Home Made Dog Food – Raw Dog Food Recipe

On another web site I have just read that raw egg is one of several things you should not feed your dog! Comments please.

Hello Sue,

There does seem to be some controversy on this topic.

As you know, I'm not a vet and I have no veterinary training whatsoever.

I personally have always fed my dogs raw egg. Anything in excess is, of course, probably bad. And I certainly don't suggest that anyone feed raw egg as a major part of a dog's diet.

My vet did advise me to feed raw eggs (but then again, most vets are notoriously uneducated in pet nutrition).

If you're worried, ask you vet, and do some more of your own research. (You'll probably find arguments for and against feeding raw eggs, as I have).

Sorry I can't give a more definitive answer.

Regards,
Brigitte

Hi Sue

Just like Brigitte I have always feed raw eggs to my dogs and have never had any problems, I find it helps keep their coats smooth and glossy. I also agree that anything in excess is bad, make sure you vary there diet with fresh meat, vegitables and grain. If you also plan on still using a comercial dry dog food make sure it is a high quality one, make sure cereals are not in the first 3 ingredients.

Yours Tarrah..

I'm a little concerned myself; garlic is another food that is on the "Never feed your dog" list. I don't believe this is debateable.

I realize that you do not claim to be an expert, but be careful of posting potentially dangerous information – as we know, many readers take found information as fact. I would hate for anything negative to happen. Also, I would double check with your vet about the garlic ingredient as well.

Hello Tegan,

Despite your thoughts that garlic is not debateable, there actually seem to be far more authorities in favor of garlic for dogs than the reverse.

Indeed, a large number of natural flea prevention and treatment remedies contain garlic. Garlic and brewers yeast is a pretty well known combination that is good for keeping fleas away.

My own vet actively recommends addition of garlic to dogs' food for optimal health, and to discourage fleas.  (My vet also recommends poisons for flea control, and I prefer not to follow that advice personally).

My conclusions from the garlic controversy is that garlic in large quantities is bad. But in small quantities, there are real benefits.

When you think about it, garlic use for humans is pretty small in comparison to other foods (even for confirmed garlic lovers), since it has such a pungent flavor – so a tiny bit does go a long way, and is all that is required for benefits to accrue.

Again, please ask your vet if you're considering giving your dog garlic and don't feel confident to do so.

And please don't take my opinion as advice in any way. I'm just a dog lover like everyone reading this, and do not profess to have any expertise at all.

Regards,
Brigitte

Brigitte, I have 2 Dalmations, Pongo is 15 years old and has had chronic ear infections since he has been about a year old. Every time I take him to the vet they tell me they need a culture and then give same ear drops. This clears up the yeast infection for about 1 month then comes back. About 2 months ago I started feeding my dogs brown rice, cooked chicken and vegtables. My other Dalmation Happy started getting the yeast in his ears and Pongo's yeast in his ears has cleared up but now the inside of his ears is swollen. Any natural suggestions for either dog would be greatly appreciated

Hello Nancy,

As you know, I am not a vet and I have no veterinary training whatsoever.

There is a natural remedy for ear infections involving yeast infection here – http://www.dog-health-care-information.com/eardoctor

There's also more information on ear problems here – http://healthierdogs.com/?s=ear

Regards,
Brigitte

Hi Brigitte,

I have tried Angel my now 2 year old Dal on raw, not interested. So I went back to Kibble, I feed her Solid Gold and add healthy scraps to it. What I would like to do is cook for her, not raw but I can't seem to find any sites that actually gives me recipes or guidelines for home "cooked" meals. Do you have any ideas, anything would be appreciated.

Thanks

I have read that garlic & broccoli are both poisonous to dogs an I see they are ingredients in your recipe for dog food.

Debe,

See comments above!

Regards,
Brigitte

Brigitte I'm going to pick-up a puppy, (Blue Picardy Spaniel) next weekend. I have never fed raw to "Abbey", my already at home (Am. Cocker), but I am planning to switch her over at the same I introduce "Cyrano" (pup) to our home. Any suggestions on the switch for "Abbey" and /or a good starter mix that will suit both dogs ??

Kevin
p.s. I have a substantial supply of venison and we grow a productive garden.

Hi Kevin,

For puppies, your vet may recommend a bonemeal supplement.

Other than that, you can probably feed both the puppy and Abbey the same foods. Of course, young puppies need their food chopped up or minced so they can manage it. As they grow, the pieces can be larger and include bones.

Venison is fine as the meat source. And of course, you should include some vegetables in your dogs' diet. And what could be better than home grown fresh veges?

Regards,
Brigitte

Hi Norine,

I was just re-reading these comments, and realized that I missed yours entirely. Sorry about that.

You can find one or two recipes for home cooked dog food here on this site if you look around, – search for – recipes – in the search box at the top of the page.

And there is an excellent ebook full of dog food recipes here – http://www.pet-care-information.com/dog/recipes.html

Regards,
Brigitte

Brigitte

I have a 6 month old bloodhound that is shedding more than normal…hand fulls when I brush him. I feed him Solid Gold and put Fish Oil in his food. I bath him with an all natural shampoo as well. Is there anything I can do extra to help with this.

Thanks, ginger

Of course you can feed your dog raw egg. In fact on the farm, the only way to know which of your dogs were getting the eggs was to notice which dog had the shinier coat……Eve

Eggs are very nutritious, and for dogs (unlike humans), won't harm the cardiovascular system if fed in any reasonable amount.

As a biologist, physiologist, and experienced university teacher of nutrition, food safety and biochemistry, my one concern with raw eggs is that they can interfere with the vitamin biotin in the body. So it may not be wise to feed them to dogs or humans on a daily basis. With my own dogs, I address this possible problem this by giving cooked eggs several times a week, but raw eggs only once or twice a week. Also, I give a small amount of biotin supplement, and/or a B-vitamin tablet containing biotin, in a meal at or about the time I feed the raw egg. Usually it is small portion of the B-vitamin tablet I take every day.

To my way of thinking, variety is best in diet. This is why I like to use both raw and cooked eggs, and also raw and lightly cooked meats. Fish I would only serve raw if it is of a grade safe for human consumption raw, due to the very real possible presence of parasites. Canned fish is a fine inexpensive alternative – mackerel is great, with fine edible bones for phosphorus and calcium, and also those great omega-3 fatty acids.

I'm not a vet, but I keep this in mind: many recommendations for the human diet are based on research conducted originally with dogs. Also, since dogs are carnivores, logically, they frequently should have some raw meat.

Thanks so much for your contribution, Brian.

Such great comments and suggestions – pretty much common sense, really, but with all the misinformation around, it's easy to overlook common sense sometimes.

You may not be a vet, as you point out, but it certainly sounds as if you have a multitude of appropriate qualifications, such that you are clearly in a much better position than the vast majority of vets to pass comment on the nutritional requirements of dogs.

Regards,
Brigitte

Ginger,

Sorry, I missed your question.

You seem to be doing many of the right things. Perhaps try some fresh, raw food?

Regards,
Brigitte

Hi Brigitte,
Great work on your ebook and your site. Have you read through rawlearning.com? It's an excellent site about raw feeding for dogs! I'm sure, being a raw feeder yourself, that you would appreciate the info and links there.

Kind Regards
Sarah.

Please, listen to them, don't feed your dog grains they can't process it! Go through as much of this site as possible it's a fantastic find.