evidence that a nutritionally healthier home diet can also have a particular impact on habit. “Instead of addressing the habit, we rushed to give temperament stabilizers and Prozac dogs and cats. “”According to all the clients I’ve worked with, whenever they had behavioral problems, I advised them to change the regimen. And each time, the habit has advanced because dogs get what they want nutritionally.
According to veterinarians I’ve spoken to, one of the biggest dangers of cooking at home for your dog is not formulating their food in a nutritionally balanced way to meet their needs; Calcium deficiency tends to be common. The most important thing is to vary their nutrition and not feed them the same ingredients day in and day out. “Veterinarians are right that feeding your dog chicken, rice, and maybe carrots – 3 ingredients for the rest. of the dog’s life, even if it is cooked at home, it causes a lot of problems, because it is obviously missing a lot of things: vitamins and minerals,” says Habib.
A valuable resource that veterinarians advise checking out to make sure you’re offering your dog optimal nutrition is the Balance. It site, which offers a calorie calculator and facts on how to create balanced recipes for your pet. Consulting with a veterinary nutritionist is also anything to do before switching to a largely homemade diet.
Second, it’s all about deciding on the right portion size, as overfeeding (or underfeeding) your puppy can counteract the benefits of homemade food. ” If I have to give just one piece of advice to a puppy owner when it comes to nutrition, it’s not “the quality of the ingredients they give their puppy, but also the amount of food they give him,” DiPolo says. “Weight management is the most important thing any puppy owner can do for their puppy. “
Becker gives the example of two dogs that weigh the same, but one is very active and the other is usually sedentary: “These dogs want the same point of nutrients and minerals, but they don’t want the same amount of calories.
The question of whether raw meat is better than cooked meat for your puppy is a bit polarizing among veterinarians. Some veterinarians have found that it works well for some dogs and not others. Some of the touted benefits of raw meat nutrition come with a higher antioxidant content and possible improved immune function. However, it also poses an increased risk of transmission of foodborne pathogens. If you decide to try raw food with your pets, be sure to care for them safely, as you would any raw food. food intended for human consumption. This means washing your hands and any surfaces you touch, making sure all bowls are thoroughly cleaned between meals, and not letting it sit for too long.
“Dogs, unlike us, don’t have a special ability to remove toxins from their body,” says Dr. Shumaker. “I’ve diagnosed salmonella, I’ve diagnosed E. coli. “
Also, if you want to feed your puppy a raw diet, “you need to be careful when buying the raw meat,” says Filardi, who stocks exclusively at a dog butcher shop. “You don’t need to buy the manager’s special offer at Stop
In addition to the ingredients you’ll be cooking with, of course, you need to make sure you have a high-quality fish oil or omega-3 supplement and any additional supplements your veterinarian recommends. We’ve included two standard recipes, one from Becker and Habib’s next book, The Forever Dog Life, and the other from Filardi’s Home Cooking for Your Dog, a little further down.
As for materials, whether you’re cooking for a Chihuahua or a pit bull, make it less difficult by cooking in batches, whether it’s for a week or more. If necessary, store food in the freezer until it is in a thawing position. This means you need food storage boxes on hand and a basic kitchen scale to make sure your recipes are consistent and that you’re feeding your pup the right amount. It’s up to you whether you want to use separate brewing materials. for your puppies’ food, but if you do, find some recommendations below.
You may find that you just don’t have time to cook at home for your dog or it’s just not compatible with their lifestyle. But if you still need to transfer it to a fresher diet, there are plenty of dog food delivery options. with what is said to be human-quality ingredients. While those strategies are more expensive than cooking yourself for your pets, they make things incredibly convenient. (I’ve personally used PetPlate for years, alternating foods to give my dogs a varied diversity of ingredients in their diet. )You can also add freeze-dried meal dressings or other freeze-dried foods to your pet’s diet, as well as meat or vegetable broths; My dogs especially love the Vital Essentials bedspreads.
Excerpted from The Life of an Eternal Dog
This nutrient-rich turnip super stew whose sulforaphane compound activates the genes responsible for fighting inflammation. Sulforaphanes also reduce cancer rates and cardiovascular biomarkers, decrease inflammation, and remove toxins from the body. Serve it as a thick soup or puree it.
