The following meats can be fed:
chicken, lamb, beef, turkey, eggs
When feeding muscle meats, only feed one at a time, in other words try not to combine meats when possible.
Ground meat is most generally used as it is the easiest for mixing vegetables and supplements in, but meat chunks can be fed.
Feed meats with normal fat content as dogs and cats require the raw fat for healthy skin.
Do not feed fat by itself as this could potentially lead to pancreatitis.
Do not feed fat that has been cooked as a dog or cat cannot digest cooked fat.
Cooked fat can also potentially lead to a problem such as pancreatitis. Many pets have been known to get pancreatitis after their owners have fed them the cooked skin of the chicken they were eating. Of course, the owner thought they were giving the dog or cat a nice treat or snack, but it can cause health problems.
Although some specialty meats are more expensive, I occasionally feed them to add variety.
Examples of specialty meats are: moose, musk ox, bison, and venison.
The good news about specialty meat is that the meat is usually very pure.
If you are feeding poultry, such as boneless chicken thighs, use the raw skin as the source of fat. Since we feed a normal amount of fat, use a normal amount of skin. As an example, if you feed say some meat that is 1 inch (2.5 cm) square, then use enough skin to cover the surface of the meat.
When feeding poultry, feed dark meat rather than white meat. Dark meats have more nutrition than white meat.
You can if you want, soak any utensils that have come in contact with meat, especially poultry in a solution of hot water and grapefruit seed extract.
Grapefruit seed extract will be available at any health food store so just ask a clerk. They usually have pamphlets which give you an idea of how many drops of extract to use.
A small bottle of extract can last one, maybe two years and has many uses.
Meats You Shouldn't Feed:As mentioned, we do not feed meats that can cause trichinosis.
Trichinae develop as adults in the intestines and as larvae in the muscles, causing intestinal disorders, fever, nausea, muscular pain, and edema of the face. Trichinosis is therefore the disease caused by trichinae.
So we simply do not feed any meat that can cause trichinosis.
Meats that cause trichinosis include, but are not limited to:
bear
pork
wolf
lynx
seal
walrus
wolverine
ground squirrels
fox (arctic and red)
The interesting thing is, and I don't have an answer for this, but the Inuit (Eskimo) always fed their huskies raw seal meat and probably raw walrus meat too. I am not sure how this affected the health of the huskies, but nonetheless, it is not advisable to feed any meat that can cause trichinosis.
Further to this, the Inuit always did and still do eat raw seal and walrus meat themselves. Again, I am not sure how or if this affects their health but personally I wouldn't feed or eat any meat that can potentially cause trichinosis.
Organ Meatsheart, liver, kidney, pancreas, gizzards, brain
Feed organ meats a maximum of twice per week as they are more nutritionally satiated with nutrients and too much organ meat is not good.
My personal favourite is heart because of its high taurine content.
Taurine is an essential amino acid.
If you get your butcher to mince the organ meat, ask them if they could possibly add a little fat, not a lot, about 10%.
Vegetables You Can FeedYou can feed as many vegetables as you want at one time. I like to use at least three or more always in combination.
asparagus
beets
broccoli
Brussels sprouts
cabbage
carrots
cauliflower
celery
collard
corn
dandelion leaves
kale
kohlrabi
okra
parsley
parsnips
peas (& pods)
pumpkin
rutabagas
sprouts
squash
sweet potatoes
Swiss chard
turnips
zucchini
Use small amounts of parsley as it is a natural diuretic.
With beets, start slowly as they naturally purge the system.
Some squashes may need slight cooking to soften the rind.
When using greens like dandelion, Swiss chard, or kale, just remember the bigger the leaves the more bitter the taste.
If you are in the mood, during the early spring, simply go to a field or an area where there is no chemical spraying and pick some dandelion. Remember, the smaller the leaves, the less bitter the taste. If you are not able to pick your own dandelion leaves, then some health food stores and even some grocery stores sell organic dandelion leaves in the produce section.
If you are in the mood, during the early autumn, you can go to a field or an area where there is no chemical spraying and dig up some dandelion root.
