Nutritional Help

Nutrition for pets can be confusing. We have more options available than ever before, but deciphering  ingredient labels and knowing what’s right for your pet is tricky. If you’ve followed my blog you’ll know that our little Papillon had a serious illness. His illness and recovery process prompted us to do allergy testing as was frequently sick after eating.  We discovered he had sensitivities to many foods found in higher quality foods and treats such as oats, barley, poultry and more.  I consulted with veterinary nutritionists and while some of the information was helpful, the bottom line is no one is as interested in keeping your pet healthy as you are.

Armed with the information from his allergy testing, his weight, how much weight he should gain and the amount of fat he should have, I’ve set out to find food he’ll enjoy and that will help keep hm healthy.  I feel strongly about avoiding preservatives and fillers and giving him the best quality food available.  I’ve found that involves some cooking, but it’s very easy and you’ll never have anyone more appreciative of your efforts. After all he’s been through it’s a special feeling to see him happily diving into his ‘stew’.  He loves it and he’s not having any problems after he eats.  He’d been so sick he was afraid to eat for a while because everything was making him sick.

I’ve concocted a simple stew (and yes, people have already started asking Joy Pet Products to offer it) that Desi loves.  Obviously I can’t recommend this as nutritionally sound for all animals. Always check with a good veterinarian and / or nutritionist to be sure you are meeting your pet’s needs. My stew includes fresh organic veggies diced into tiny bites – Desi is after all only eight pounds – and brown rice which he prefers to potatoes. I grill a very high quality lean piece of beef or lamb until its rare, but has nice grill marks on each side. I don’t think Desi really cares about the grill marks, but they’re there in case he’s eating with his eyes that day.  Once the meat is grilled, I remove it from the pan and cut it into tiny bite size pieces.  Clean the pan of excess fat and place the meat, rice, veggies and a very small clove of garlic, minced in the pan.  Add enough filtered water to just cover the ingredients and simmer it for about two hours.  The meat and veggies will be very tender. Notice there is no salt or anything you can’t pronounce in this stew!  You’ll want to cut the meat and veggies in sizes appropriate for your dog. I make a large batch and keep enough in the fridge for one week and freeze the rest.  Some of the prep can be done in a food processor if you have one that won’t pulverize the veggies.  Remember you’ll need to check with your vet to be sure you are giving your pet a balanced diet and everything he or she needs nutritionally.

I hope that’s helpful and inspires you to take a good look at what you and your pet are eating. A few simple things can make a big difference!

Thanks for reading and be sure to drop me an email with your ideas for upcoming posts.