Ever Thought About Making Homemade Food for Your Pets?

Are you searching for something to do in the evenings now that time has changed? With cooler temperatures and it getting dark earlier and earlier each week, you may have extra time on your hands. Have you considered baking some treats for your pet, or maybe even attempting to make some homemade food for your dog? A quick search online or on Pinterest can provide an overwhelming amount of recipes. We have picked a few out that we personally love to make for our pets! 

As with any new diet or new treats, we always recommend consulting your veterinarian to ensure the ingredients are safe for your pet. We are also including a list of common ingredients that can be harmful to your pet. These three recipes below have been tested and approved by our own furbabies, and we hope yours will love them too! 

• Chicken Option:

This is a very simple recipe that you can start with. You can eventually work in more vegetables as your dog will allow. For this recipe, you will need one pound of ground (or shredded) chicken, one cup of brown rice, and one small bag of peas and carrots. Cook the chicken in a skillet until it is cooked through. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the rice in a separate pan. Once the chicken is cooked, strain off the excess grease and add the carrot and pea mixture. Keep the heat low to cook the carrots & peas without burning them. Once those are finished, you can add the rice and mix thoroughly. Let it cool before serving. Find the full recipe here: 

• Beef Option:

For this beef stew, you will need one pound of ground beef, one large sweet potato (diced), one sliced carrot, and ½ cup of peas. Brown the beef in a skillet until brown, then add in the potatoes and carrots. Add just enough water to cover the beef and vegetables, and bring it to a boil. Once at a boil, lower heat to simmer for about 20 minutes. Then stir in the frozen peas and let simmer until everything is mixed well. Let cool before serving. Excess food can be refrigerated or frozen. The full recipe can be found here:

https://www.luverdog.com/2020/09/top-10-diy-homemade-dog-food-recipes.html

These food options can be served as the meal or mixed with dry kibble as an extra healthy treat! Once your dog is used to this new food, you can add in things such as broccoli, zucchini, squash, and other healthy, pet friendly vegetables. 

Baking dog treats can be a fun family activity, plus you don’t have to worry about eating all the cookies! Here is one our favorite recipes:

• Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treat: 

For this recipe you will need 3 cups of old fashioned oats, one banana, one egg, ⅓ cup of peanut butter (PLEASE make sure there are no toxic ingredients), and two tablespoons of flour as needed. Before mixing ingredients, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put your oats into a food processor and let blend for 2-3 minutes until there are no big chunks left. Add the peanut butter, banana, and egg to the processor and mix until it is blended evenly. Put the dough out on the countertop and roll out until it is about 1/8th inch deep. If it is too sticky to work with, work in the flour until you reach your desired consistency. Cut out the treats with a cookie cutter and place on the baking sheet. Bake for 16-18 minutes. Let cool completely before giving to your pet. 

Your pet may be slightly hesitant at first when trying new foods or new treats, but these are great ways to incorporate more healthy vegetables or fruits into their diet. As mentioned, you can add other vegetables or fruits into these meals, but make sure to avoid the following: 

• Dairy
• Cooked bones
• Avocados
• Walnuts
• Macadamias
• Raisins
• Onions
• Garlic
• Chocolate
• Raw potatoes

This is just a sample of items that could be toxic to your pet, but always check in with your veterinarian before adding anything new to your pet’s diet. It is always better to be overly cautious to ensure your pet stays happy and healthy!

Do you have a favorite recipe for your dog? We’d love for you to share photos or recipes! 

Are you searching for something to do in the evenings now that time has changed? With cooler temperatures and it getting dark earlier and earlier each week, you may have extra time on your hands. Have you considered baking some treats for your pet, or maybe even attempting to make some homemade food for your…