With the recalls and all the bad things in over the counter pet food, please consider cooking for your dog.  It really is not as scare as it sounds.  Here is all theinformation you need.

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.
    Preparing Meat

• 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.

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.

 

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:

• 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. Read Part 1 - Scene 4 for more information on how much to feed your pets.

• If you are feeding eggs, then the eggs replace the meat. Read Part 3 - Scene 3 for more information on eggs.

The combination of food does not have to be accurate, just close. You can use a spoon, cup, or whatever you want to use 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.

Feeding Examples:

I have found that some people who read this page don't fully absorb the information provided.

I get emails from people who ask the following sort of questions:

"I have a Rottweiler and feeding him 2 parts meat and 1 part vegetables will not be enough. So how much do I feed him?"

"When I was feeding my dog dry food, I fed him 1 cup of food. So how much do I feed him now?"

These are the sort of questions I sometimes get asked and so this information regarding feeding examples is designed to help ensure everyone understands how to feed a natural, raw meat diet.

I believe that the people who asked these sorts of questions overlooked the obvious information on this page because they were conditioned to feed exact amounts of foods due to years of feeding commercial pet foods. By adding this segment to this page, I hope that everything will be clarified.

So, let's begin... we all know that on a bag or can of commercial pet food there are feeding instructions that will say to feed a certain amount of food based on the weight, age, etc of your pet. But this method of feeding does not work with a natural, raw meat diet. In fact, this approach of feeding a specific amount of food to your pet cannot and will never allow your pets to get all the nutrition they need.

Pets today are not starving for food. But pets today are starving for nutrition! I repeat, pets today are not starving for food, but instead, their bodies are starving for nutrition.

When you feed commercial pet foods you are feeding processed, refined and enzyme depleted foods.

When you feed a natural, raw meat based diet, you are feeding unprocessed, unrefined whole foods that still contain some enzymes.

I like to emphasize to people to feed their pets wholesome foods. Nobody can argue or dispute the fact that wholesome foods are important for good health. For some, they believe that feeding a commercial diet is the best diet for their pets. Others believe that feeding homemade cooked foods is the best for their pets... but for me, I personally consider a wholesome diet for pets to be one that consists of whole foods (unlike commercial pet foods that are refined and processed) and I believe that a wholesome diet consists of foods that best simulate what Mother Nature herself would provide. It's for this reason that feeding cooked meats does not qualify, in my opinion, as wholesome because Mother Nature feeds carnivores raw meat.

Since pets have been eating (for generations) poor quality foods, their bodies are starving for nutrition.

Until our pets start to eat wholesome foods, they will always be starving for nutrition.

Our pets may not be starving for food, but they are starving for nutrition. Since our pets are starving for nutrition, feeding a specific amount of food will never allow our pets to get all of the nutrition they require. Our pets can only get their bodies full of nutrition if we allow them to eat all the food they want until they walk away from the bowl with some food left in it.

Now it's important to note that feeding your pets all they want only works when you feed a natural and wholesome raw meat diet because this is the only diet that ultimately allows our pets to get their nutritional fuel tanks full of nutrition.

If you feed your pets all they want of commercial pet food or cooked meats then their nutritional fuel tanks will never get full meaning they will always need a lot of food and they will have an endless stomach. Only a wholesome raw meat diet has the power and ability to end the endless stomachs that so many pets have... and again, pets have endless stomachs not because they are starving for food, but because they are starving for nutrition!

So let's get back to the information on this page. The feeding proportions are just that, proportions... not amounts.

To understand how much to feed your pet, please refer again to Part 1 - Scene 4 for more information. I cannot stress enough how important it is to read Part 1 - Scene 4 as the information on that page works in combination with the information on this page.

So if you review the chart above, you will see that I am talking about ratios. A ratio is defined by Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary as:

• the relationship in quantity, amount, or size between two or more things

The chart above does not indicate how much to feed, but rather only the ratio between meats and vegetables. The amount you feed your pet is determined by your pet! All you do is mix the meat and vegetables together in the ratio.

You can mix using spoons, cups or whatever you want to use. Your measurements or whatever you want as the tool used for measuring does not matter... all that matters is the ratio between meat and vegetables. Please remember, the measurements do not need to be exact... just close.

So here again is my chart on suggested proportions:

Based on this chart, let's take a look at some feeding examples.

Examples for mature dogs:

• For mature dogs, the ratio is 2:1.
• If you feed 10 spoonfuls of meat, then you will need to add 5 spoonfuls of vegetables.
• If you feed 2 cups of meat, then you will need to add 1 cup of vegetables.
• If you feed 1 spoonful of meat, then you will need to add 1/2 spoonful of vegetables.

Examples for mature cats, puppies and kittens:

• For mature cats, puppies and kittens the ratio is 3:1.
• If you feed 3 spoonfuls of meat, then you will need to add 1 spoonful of vegetables.
• If you feed 2 spoonfuls of meat, then you will need to add 2/3 spoonful of vegetables.
• If you feed 1 spoonful of meat, then you will need to add 1/3 spoonful of vegetables.
• If you feed 3 cups of meat, then you will need to add 1 cup of vegetables.
• If you feed 2 cups of meat, then you will need to add 2/3 cup of vegetables.
• If you feed 1 cup of meat, then you will need to add 1/3 cup of vegetables.

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!

 

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.

By not feeding grains 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.

I do not suggest or recommend the feeding of grains for three reasons:

1. Grains are not needed and your pet's health will generally improve without grains.

2. 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.

3. It is common knowledge that good food combining means that grains and animal proteins should not be eaten together. When grains are fed with an animal protein, the result is poorer digestion. This might be the reason why pets who do not eat grains generally speak eat less food than those pets who do eat grains. As digestion improves, the body is able to extract more nutrition from less food. This ultimately means the body requires less food to get more nutrition. Once the body gets enough nutrition, it stops eating.

Let's keep it simple and let's keep our pet's healthy by not feeding grains.

 

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

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