Dandelion leaves are best eaten in the early spring but can be eaten all year.
Dandelion roots are best eaten in the early autumn but can also be eaten all year.
Just remember that dandelion leaves and roots can be bitter and so don't overwhelm your pet otherwise the bitterness may be too much. But you can test to see where the limit is.
A simple rule of paw: vegetables that are darker in colour generally have more nutrition.
For example, red cabbage is more nutritious than green cabbage.
Vegetables You Shouldn't FeedStay away from nightshade vegetables as some say they can cause skin problems and small sores in and around the mouth area.
Nightshade vegetables have been known to aggravate gastrointestinal problems, increase intestinal gas (like we need more of this), and cause indigestion.
Act 3 - Scene 1:Vegetables
Vegetables are raw unless you are using a squash which may require some cooking to soften the rind.
Use as many vegetables at one time as you can.
Preparing Vegetables:
Simply wash your vegetables, put them into a food processor and chop them as fine as you can.
If the veggies are not chopped extremely fine (about the size of a flea) you will see them come out in the stools. The finer, the better.
If you do not have a food processor then you will need to use a hand grater.
You may find that after using the hand grater that you may need to additionally chop the vegetables with a chopping knife.
If you see vegetables come out in the stools, then you are either not chopping the vegetables fine enough and/or your companion will really benefit from supplemental digestive enzymes to help digest the vegetables.
Chop enough vegetables to last about 3 days.
Put Your Finely Chopped Vegetables Into A Tupperware Container And Store Them In The Fridge
Free Tips:
If you want, you may prepare more than enough vegetables, freeze them and then remove them as needed.
It is best to keep your meats, and vegetables in separate containers.
If one should spoil, you will not have lost everything.
Nightshade vegetables may also be a factor in arthritis, stiff legs, and in calcium problems.
Members of the nightshade family include:
eggplants
green peppers
potatoes
onions (toxic to dogs and cats)
chives (toxic to dogs and cats)
garlic (toxic to dogs and cats)
tomatoes
Act 3 - Scene 2Preparing Meat
Take 1 pound of meat and remove it from the freezer.
Place in the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight.
It is not advisable to microwave the meat to get it thawed.
Once thawed, pour 1 cup of water into a mixing bowl.
Now add the ground meat and stir.
I find that chicken contains more moisture than other meats and so I lower the water added to about ¾ (maybe a little less) of a cup when preparing chicken.
Mix the meat in the water as this helps to put moisture back into the food.
I find raw meat can last up to 4 or 5 days in the fridge.
Put The Water Saturated Meat Into A Tupperware Container And Store In The Fridge
It’s a good idea to soak utensils and the mixing bowl in at least hot water after they have come in contact with raw meat, especially chicken. In addition to soaking the utensils and the bowl in hot water, some like to add grapefruit seed extract to the water as mentioned previously to help kill bacteria. Grapefruit seed extract is available at any health food store.
Act 3 - Scene 3
Preparing Eggs
Eggs are a little different from meat in preparation.
They should not be fed raw too often as the raw egg white can cause a loss of biotin (a B-vitamin).
To prevent the loss of biotin, eggs should be soft boiled to kill the avidin which is the cause of the biotin problem.
As a guideline, use approximately 1 egg for every 10 to 15 pounds your dog or cat weighs.
Bring some water to a boil in a saucepan.
Once boiling, remove from the heat.
Add the eggs and let them soak in the hot water for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, remove the eggs and crack them in the bowl or on the plate to stop the cooking process.
Although raw food is best, in this case, the slight cooking still allows the egg to maintain plenty of nutrients while helping to kill the avidin.
I like to feed eggs on cold days because the eggs are guaranteed to be warm.
It is a good idea to keep eggs on hand.
Should you forget to thaw some meat, at least you have eggs ready to go in the fridge.
The preparation of the food is complete. Time for feeding.
Eggs are a wonderful food to feed especially since free range eggs are now readily available!
Free range eggs are relatively affordable, nutritious, pure and healthy.
Act 3 - Scene 4
Feeding
Remove the two Tupperware containers from the fridge.
