Starting to cook meals for my terrier. Suggestions requested.

[In_The_Wind]

He is a 2 year old terrier mix. Unknown parents. We rescued him.

Hal loves Pet Fresh chicken with carrots and cranberries.

I'm home so why not cook for him.

Thanks in advance.

I know: no onions, no garlic. Any other no-nos?

[secondwind]

1. Bookmarked. I could use some hints also.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. There are cookbooks with recipes especially for dogs.

Vets have approved the ingredients.

[In_The_Wind]

8. We will be visiting the vet on Feb 12. I'll get cookbook advice from her.

Also, any supplements I need to add.

[mrs_p]

3. I agree that you should use a cookbook

Preferably one approved by a veterinary nutritionist.

It is important that your dog gets grains in his diet. I’m a vet path and have had a number of cases of diet-related cardiomyopathy in youngish dogs.

[flor-de-jasmim]

4. No chocolate, but you probably already know that.

[mollie8]

5. Mollie

I have an 8-year-old Scottish terrier. A couple years ago she had issues with constipation and had to see the vet twice. He first prescribed easy-to-digest Science Diet pet food that did not resolve the issue. Then he prescribed easy-to-digest canned chicken and vegetables (also Science Diet). When I opened the can I thought "I can make that." So I've been making her food since then. I cook chicken thighs or legs. When they are done I take them out of the broth to cool. While they are cooling I put a can of green peas or green beans, some carrots, a stalk of celery, and noodles in to cook. When that's done I stir in 5 eggs (good for the coat, but some say that some dogs are allergic to eggs). I remove the chicken bones and chop the chicken and add it to the veggies. She eats it up and doesn't have any more problems. She's eight years old and in good health.

Good luck with your dog.

[phylny]

6. I've been making my dogs' food for years now, using the Dinovite recipe.

I have no affiliation with the company. I started making their food when one of our dogs got sick from kibble, and then so many were recalled. I thought "Enough!"

Small Batch Recipe

5 lbs. of ground beef (I often use turkey)

5 cups cooked and cooled white rice

9 hard boiled eggs with the shells, cooled (I put these in my food processor)

1-2 cups of Dinovite for Dogs powdered supplement

4 oz. LickOchops or SuprOmega (half a bottle) (I use the fish oil)

I also add a bag or two of peas and carrots.

They do this raw and freeze, I cook the ground meat and let it cool, then add all the other ingredients. You can't add the Dinovite when the mixture is hot. I fill plastic freezer bags with enough food for both for two days. I have small dogs who get 1/4 cup in the morning and 1/4 cup at night.

Here's the website. Good luck!

https://www.dinovite.com/articles/dog-food-recipes/

[procon]

7. Besides food ingredients, you need to add the proper

Mix of vitamins and other essential minerals dogs require for good health. Do it wrong and your pet could have life threatening side effects.

Occasional home cooked food is a nice treat. You can also add some on top of his commercially prepared food. I wouldn't rely on it as the sole source of food.

What about the commercially prepared frozen dog food? Your have the peace of mind knowing it was safe and contained everything needed for good health and nutrition.

[Mr.Bill]

9. We cook chicken hearts and/or gizzards with barley

for our dogs. We put it through the food processor to chop it up because they are small dogs and are missing some teeth. They love it.

[In_The_Wind]

10. Thanks. Hal will love it!

[Mr.Bill]

11. I'm sure he will.

I forgot to mention cook it all at once in the same pot so the barley soaks up the flavor from the hearts.

[Donkees]

12. Link: Why Calcium is Important in Dog Nutrition

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/food/calcium-in-homemade-dog-food/

[In_The_Wind]

13. This is going to take lots of research.

I just found Fresh Pet in a large size bag at BJ's. The price per pound is half what large grocery stores charge.

I'll discuss this with my vet on Friday.

Perhaps the best thing is to feed Fresh Pet supplemented by my home cooked meals.

[Donkees]

14. Some grocers/butchers sell bags of frozen chicken necks/turkey necks for dogs...

I add a thumb size segment of boiled turkey neck a few times a week. The menu can include scalded red leaf or romaine lettuce, string beans, broccoli, sweet potato, potato skins, apples, berries, etc., lean meats, no-salt water-packed tuna, eggs, no-salt low fat cottage cheese. The variety is based on whatever his digestion can handle now. I use a limited ingredient formula dog food, and include some of the fresh foods daily along with a fish oil supplement.