Natural Pet Food, Treats and More
You can make some of the best natural pet food and treats right in your own home! Cooking for your pet can be affordable, rewarding and very healthy!
There are just a few topics I need to touch on to make this a great experience for you and your pets.
• A lot of recipes for natural pet food neglect nutritional value, and many contain ingredients that can be harmful to dogs and cats. Do not feed your pets treats made for people. Also take care when using garlic and onions in your natural pet food and treats. Most dogs will enjoy the taste, but some dogs can be vulnerable. Check with your vet to be sure your dog’s breed is not affected. Do not feed garlic or onions to breeds such as the Akita and Shiba – it can be fatal!
Here is a very helpful list of some products to avoid:
Alcohol, almonds, apple seeds (contains arsenic), apricots (pit can be fatal), avocado seeds and outer skin, caffeine, cherry and peach pits ( contains cyanide), chocolate or cocoa, grapes and raisins, moldy food, mushrooms, MSG, tomato leaves and stems and processed sugar
• Pets have different needs just like us. Some may be a little overweight, have allergies or sensitive taste buds. For proper nutrition they must have fats, protein, carbohydrates and essential vitamins and minerals in their pet food and treats just like us. So, experiment with different recipes and see which ones fit with you and your pets’ lifestyle. Always speak to your veterinarian if your pet has any special dietary needs.
• These natural pet food and treat recipes contain no preservatives. The softer treats and foods should be frozen and defrosted at room temperature as you need. For the harder, biscuit type cookies there is an easy way to preserve them longer. Let the finished treats cool a little and put them back into the oven. ( Make sure the oven is now turned off.) Leave the cookies in the oven, without opening the door, overnight or at least 8 hours. This removes a lot of the moisture which reduces any mold forming. Afterward, you can store the cookies at room temperature in a bag or container that isn’t airtight.
Well, now that you have some quick tips, lets get cookin’!
Low-Fat Beefcake Cookies!
A healthier version of the traditional "Milk Bone"
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 cup Cornmeal
1/4 cup Skim Milk
3/4 cup Beef Stock
3 1/2 oz. Beef Puree ( 1 small jar baby food)
1. Blend dry ingredients together. Set aside.
2. Whisk together liquids. Slowly add flour mixture to stock until a stiff dough is formed.
3. Place dough on floured counter and roll out about 1/2" - 3/4" thick
4. Cut into shapes and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
5.Bake at 375F for 30 minutes, or until cookies are crisp.
6. Let set in cooled oven overnight to preserve cookies
Here's a Quick Guide to Natural Pet Food
from the Only Natural Pet Store
When choosing the right natural food for your dog or cat it is important to remember several factors:
Freshness - The more fresh and less processed the food, the better. As with human food, the more pet food is processed, the more nutrients are lost.
Meat - Dogs and cats are natural carnivores, so it is important that the main source of protein in their diet is meat. Grains are inferior sources of protein and cats especially do not tolerate grains well. Diets with higher grain and carbohydrate content can lead to weight gain and other potential health problems.
Vegetables & Fruits - Vegetables and fruits contain beneficial vitamins and antioxidants and should be included in the diet as well -- to a greater extent for dogs than for cats. Cats are almost exclusively carnivores, so this portion should be smaller for them.
Variety - It is a good idea to feed your pet different types of food, either through rotation or mixing them together. Try different brands and/or different flavors of the same brand. Feeding your pet the same dry food all the time would be like you eating only corn flakes - sure you could survive, but it wouldn't be very healthful or enjoyable. Every meal does not need to be perfectly balanced. Feeding a variety of healthy meals will create balance over the course of the week.
Supplements - Most of the food we offer contains additional ingredients to add vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients. It is always a good idea to also add some fish oil to your pet's food, an excellent source of essential fatty acids, as well as digestive enzymes and an overall multivitamin supplement containing key nutrients (a lot like your daily vitamins, only more important since a pet's diet tends to be less fresh and varied than yours).
With these things in mind, below we've compiled a table summarizing natural pet food in order of nutritional value and health benefits. Raw food is the best, followed by dehydrated and freeze dried, then canned and rolls, then dry kibble. Of course your budget is a factor, because the better quality the food, the more expensive it tends to be.
Don't necessarily want to do the cooking? I understand! There are some fantastic all natural, organic and nutritionally balanced pet foods from Halo, Wellness, Innova, Honest Kitchen, Nature's Variety, Merrick, Natural Balance and more. These commercial foods offer convenience for our busy lifestyles while providing your pet with high-quality nutrition that he'll gobble up!
Type of Food in Order of Nutritional Benefit 
Comes frozen and you keep it in your freezer and thaw it before feeding. Mostly freshly ground meat and bones, and many brands contain fruits and vegtables and sometimes grains as well. Raw chicken and turkey necks are a great way to clean teeth, provide natural calcium and phosphorus, and add variety to a dog's diet; and raw bones are the perfect healthful treat.
Perfect for those who want to feed homemade food but don't have time for the hassle. These mixes take the guesswork out of balanced meals - all you do is add water and the meat of your choice to make a complete meal.
You add water to prepare, in some cases boiled water to speed reconstitution. An excellent choice for adding freshness to a predominantly canned or dry kibble diet.
Great for adding variety into your pet's diet, and definitely better than dry kibble. If you rely primarily on dry kibble, try mixing in some canned food or feeding canned in the morning and dry in the evening (or vice-versa).
Certainly the easiest and least expensive alternative. If you rely primarily on dry food, be sure to supplement with one of the recommendations below. Please note: We do NOT recommend kibble as a large portion of a cat's diet. Feeding dry kibble to cats contributes to many chronic health problems including urinary tract problems, kidney disease, obesity and others.
No matter which type of diet you choose, a good nutritional supplement will help optimize your pet's health by ensuring they get enough of the necessary vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients.
Mutty Meatloaf
They'll "WOOF" this down!
Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground meat
1 c cooked organic oatmeal
3/4 c organic flaxseed meal
1/2 c fresh organic parsley, finely chopped
1 tbl. finely chopped garlic
2 c fresh or frozen organic vegies (peas, corn, potatoes, carrots - no onions)
1. mix all ingredients together with your hands. Transfer the mixture to a loaf pan.
2. Bake at 350F for 1 hour.
Feed according to your dog's size and appetite. You can make a few at a time and freeze them.
Healthy Pets Go Green!