Makes 6 cups
Ingredients
1 medium turnip, peeled and 1/2- to 1-inch cubes
1 medium parsnip, peeled and 1/2- to 1-inch cubes
1 small kohlrabi, peeled and cut into 1/2- to 1-inch cubes
2 to 3 Jerusalem artichokes, cut into 1/2- to 1-inch cubes
1 daikon, peeled and cut into 1/2- to 1-inch cubes
1 medium carrot or 6 to 8 baby carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 beets, peeled and cut into 1/2- to 1-inch cubes
1 small sweet potato, 1/2- to 1-inch cubes
4 to 8 cups broth (bone, chicken, beef, mushrooms, etc. ) or as much to cover the vegetables
2 teaspoons new herbs or 1 teaspoon dried herbs, added while cooling
Optional: tea bag
instructed
1. Place all the vegetables in a giant pot, then pour in four cups of broth. Add more broth if the vegetables are covered.
2. Bring to a boil, then heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
3. Add 1 or 2 tea bags of your choice while the stew cools, along with new or dried herbs.
4. Remove the tea bags when the broth is cool. Puree until smooth if desired.
5. Slow Cooking Method: Place the vegetables and broth in the slow cooker, simmer for 8 hours, then add the tea and herbs once the heat is off. Remove the tea bags when the broth is cool.
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Excerpt from Home Cooking for Your Dog
Serves (for a 50-pound dog)
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup quinoa pasta
1/2 cup chopped broccoli
2 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
4 tbsp fish oil
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
instructed
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Over the boiling water, steam the broccoli for 3 minutes. Drain it and then puree it in a food processor. You have about 1/2 cup of broccoli puree.
3. Prepare the pasta as directed on the package. Allow the cooked pasta to cool. Once cool, pulse it in a food processor with a little water, if necessary. It has about 1 cup of pureed pasta.
4. In a giant bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in beef, pasta puree, and broccoli. Using your hands, combine all ingredients well. Press the meatloaf combination into the ready loaf pan. Sprinkle coconut evenly.
5. Bake meatloaf for 45 minutes or until top is golden brown. Let it cool for 30 minutes before serving.
6. Add 1 tablespoon of fish oil and 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the portion. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Karen Shaw Becker, DVM, is a veterinarian and co-author of The Forever Dog: Amazing New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier, and Longer (Harper, 2021) and the upcoming The Forever Dog Life: Recipes, Longevity Tips. and New Science for Better Bowls and Healthier Homes (Harper, 2024). She earned her veterinary degree from Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine and has pursued her career as a small animal clinician. She is the first veterinarian to give a TEDx talk. on species-specific nutrition, and in 2023 he won the Stange Award for outstanding professional achievement in veterinary medicine.
Francisco DiPolo, DVM, is a veterinarian with over 20 years of experience who currently owns and practices at Worth Street Veterinary Center in New York. He received his veterinary degree from the Central University of Venezuela and completed his clinical internship at Tufts University. His specialties are veterinary medicine and surgery, as well as the integration of the fashionable veterinary generation with other classic techniques such as acupuncture, nutrition, and phytotherapy.
Christine M. Filardi is responsible for Home Cooking for Your Dog: 75 Holistic Recipes for a Healthier Dog (Stewart, Tabori
Rodney Habib is a speaker, filmmaker, and founder of Planet Paws, the largest Facebook page about puppy fitness. He is the co-author of The Forever Dog: Surprising New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier, and Longer (Harper, 2021). ) and the upcoming eBook The Forever Dog Life: 120 Recipes, Longevity Tips, and New Science for Improvement. Healthier Bowls and Houses (Harper, 2024). Habib is also the author of the documentary The Dog Cancer Series: Rethinking the Canine Epidemic, and his first TEDx release on puppy fitness is the most-watched TEDx release on dogs.
Rebecca Shumaker, DVM, is a veterinarian with 20 years of experience, most recently practicing at Monarch Veterinary Services in Greenwich, Connecticut. She earned her B. S. in Animal Sciences from Cornell University and in Veterinary Medicine from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Shumaker is a recent member of the AVMA, CVMA, and the Tufts Veterinary Alumni Association.
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