The following is a guide for you to use and is presented in a ratio format; therefore, increase or decrease the amount needed based on the ratio.
Please remember, this is only a general guideline. If you think your pet will need more specific guides, consult a veterinarian that is familiar with a fresh food program.
Mix the two foods in the following suggested proportions:
Mature Dogs: 2 spoonfuls of meat to 1 spoonful vegetables
Mature Cats: 3 spoonfuls of meat to 1 spoonful vegetables
Puppies: 3 spoonfuls of meat to 1 spoonful vegetables
Kittens: 3 spoonfuls of meat to 1 spoonful vegetables
Once you have the necessary amount of food in the bowl, add hot water until the food becomes the consistency of a thick stew.
The hot water takes the chill off the food, replaces the water naturally found in the prey, and volatizes the odour.
Once you have added the hot water, then add other nutritional supplements.
This way the hot water is not poured directly onto the supplements.
Mix and serve.
Your dog or cat should decide when they have eaten enough and they should walk away with something still left in the bowl.
If you are feeding eggs, they will replace the spoonfuls of meat.
The combination of food does not have to be accurate, just close. Instead of a spoon you may use cups or tablespoons for measuring based upon your requirements.
These are just guidelines.
Some pets may like, need or want more meat or vegetables. Watch your companion as they will provide clues to what they need. Also, if on one day you are short of vegetables then increase the amount of meat and provide extra vegetables the next day. Give the body what it needs and the body will do the rest.
Suggested Frequency of Feeding:
The important thing to remember about the number of times you feed each day is to watch your dog or cat; puppy or kitten. Your pet will give the clues. Watch and respond.
My guide below is just that, a guide. Although between 6 - 12 months I suggest 2 feedings per day, you may find that your pet needs 3 or maybe only 1 feeding.
You will know if your pet still needs the suggested number of feedings each day because your pet will still eat a full meal at the feeding. At the same time, if your pet doesn't eat a full meal at a feeding, then it probably means that you can remove that feeding.
Large breed dogs may require two feedings per day until about 2 years of age as it takes longer for their body to fully develop.
If you begin feeding your puppy or kitten a homemade diet from a very young age, then you will naturally notice your puppy or kitten stop eating or reduce its food intake at a certain feeding. You may notice that at about 2 months of age that your puppy or kitten will only want 3 to 4 meals. At the same time, you may notice that your puppy or kitten will want 4 to 6 meals a day until it is 4 months old. Your pet will give you the clues. Just watch and respond.
If you have rescued a puppy, kitten, dog or cat, then you may notice that it needs extra feedings each day as its body has been starving for a while. Once its body is fully satiated with nutrition, then chances are you will see that your rescued pet will be more along the lines of my guide below. Watch and respond.
Feeding your pet the appropriate number of times when a puppy or kitten is crucial to allowing your puppy's or kitten's body to develop fully and completely. When you feed a natural, raw meat died combined with the proper number of feedings per day, then you will notice that your pet will develop much better than other pets who have been fed a commercial diet. This is because your pet will have received the proper nutrition to develop properly. Many pets today have cramped teeth, hip problems, joints problems and more... all of which can be prevented either partially or fully when good food is fed properly.
My guide is based on my own experiences. I watched how my puppies responded to my feedings. Your puppies or kittens may be slightly different. Watch and respond... that's the beauty of homemade food for dogs and cats... you become an active participant in your pet's health and well-being and when you do, there is such joy... the joy of doing with love.
The last thing to remember about feeding is that when you do feed, let your pet eat as much as your pet wants at each meal.
Age Feedings Per Day
1 - 3 months 4 to 6 times per day
3 - 6 months 3 to 4 times per day
6 - 12 months 2 times per day
1 year and older once per day (depending on their breed, maturity and for cats, whether or not they hunt)
Act 3 - Scene 5:
Additional Notes About Feeding
It has been my experience that puppies and kittens will tell you when to remove a meal from their daily intake because they simply won’t want to eat as many meals.
After your puppy or kitten has eaten its food, it doesn't hurt to massage their stomach. This helps to get the digestive system working and to help with elimination. This helps to simulate the licking and massaging that their mother would naturally do.
