Easy Home-Prepared Dog Food (Good for Occasional Use, Not Nutritionally Complete)

Recipe from: https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_7/features/Home-Prepared-Dog-Food-Nutritional-Information_20568-1.html (Though this particular recipe isn't balanced, the link it came from provides some helpful guidelines to making balanced homemade dog food)

This recipe is designed for a 25 pound, neutered, adult dog.
Best Homemade Dog Food Recipe Ingredients:

8 ounces chicken thigh meat (cooked)
½ ounces chicken liver (cooked)
1 large egg (hard-boiled)
4 ounces sweet potato (boiled)
2 ounces plain low-fat yogurt
1,000 mg fish oil
700 mg calcium (3/8 teaspoon ground eggshell, or any other form of plain calcium)

This recipe provides 700 kcal, 72.3 grams protein (15.8% as fed, 54.8% dry matter), 32.6 grams fat (7.1% as fed, 24.7% dry matter), 24.5 grams carbohydrates (5.4% as fed, 18.6% dry matter).

Notes: This recipe is designed for the average 25-pound adult dog; homemade puppy food includes special requirements not addressed here. Dietary intake, proportions, and ingredients must be adjusted for your dog's weight, health condition, and activity level. The amounts can be increased proportionately for larger dogs, and decreased for smaller dogs, but keep in mind that large dogs require less food for their body weight than small dogs. (A 50-pound dog requires less than twice the amount needed for a 25-pound dog; use a little more than half the amounts for a 12-pound dog.) Observe your dog's weight and adjust the amount you feed as needed to keep him slim and trim.

This is not a nutritionally complete homemade dog food. It is good for occasional use, but like most homemade food for dogs, it requires supplementation and variety to fully meet a dog's nutritional requirements. For adult dogs, this recipe is short on some vitamins (B1, B12, choline, and vitamins D, E, and K) and minerals (copper, magnesium, manganese, zinc). A multivitamin and mineral supplement can help ensure that your dog's nutritional needs are met, though it's not a substitute for feeding a balanced diet with a lot of variety.

How to Make Homemade PupLoaf

Recipe from: http://www.drjudymorgan.com/how-to-make-homemade-puploaf

The latest version was designed to eliminate the need for a lot of costly supplements and allow you to balance the diet with whole foods.

Complete Puploaf Recipe
3 pounds beef  90% lean
8 ounces beef heart
5 ounces beef liver
20 ounces chicken gizzards
3 cans sardines in water, minus the juice
6 ounces mussels (3 teaspoons kelp could replace the mussels for trace minerals)
2 teaspoons ground fresh ginger
5 eggs with shell
3 ounces red pepper
5 ounces mixed dark leafy greens (kale, chard, spinach)
4 ounces broccoli
6 ounces butternut squash
3 tablespoons flax seed oil
4 ounces cranberries
4 ounces Shiitake mushrooms
Grind and mix all ingredients together. Pour into loaf, casserole, or muffin pans. Bake at 325 for 30 to 60 minutes depending on size of pan; should be lightly done, not overcooked. (juicy in the center) If your pet has a beef or chicken allergy, turkey could be substituted.
Use within 3 to 5 days, freeze extra portions. Feed warmed to room temperature

Is It a Pet Emergency? Part 1

By Karen Ritacco
If you are a pet owner, there’s a good chance that at some time in your pets’ life, you might be faced with a pet emergency. It may be difficult to know when to seek emergency care for your pet. You will never go wrong to call your veterinarian first. Most veterinary hospitals have a veterinarian on call 24/7. Just as with any emergency, planning is key and can make the difference of life and death. I will try to map out a plan that I hope will be helpful to you.

It would be a good idea to put together a first aid kit. I plan to write an article in the near future, explaining what to put in your first aid kit, but for now it will be a good place to keep some important and necessary information. You will need to put your veterinarians phone number and the phone number of Animal Poison Control Center which is (888) 426-4435. You should obtain a copy of your pets’ medical records and vaccination history from your veterinarian in case your vet is not available and you have to go to a different animal hospital. Be sure to get a copy of all medications (including parasite control meds) that your pet is taking.

If your pet becomes ill or is injured, it’s good to know when it is a true emergency that will require an immediate trip to the animal hospital. Here is a list of 20 conditions that are to be considered an emergency needing immediate care.

1. Unconsciousness
2. Vomiting and or diarrhea, more than two – three times in a three-hour period or if your pet is vomiting blood.
3. Severe bleeding that doesn’t stop within five minutes, or a wound that is open and bleeding, or if bleeding is from the eyes, nose, or mouth.
4. Choking, unable to breath or difficulty breathing, or nonstop coughing
5. Symptoms of bloat, abdominal swollen and hard to the touch, restlessness, panting, retching, or trying to vomit, abdominal pain, or vomiting.
6. Hit by a car (even if you don’t see any visible injuries. There could be internal injuries that you cannot see).
7. Your male cat is straining to urinate or if any pet is straining to urinate or defecate.
8. You pet may have eaten or swallowed something toxic like antifreeze,  rodent poisoning, medication, cleansers, chocolate, grapes, xylitol, petroleum, snail bait, etc.
9. Disorientation
10. Seizures and or staggering or falling over
11. Any injury to the eye
12. Injury or burn where a bone is exposed
13. Refuses to drink for 24 hours
14. Thermal stress, either heat stress or heat stroke, or hypothermia, even if your pet seems to be acting normal.        
15. Broken bones or severe lameness
16. Difficulty breathing and or gums look blue or pale
17. Excessive licking or drooling for an extended period of time.
18. Allergic reaction such as swelling around the face or hives.
19. Snakebite or venomous spider bite.
20. High fever or lethargy. A dog’s normal temperature is 100- 102.5 Degrees. 

You might want to put this list in your pet’s first aid kit so that it will be handy. Stayed tuned for more information on pet emergency care.

About the Author
Karen Ritacco is the owner of Cumberland Pet Grooming & Boutique. She worked as a licensed Veterinary Technician for many years prior to opening Cumberland Pet Grooming in 1989. She is an I.S.C.C. Certified Pet Stylist. Her passion is helping pets to be healthy inside and out. She also carries natural and holistic foods, supplements, treats, and more. Her salon is located at 300 Buffalo Valley Rd. in Cookeville (corner of S Willow). 931-528-7711 cumberlandpetgrooming.com