To Feed Homemade Foods Or Not To Feed; That Is The Question.

Are you like me when it comes to your dogs diet? I am pretty picky, personally. Chance gets, everyday, Biljac dry food, cooked white or brown rice, grated cheddar cheese and some type of meat, usually chicken.


Dog owners are becoming interested in homemade foods for a number of reasons. Mostly because of contaminants (the pet food recall nightmare), preservatives, dyes and additives. If you prepare your dogs meals, make sure they are well-balanced and provide the nutrients your dog needs.

First you need to check with your vet. Your vet is the person that can help you create dishes that are perfect for your dogs needs, as he/she knows your dog from examining them on a routine basis.


If you find a recipe online or in a book, let your vet evaluate it for you. Balanced recipes with few ingredients are easier to make, more affordable (we all can use that), and are likely to be more consistently made. In my own personal experience, the more complicated the recipe, does not mean it is more nutritional.


There are 3 basic areas of concern with homemade foods. First, is the nutrient profile appropriate? Second, does the person make the recipe just as it is instructed? And last, over time, does the owner deviate from the recipe? If a recipe has not been checked by a nutritionist, them most likely it will contain too much protein.


There is a misguided belief that because dogs are carnivores, their diet should contain mostly meat, which in turn, creates a calcium deficiency. There should be more calcium than Phosphorous in the diet. The optimum ratio is 1-1 or 2-1. Bones, raw or cooked or bone meal or calcium phosphorous will not help, because both have phosphorous in them.


Take into consideration your dogs age, weight, body condition, level of activity and medical problems, if any. Work with your vet to get the right diet for your best buddy.


***Remember, fruits and vegetables are great for your dog. But, onions, raisins, grapes, Macadamia nuts, mushrooms, persimmons, pits from peaches and plums, leaves and stems from potato's, rhubarb and tomato's are toxic to dogs. This is just a small list. I will do another post on toxic foods.***

Cheesey Dog Cookies.

2 cups All-Purpose flour -- un-sifted -- 1 1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese -- 1/2 cup Vegetable oil -- 4 tablespoons water (may use 5 if you need to) -- Combine everything except water. Whisk in food processor until consistency of cornmeal. Then add water until mixture forms a ball. Roll it into 1/2" thickness and cut into shapes. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets about 10 min. (depending on size of shapes) at 400. Cool and store in refrigerator.

Homemade Dog Treats.

I submitted this comment on the Herald Dispatch's Dog Blog - 6/19/07.


I feed BilJac dry kibble and brown rice every feeding. Brown rice has more fiber than white. You can also add a bouillon cube for flavor. Remember, feeding only rice with nothing hard, like dry dog food, will cause your dog's stool to be loose. Boiling the chicken is the best way to fix it. You are boiling off all toxins that may be on the raw chicken. You can also add cooked carrots and a small amt. of green beans or peas. But always make sure you have some dry kibble. For the geriatric dogs that can not chew, the brown rice will fulfill most of the fiber requirements. Most importantly, rinse all vegetables before cooking or feeding raw. ***"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."***


Cheesy Dog Cookies.

2 cups All-Purpose flour -- un-sifted
1 1/4 cups cheddar cheese -- shredded
2 cloves Garlic -- finely chopped
1/2 cup Vegetable oil
4 tablespoons Water -- (4 to 5)

Combine everything except water. Whisk in food processor until consistency of cornmeal. Then add water until mixture forms a ball. Roll it into 1/2" thickness and cut into shapes. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets about 10 min. (depending on size of shapes) at 400. Cool and store in refrigerator.


Biscuits For Dogs.

1 cup oatmeal -- uncooked
1/3 cup margarine
1 tablespoon beef bouillon granules
5 1/2 cups hot water
3/4 cup powdered milk
3/4 cup cornmeal
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 whole egg -- beaten

Pour hot water over oatmeal, margarine, and bouillon; let stand for 6 min. Stir in milk, cornmeal, and egg. Add flour, 1/2 c. at a time; mix well after each addition. Knead 3 - 4 min., adding more flour it necessary to make a very STIFF dough. Roll or pat dough to 1/2" thickness. Cut into dog bone shapes with cookie cutter. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 min. on baking parchment Allow to cool and dry out until hard. Store in container.