Once your dog or cat has finished eating, put any uneaten food into the meat container and feed the next day.
Try not to combine meats, but at the same time do not waste food. In other words, if you’re feeding beef today and most of it goes and tomorrow you want to feed lamb, then feed the lamb and add the remaining beef to the lamb. Just try to minimize this, that's all.
If your dog or cat does not immediately go for the food, read the following part entitled “encouragement”.
Don’t leave the food on the floor forever. You want to get your pet into a routine so that all the food is eaten within 10 to 15 minutes of placing the food on the floor. Once again, if you are having problems with this, read the following part entitled “encouragement”, but at the same time, make sure your companion eats food (even if this means you need to feed some commercial pet food with homemade food to get them to eat).
Put uneaten food back into the fridge and use with the next meal.
This program will only takes minutes a day once organized.
Now, just maintain your food supply. For example, do some veggies or meat as needed. That’s it!
Grains:
In the past, many homemade foods have contained grains. However, leading animal nutritionists and holistic veterinarians are no longer suggesting that grains be used.
It is suggested that with grains removed, pets (including my own) eat significantly less food over a period of time (the food intake can drop by as much as ½ or more) and in general, many pets do a lot better without grains.
Holistic vets and animal nutritionists are saying that our carnivore friends can obtain all of the nutrients found within grains from the combination of meats and vegetables.
Grains are not eaten in large amounts by carnivores and since it appears grains can be hard on a carnivore's digestive system, many people are no longer feeding grains.
If you are going to feed grains, then digestive enzymes should definitely be used to give extra digestive assistance. Your carnivore friend will greatly benefit from the digestive enzyme called amylase. Amylase helps to digest carbohydrates and starches.
By not feeding grains however, you remove properties like gluten from our pet’s foods. Gluten, along with other properties of grains may be a factor in hidden allergies our pets are suffering from and grains may also be a factor in problems like candida.
If you do want to add some grains to bulk up the food, I would use grains in a flake or rolled form. I would only feed the amount of grains necessary to meet your needs, and if you don’t need to use grains, then I would not.
I do not suggest or recommend the feeding of grains for two reasons:
Grains are not needed and your pet's health will generally improve without grains.
I'm lazy and grains need to be cooked. By not feeding grains, you will increase the speed, efficiency and ease of feeding a natural diet.
Let's keep it simple and let's keep our pet's healthy by not feeding grains, but if you are going to use grains, here is a list of some grains you can use and how to cook them:
brown rice, oats, barley, millet, amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa (keen-wah).
Grains are available if necessary from your local health food store.
In a saucepan, add 1½ cups of water, bring to boil, add 1 cup of any combination of grains that are in their flake or rolled form (for example: oat flakes, barley flakes, millet flakes and so on). Cook for 2 or 3 minutes, then turn off the heat. Cover the saucepan. Allow to cool. Once it is cool, the grains are cooked.
Act 3 - Scene 6:
Encouragement
Sometimes when you begin feeding homemade dog food and/or homemade cat food, your dog or cat will not accept it right away. There can be a few reasons for this. The dog or cat may be addicted to the ingredients used in commercial pet foods and sometimes the pet appear to be stubborn.
The good news is that my experience has shown that about 85% of dogs and cats immediately eat homemade dog food/homemade cat food with no questions asked. About 13% require some encouragement and about 2% appear to be just plain stubborn.
Something of interest that I am also noticing now is that more and more pets simply refuse to eat commercial pet food. This refusal to eat is not just happening in North America.
I remember when I was contacted by a person in Malaysia whose cats were not keen on eating commercially prepared pet food. Many dogs and cats, just like the cats in Malaysia, are thankful when you begin feeding good, wholesome homemade food.
Don't be surprised if the look given by your animal friend is an expression of, "Well, it's about time you fed me some good, wholesome homemade food!".
I always tell people to find out where the limits are and start from there. But, the last thing we want to do is put your cat or dog under any stress. I repeat, the last thing we want to do is put your dog or cat under any stress. If you create stress, then you will create tension between you and your pets.
