THIS BLOG ENTRY IS A FOLLOW-UP TO 48-Hours of Caring for Sick and Elderly.Sage Makin, Little Wonder-Dog’s Recovery in Images - November 10, 2008.) 

Synchronicity is interesting!  A Today Show segment, November 8, 08, discussed the healthiest food choices for dogs, and what to avoid.  The interviewee, pet expert, Andrea Arden raved about Wellness.  (Please check out an earlier blog entry of mine, Dog Food that’s Safe and Delicious, March 20, 2007.)

Wellness is likely one the best commercial brands on the market, for now, and Lev and Sage have been enjoying two of their more recent products, "Just For Puppy Treats" and" Small Breed Supermix 5."  Though both dogs are really out of the age range for these, they seem to thrive on them. The one packet of their "Just for Seniors" that we tried had a funny smell and texture.  After Lev and Sage struggled to finish it, I decided the product wasn’t for us.  Also, some of the canned (soft) food seemed to upset both dogs’ stomachs and give them bad breath…

Following Sage’s oral surgery, I had little choice but to try making dog food myself, something that would give the little chap essential nutrients for a speedy recovery and not have to be crunched.  As you’ll know from other blog entries, I don’t tend to record exact ingredients or instructions (The Cooking Gene—No Exact Recipes, Wholesome Cuisine 2: Cookies and Scones, September 25, 2008;  The Cooking Gene—No Exact Recipes, Wholesome Cuisine 1: Soups, September 22, 2008)  Here is what I used (roughly) for the dog food: 

Ingredients for Dog Food, with Chicken or Beef as Primary Protein
(all fresh, not frozen)

• 2 large heads of broccoli
• 4 large sweet potatoes
• 1 pack of baby carrots
• 1 pack of Lundberg Short Grain Brown Rice
• 2 cups of flaxmeal
• 4 packs of minced chicken
• 2 packs of minced beef
• Extra virgin olive oil (to cook the meat)
• A couple of cups of water, for cooking and blending ingredients

Cooking

Microwave all ingredients (separately) except the meat and poultry, which are cooked on the stove (also separately) in a large frying pan with a dash of olive oil.

Semi-Purée

All ingredients are blended except the rice, which remains whole and is added in last.  

Portioning

Two thirds of the vegetables and starches are mixed with the chicken and one third with the beef.  

32 (snack-food size) containers of freezable food are made in total—5 - 6 meal helpings in each, depending on the pet’s size and whether anything else is added at mealtime. There are 12 containers with beef and 20 with chicken.

I decided to start Sage off with the beef, since there’d be more iron with that (and he’d lost quite a bit of blood).

Food Toppers

To make the food more nutritious and interesting, I bought the following food toppers to sprinkle before serving:

• The Missing Link Canine Formula
• Liver Sprinkle
• Salmon Flakes

Preparation Time

Approximately two hours (+ shopping time).

Supply

Approximately 6 weeks’ worth of food (that freezes and defrosts well).

Please Note

I am not an expert in pet nutrition, but relied on common sense, enthusiasm and creativity for this project.  Even if these recipes aren’t perfect, likely they’re a lot better than most store-bought options.

Some Important Considerations for My Home-Cooking, Whether for Caninekind or Humans:

1.  Choose unprocessed ingredients.
2.  Prepare with love and care.
3.  Remember that what goes in must come out (hopefully, with good consistency and color, no stink).
4.  Be aware how breath smells after eating:  bad isn’t good.
5.  Note that less equals more.  A little can go a long way.
6.  Don’t forget the "yum" factor.  Food that’s eaten eagerly, must be tasty.

FOR OTHER BLOG ENTRIES RELATED TO HEALTH AND WELLBEING (and Sage’s history), please check out:  

• Older Dogs’ Health Watch (July 10, 2008)

• Veterinary Emergencies (April 2, 2008)

• Holistic Dental Hygiene: For Dogs and Their Humans (March 4, 2008)

• Always a Puppy, Never a Dog (August 23, 2007)