The recipe for your anxious dog

As with humans, dogs' bodies contain various hormones that influence their mood. Most people know serotonin as the so-called "happiness hormone". A deficiency in humans can lead to depression, among other things. It is therefore not surprising that our four-legged companions also show behavioral problems when the happiness hormone is lacking.

This is not able to cross the blood-brain barrier itself after being ingested through food. However, its precursor, tryptophan, can do so much better. This is an amino acid that is essential for dogs. For confident dogs, it is perfectly sufficient if their need for tryptophan is adequately covered. However, scaredy cats benefit from increased intake. This also applies to humans. It is not for nothing that we are advised to eat a bar of chocolate when we are in a bad mood. It contains a lot of tryptophan, which brightens our mood. Since we know that chocolate is delicious for us but potentially fatal for our four-legged friends, we should of course not share it with them on bad days. Fortunately, we also have other good mood boosters available. A combination of tryptophan-rich foods therefore forms the framework of this recipe.

• rice protein powder (80%)
• noodles
• Amaranth
• pumpkin seeds
• coconut flakes
• Spirulina
• whole grain bread, treats
• High-quality oil e.g. VEGDOG VISH OIL
• the absolute favorite fruit and vegetable
• VEGDOG ALL-IN VELUXE

Rice protein powder naturally contains a high number of amino acids. The tryptophan content is approximately 1.42 g per 100 g. This makes it far superior to other isolates. Pumpkin seeds (should be ground) and spirulina also contain large amounts of tryptophan.

This is not able to cross the blood-brain barrier itself after being ingested through food. However, its precursor, tryptophan, can do so much better. This is an amino acid that is essential for dogs. For confident dogs, it is perfectly sufficient if their need for tryptophan is adequately covered. However, scaredy cats benefit from increased intake. This also applies to humans. It is not for nothing that we are advised to eat a bar of chocolate when we are in a bad mood. It contains a lot of tryptophan, which brightens our mood. Since we know that chocolate is delicious for us but potentially fatal for our four-legged friends, we should of course not share it with them on bad days. Fortunately, we also have other good mood boosters available. A combination of tryptophan-rich foods therefore forms the framework of this recipe.

Our three happiness boosters are mixed with the coconut flakes, the pureed fruit/vegetables, the oil, the ALL-IN VELUXE and a little water to form a dough and then formed into balls. At the same time, the pasta and the amaranth are simmered until both are very soft. They end up on the balls as a topping (please allow to cool first).

It is recommended to feed the protein meal first and then offer the carbohydrates two hours later. This should ensure an even better metabolism of tryptophan. This is why it is possible to use the pasta later.

Since scaredy cats require a lot of training, the recipe also includes treats (vegan dry food) and wholemeal bread as a reward

The basic rule is: For starchy products such as lentils, pasta, rice, etc., always assume twice the cooking time that applies to humans. This means, for example, that pasta that is cooked for 10 minutes for humans must be cooked for 20 minutes for dogs in order to optimally break down the starch and make it usable for the dog. When feeding vegetables, the rule is: Whatever you eat raw as a human, the dog can also eat raw. Everything that you have to cook yourself should also be cooked for the dog. So you can feed raw, for example:
Carrots, cucumber, lettuce, zucchini, kohlrabi, pumpkin
What should be cooked:
Corn, fennel, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, potatoes

Please make sure to wash the vegetables well, especially if they are fed with the skin on. Many dog ​​owners also like to use organic quality. You can alternate the different varieties as you wish. But be aware that legumes and corn contain more calories because they are starchy.

The tolerance of vegetables varies from dog to dog. Peas and beans, for example, contain oligosaccharides, which are metabolized in the intestines into short-chain fatty acids and can lead to diarrhea and flatulence in large quantities. Just try different varieties and find out what your dog likes best and what he tolerates best.

How you prepare the vegetables is up to you: you can chop them up, grate them, mix them, cook them or boil them and then puree them. Picky animals in particular can be persuaded to eat cooked carrots. Chopped up or cooked vegetables are easier to digest. Heat the vegetables briefly and carefully to improve the retention of the water-soluble vitamins. You can also add a splash of cooled cooking water to the food.

Fruit can also be combined and varied - depending on what your dog can tolerate. Suitable examples are apples, oranges, bananas, raspberries, strawberries and melons. You don't have to worry about the fructose they contain. This does not lead to obesity if you feed 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 ".

QUANTITY CALCULATION EXAMPLE: The quantity 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 always base your calculations on the quantity of the highest weight class we specify. For example, if your dog weighs 6 kg, you base your calculations on the weight class for 10 kg. For example, if your dog weighs 32 kg, you 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.

If you have any questions, please contact our veterinarians at tierarzt@vegdog.de

We wish you good appetite!

Your VEGDOG team