Author: Lisa Walther
Proofreader: Veronika Hajek
In addition, we do not have to rely on the statements of various feed manufacturers about the composition of their products and can see for ourselves where the demand comes from.
There is one disadvantage to doing the cooking yourself... It takes time. It's not enough to just fill the contents of a can or bag into a bowl. You have to soak and chop, cook and puree. Nowadays, it's sometimes difficult to find the time to do this.
For this reason, today we have come up with a recipe where almost all the ingredients end up in one pot - VEGDOG'S ONE POT :)! All you have to do is weigh everything. Most of it is then cooked together and pureed if necessary.
Necessary ingredients and daily ration in grams:
QUANTITY CALCULATION EXAMPLE:
The amount is calculated based on the different weight classes. For example, a small dog needs more in relation to its body weight than a large dog. You should always base your calculations on the amount of the highest weight class we specify. For example, if your dog weighs 6 kg, you should base your calculations on the weight class for 10 kg. For example, if your dog weighs 32 kg, you should base your calculations on the weight class for 25 kg, as this is the highest weight class we specify.
Here is a calculation example for you if your dog weighs 32 kg : The highest weight class given is 25 kg, so this is your required reference amount. A 25 kg dog needs 100 g of chickpeas daily. Therefore, 1 kg of dog in the weight class of 25 kg needs 100 g/25 kg = 4 g of chickpeas per kg of body weight. Then a 32 kg dog needs 4 g x 32 = 128 g of chickpeas/day. You do this calculation with all the ingredients. I hope we were able to help you.
For preparation
Cooking vegetables
Weigh the peas, vegetables, lentils and couscous. Use our information for the individual weight classes as a guide.
Peas from the freezer section are particularly good. When it comes to vegetables , it's best to look for regional and seasonal organic produce (but this is not a must, of course).
Put the ingredients mentioned in a pot, pour water over them and cook them until they are really soft. We used about an hour to do this and in the meantime prepared the remaining ingredients and worked on new products for you in our home office 🙂
ATTENTION - THIS IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE POT: Remember that onions, eggplants, tomatoes and peppers are not suitable for dogs. Instead, we recommend adding: zucchini, broccoli, various types of cabbage, carrots, fennel and celery.
We conjured up a topping from the dry ingredients, which ended up on our "pot" like a cap in the last step. To do this, we mixed the oil with the powder and the herbs (you may need to add a little water for a creamy consistency) and added the chopped nuts .
Poisonous herbs
The question often arises as to which herbs you can safely use on your furry friends. Generally speaking, you can say: almost all of them! And the great thing about it is that each herb has a different, positive effect on the organism. There are only a few herbs and spices that are generally not recommended. These include garlic granules, onion powder, pepper and nutmeg.
Some ingredients only have a negative effect in certain medical conditions.
For example, rosemary should not be fed to people with epilepsy as it can trigger seizures.
Pregnant bitches are generally considered to be a risk group when it comes to herbs . They should not be given sage, parsley, coriander or dill because they can sometimes induce labor.
We recommend that you inform yourself well in advance or contact us.
Healthy herbs
Some herbs can be given to any dog without hesitation.
Basil has anti-inflammatory and digestive effects.
Watercress stimulates the appetite and contains important minerals and trace elements, and nettle has long been known as a good detoxifying agent.
Please remember that you first have to find out whether your four-legged friends like the new ingredients. So add small amounts first. Dried herbs are often better accepted than fresh ones.
nuts
Once you have decided on the herb that is right for you, you have to decide on the types of nuts you want to use in this recipe.
Here, too, you have a large selection to choose from. However, there is a warning in advance: nuts (especially peanuts) can have a potentially allergenic effect, so test carefully (not large quantities and not different types at once).
Nuts generally contain high-quality fatty acids and various minerals and trace elements. You can choose between hazelnuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews and pistachios, among others. You can also share your sweet chestnuts with your loved ones. These are particularly well tolerated.
Poisonous nuts
Be sure to avoid giving macadamia nuts, bitter almonds (sweet almonds are allowed) and black walnuts , as there is a risk of poisoning!
Once you have chosen your ingredients and mixed your toppings, there is not much left to do. It is recommended to puree the ingredients in a pot to improve digestibility. Add the mineral mixture once everything has cooled down so as not to damage the sensitive vitamins.
It didn't take us much longer to prepare this meal than it does to open a can. How are you? We look forward to hearing your reports!
Basic and important points that you should consider when cooking yourself:
1. Process vegetables
You can be very flexible and creative when choosing vegetables. We recommend using regional and seasonal products. The general rule for processing vegetables is: whatever you eat raw, your dog can also eat raw. Everything that you have to cook yourself should also be cooked for your dog.
For example, you can feed raw: carrots, cucumber, lettuce, zucchini, kohlrabi, pumpkin
The following should be cooked: spinach (only small amounts!), broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts
You can puree, grate or roughly chop the raw vegetables. The finer they are processed, the better the vitamins are available for digestion. In general, all recipes also cover the needs if you feed the vegetables in coarse pieces. This creates more fullness in the stomach. This (sometimes also visually psychological) effect has a particularly positive effect on dogs who are constantly hungry. In addition, the important intestinal bacteria are supplied with food thanks to the increased fiber content.
Since cabbage can cause bloating even when cooked, you should start with small portions and increase them meal by meal.
Spinach contains oxalic acid. Small amounts are allowed for adult, healthy dogs. Puppies, young dogs and handicapped dogs are not allowed to eat spinach.
Conventional vegetables should always be washed well before processing - especially if they are fed with the skin on. Alternatively, we recommend using organic products.
You can alternate the different vegetables as you wish.
We recommend taking your four-legged friends’ preferences into account 🙂
Attention: Onions, garlic, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes should NOT be fed.
2. Add fruit cooked or raw
Fruit can also be combined and varied - depending on what your dog can tolerate. Suitable examples are apples, oranges, bananas, raspberries, strawberries, melons . You don't have to worry about the fructose they contain. This does not lead to obesity when fed fresh fruit. However, for obese animals, the amount of banana should be kept to a minimum and dried fruit should be avoided if possible. This has a higher calorie content and can also lead to flatulence and diarrhea. Fruit stones should be removed as they contain hydrogen cyanide. Please wash the fruit thoroughly before feeding it. Here, too, you can let your imagination run wild when preparing it - from chopped to grated or as a smoothie - anything that is fun is allowed. Read our articles "Smoothie for dogs" and "Summertime is ice cream time"
Lisa Walther
