As per my research, I try for a variety of meats, brown rice, and vegetables that provide vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber that support the health of the entire dog...joints and bones, skin, eyes, digestion, immune system, etc.
Today I did the math. I actually thought that store-bought canned food might come out less expensive than the homecooked version. BUT it turned out that one can of the brand we used before is about 50¢ more expensive than an equivalent amount of my homemade; even considering that I buy ingredients like boneless/skinless chicken thighs and frozen chopped vegetables for convenience. It may not seem worth the trouble to everybody, but for me it is. Especially since I just put it in the slow cooker and add different ingredients during the cooking time, and I only have to make a batch about once per month to six weeks. (And especially since the first benefit we observed was no more stinky flatulence! I can't make any promises that your dog would have the same benefit.)
Homemade Moist Dog Food...do not add any seasonings in the making!
Step 1:
Beef Shank bones (our meat department sells these, I use one or two per batch, or use any bones you may have.)
3 or 4 carrots, washed and sliced
6 cups of water (approximately; bones need to be submerged)
Place above ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on low overnight to make bone broth. In the morning remove the bones placing any marrow back in the broth in pot.
Step 2:
2 to 3 pounds Chicken Thighs (Boneless/skinless cost more but are much more convenient. If you use bone in, remove skin before cooking, and remove all bones before shredding meat.)
Place the chicken thighs into the beef broth, and cook on high for about 4 hours or till cooked through. Remove the chicken and shred it with forks, or pulse in food processor to get a rough chop. Place the chicken back into the broth.
Step 3:
1/2 of a 16 oz bag of frozen Chopped Broccoli
1/2 of a 16 oz bag of frozen Peas & Carrots
1/2 of a 16 oz bag of frozen Cut Green Beans
1/2 of a 16 oz bag of frozen Whole Cranberries
15 oz can of pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
1 1/2 to 2 cups brown rice
Make sure there is at least 4 cups of liquid in the slow cooker with the chicken. Place the brown rice and canned pumpkin into the slow cooker and stir to distribute. Then add about half of each bag of vegetables, and if they are above the level of the liquid, use a spoon to push them into the liquid (they can be a little above the liquid level). Continue cooking on low for about 4 hours, or at least until rice is tender. (Reserve unused portions of frozen vegetables and return to freezer for next batch of homemade dog food.)
- When the rice and vegetables are tender, let cool for an hour or so.
- I separate into 12 oz containers, and attach lids.
- I use painter's tape to label lid with dog's name and the date the batch was made, and store in the freezer.
- We remove a container from the freezer a day or so before it will be needed to give it time to thaw in the refrigerator. Can be placed in microwave for a minute or so if needed to thaw/warm
- We feed a combination of purchased dry food with the homemade food stirred into it.
- Adjust amount used according to dog's size and/or if you use dry kibble with the homemade, Rudy is a 19 pound Jack Russel terrier, and very active. We feed him about 1 cup of purchased dry food and about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the homemade moist food daily. Using in this way and amounts, one batch of homemade food lasts us about 5 weeks.
- I would suggest monitoring your dog for weight increases or decreases and adjust food accordingly.