The limit where we should all start from is simply feeding 100% fresh, wholesome foods. As stated, most pets do accept homemade food immediately, but if they don’t, then do not force the new food on them because this accomplishes nothing... and then not only is your pet stressed but so are you!
Why make things difficult? Why make things stressful?
Relax! Breathe!
If your dog or cat will not go for homemade food immediately, then we need to encourage them. We now work backwards so to speak to see where the individual limit of your dog or cat is.
For some dogs, we may simply need to put some honey, maple syrup, or a little cheese on the food. For our feline friends, it may be that we just need to sprinkle the food with some catnip (catnip by the way is used as a herbal remedy in many situations including upset stomachs and as an antispasmodic).
Other choices for encouraging your dog or cat to accept homemade food include adding in some of their old food. Maybe you need to start off with a 50/50 mixture, maybe a 99/1 mixture, maybe only a 1/99 mixture, or any other combination of old food to new food. Honestly, I can't tell you what you will need to do as every dog and cat is an individual to say the least.
In other instances, it may be important to notice if:
your pet prefers to eat while you’re eating or not while you’re eating
your pet may want to eat by itself or it may prefer to eat near your other pets
your pet needs to be stroked to get them to eat while with others you may have to get them excited in other ways such as pretending to eat their food (I’ve done this one before and it works, just remember to say yum, yum, yum while pretending to eat their food).
What's important is to remember that if your pet does not accept the new food with no strings attached, then you will need to encourage them. Work with your dog or cat, not against him or her.
Be a negotiator, listen to the needs of your pets. However, always remember that every day you want to get just a little bit closer to 100% fresh food.
It does not matter how long it takes to get to the point where you are feeding only homemade food, as long as you get there. It could take as little as one day or as long as one year to get your pet to only eat wholesome homemade pet food.
I sometimes find that a cat or dog may want to eat homemade food, but the human (that would be you) is slow to provide only wholesome food and continues to feed some commercial pet foods.
Oh, I hear all of the silly excuses people give for not simply feeding straight fresh foods!
Always remember, if your pet wants the food, then why not give it to them! In this case it is not the pet that needs encouragement, but rather the human!
The purer the foods, the more pure your pet. With all the talk now of the preservatives, additives, fillers, low and poor quality ingredient used in many commercially prepared pet foods, it only seems appropriate we do the best for our animal friends. Therefore, don’t be nervous.
There are a million and one reasons why not to feed homemade food or to introduce the food slowly, but if your pet wants wholesome food, you only need one reason to completely introduce fresh food.
To get to the point where you are feeding only homemade food, you may need to be creative.
Perhaps you will find that you may need to reduce the vegetables for a while until your dog or cat accepts them. Your dog or cat may also only eat certain meats or vegetables. Conversely, maybe your pet will not care what meat or vegetables are fed. The only one that knows for sure is your pet.
You just never know what one dog or cat will prefer to the next. For example, I’ve heard of cats that will only eat their food if it contains broccoli. Strange, don’t you think?
Well, if that’s strange, consider this. I’ve heard of other cats that like to eat the sprouts produced by the Chia Pet. I can only assume that because sprouts are high in enzymes, the cats enjoyed the sprouts as they probably aided digestion. Basically my point is, don’t fall prey to stereotypes. Each cat and dog is unique.
Stubborn Pets = Stubborn Humans:
In all my years of feeding fresh, homemade foods, I have yet to meet a stubborn pet, only stubborn humans.
If your pet is being stubborn and not wanting to eat fresh, wholesome foods, then step back and take a look at yourself. Chances are that you are the one being stubborn. Chances are you are the one that is forcing your pet to eat a natural homemade diet when your pet may not be totally ready.
I have yet, in all of my years of feeding homemade pet food, to meet a stubborn pet, only stubborn humans.
Homemade food should be fed always with love. Without love, then the homemade diet is missing the most important ingredient of all.
If you are feeding your pet and creating stress then you are doing the opposite of what should be done... feed with love always.
So if you are one of those stubborn humans who pets are trying to send you the message of "relax" by refusing to eat their food, then listen to your pet and relax.
Over the years people have contacted me and told me that their pet simply refuses to eat their new, wholesome food. Immediately when this happens, I know that I am dealing with a stubborn human and so I tell them to relax. Next I let them know that I have taken pets who refused to eat a natural diet and within 1 week, I've had them eating a 100% homemade diet quite easily.
So if you are a stubborn human whose pet is refusing to eat their new homemade food, then here's what you need to do:
Day 1: Feed 99% old food, 1% raw meat.
Day 2: Feed 95% old food, 5% raw meat.
Day 3: Feed 90% old food, 10% raw meat.
Day 4: Feed 75% old food, 25% raw meat.
Day 5: Feed 65% old food, 35% raw meat.
Day 6: Feed 50% old food, 50% raw meat.
Day 7: Feed 40% old food, 60% raw meat.
Day 8: Feed 30% old food, 70% raw meat.
Day 9: Feed 20% old food, 80% raw meat.
Day 10: Feed 10% old food, 90% raw meat.
Day 11: Feed 100% raw meat.
Once your pet is eating 100% raw meat, now you slowly introduce some vegetables in the same way.
You may find that your pet will welcome more raw meat faster than the chart above and if that happens, give the amount of raw meat that your pet will accept.
This whole method is designed to simply let your pet get used to the smell, texture and taste of the raw meat without putting your pet under any stress. By starting with 1% raw meat, it's a nice and gentle introduction that doesn't stress your pet.
Of course, if your pet is willing to accept 100% wholesome foods at day 1, then no need to use this chart. This chart is only meant for stubborn humans whose pets are refusing to eat the new food in order to send you (the human) a message... that message being to relax!
If you are a stubborn human and if your pet were a doctor, then your pet would definitely suggest you take a chill pill!!
Have fun, relax... and be your pet's friend.
Some Reminders:
Try not to use items like canned tuna or salmon. These items are high in salt and your dog or cat can become addicted to these foods, and never never feed chocolate to your dog or cat. Chocolate is poisonous to them and the smallest amount can kill them. Don't take the chance.
It’s true that some pets can eat a whole chocolate bar and be supposedly fine, but why take the chance when the smallest amount can kill them.
If you’re feeding your pet chocolate then you will need the professional help of a qualified veterinarian to help your pet come off the chocolate to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Act 3 - Scene 7:
Distractions
Beside using certain foods, or treats if needed to encourage your pet to eat the new foods, you should also be aware of distractions.
I personally do not feed when the mail is being delivered, or when someone is entering the home, while I am eating, when I am walking up and down the stairs or when guests come over and so on.
The best time to feed is when it is convenient for you and when the dogs and cats are relaxed, with little or nothing to distract them.
What will distract your dog or cat, well, you know your pet better than anyone, so you’ll have to figure this out on your own.
Always remember, each dog and cat is different and have unique personalities of their own. Some pets may not get distracted at all, while some get easily distracted.
Have you ever wondered why so many dogs and cat are sick today?This is a question I ask myself often, especially since I’ve had sick dogs and cats myself. In fact, I began to ponder this question so much that I began searching for answers.
Health is normal while illness is not. Unfortunately, we have come to a point in society where illness is so prevalent in pets and humans that we now believe illness is normal. Strange but true!
We have lost sight of the fact that we are all meant to be healthy and vibrant. Years of unhealthy eating and unhealthy lifestyles are finally taking their toll.
We all know that the more wholesome we eat as humans, the healthier we will be. The same can be said for our pets. So the questions are:
Why do we feed our pets unnatural pet foods?
Was commercial pet food created for the benefits of pets or the convenience of humans?
How can commercial pet foods be 100% balanced when the needs of pets are as individual as their personalities?
If commercial pet foods are 100% balanced, then why are so many pets sick?
Nutrition is a science and like any science it is always changing. We discover more each day about nutrition just like we do with chemistry, physics, astronomy and other sciences. It’s absurd to think any food can be 100% complete, but I guess it’s the absurdity that sells commercial pet foods.
