Recipe modification... because we love em so much. Substitute an equal amount of water when boiling down the rice... with a can of low sodium chicken broth. I mean they'll love it either way, but it's gotta add some more taste right? And since that's what they love the most.... wtf.... ya gotta spoil em a little.
Interesting. I'll look at that, I bet it's safe. Good idea. One issue for larger dogs, is they like to eat a lot lol, so you need some healthy filler in there. I've actually started stirring in 3/4 cup of plain oatmeal, a few minutes before the rice has cooked down to the desired consistency. PetMD says that plain cooked oatmeal is really good for them so it's an easy filler with lots of nutrients. edit: _____________________________________ Quinoa For a Pet Dog? Read This First! Beans Nuts Seeds Legumes & Grains, Feeding Last Updated on September 21, 2021 Quinoa has become popular as people increasingly seek out healthy choices. Because pet parents are no different in this regard, we frequently get asked if dogs can be fed this particular food. Here’s the deal: Quinoa is an excellent option if you aren’t against occasionally giving your dog human foods. We think it is a terrific treat! What is really wonderful about Quinoa is how light it is compared to potatoes or most other starches. Dogs Can Eat Quinoa (cooked and small amounts) It is an amazing gluten-free grain-cereal, though technically it’s a seed. In any case, Quinoa is super nutritious with high levels of essential amino acids. It’s likely your dog can handle it, but start out with modest portions. What’s the Catch With Quinoa? It is difficult to criticize this super food, but there is a downside. The oxalates in quinoa could affect some dogs. Listen, there’s no perfect food. But, in general, it is a winner! Taking everything into account, our verdict is quinoa offers outstanding nutritional value and is fabulous for Fido! Let’s Take a Closer Look! The following is a 100 gram breakdown: Calories – 372 Carbs – 71.2 grams Protein – 11.5 grams Fat – 4.9 grams Calcium – 66 milligrams Iron – 8.5 milligrams Niacin – 1.4 grams Thiamin – 0.24 of a gram Riboflavin – 0.23 of a gram Of course, different types of quinoa have slightly different nutritional values. In any case, dogs do not typically get to consume such quality foods. But, your pooch is worth it! A Conservative Approach Quinoa is a great treat especially if your dog gets lots of exercise. The protein and complex carbohydrates make sense. Nevertheless, be careful whenever introducing anything new. Your dog’s stomach may not agree with this grain. A definitive answer comes after you give a taste. That’s a reasonable approach for feeding quinoa. Rinse, Wash and Cook It Be sure to rinse, wash and cook your quinoa before serving it to your dog. The reason? It is very important to remove an unseen chemical called saponin. It’s a bit toxic and likely more dangerous for pets than it is for people. Quinoa Question Mark There’s another arguable drawback to Quinoa: Animals typically don’t have digestive systems that are geared towards plant-like food. Some dogs don’t take well to oxalates. For one, they’re often insoluble. And sometimes oxalates cause inflammation. It’s really a judgement call! You may want to reconsider feeding quinoa if your dog has arthritis. And again there’s always a chance of a bad reaction since quinoa comes from a plant, even though it’s actually the seed. Pawing at the mouth, poor appetite, drooling, vomiting, oral pain and swelling are possible yet unlikely. Will Your Dog Try It? The only way to know if a dog can consume this seed cereal crop is to give them a small portion. Stick to dog food if the above symptoms sound scary. Pets, after all, don’t need to eat quinoa. The Bottom Line Most canines can consume quinoa. Provide a small amount to see if their stomach agrees. Keep in mind that arthritic dogs may experience inflammation. Otherwise, quinoa is healthy and a great snack. Just make sure to wash it before cooking. Remember: Quinoa is loaded with nutrition, yet it can’t replace meat-based protein in quality dog food.
For larger dogs, the cost of using quinoa as a main ingredient might not be ideal. But we have a small Pom, she doesn't eat much Adding plain oatmeal is also a good idea!
I looked and we have several bags so I'm gonna start adding just a quarter cup as it seems so nutritious. (and I'm sure I'll hear about this too lol... my homemade dog-food hasn't been well received on the domestic front since its inception. And of course each new batch is relegated to the fridge in the garage... heaven forbid a sealed Tupperware salad container goes in the main fridge that has more room than some walk-in coolers. ) So yeah, I think its a great idea. And like the oatmeal, I'm not too worried about it diluting the taste, the cans of salmon (I use a separate bowl to break them up into little flakes with a fork in the water they come canned in before I add it) seem pretty overbearing, ie, the salmon flavor will dominate regardless. It sure smells like it should at least when I open the Tupperware to feed her. She went to the lake yesterday, last summer I didn't take her at all when we'd go, because I know how much she loves to swim and I was too worried about those hind legs. She did really well, couldn't keep her out of the damn water, which I knew would be the case, and she certainly did her thing, went out where it gets deep and everything. The one difference I noted that to some extent points to the fact that she's still an old girl and her swimming is not as strong, a couple times she came out and coughed for a bit. I think her head might not ride as high in the water due to her legs not being as strong as they were, so she aspirated a little water. I threw a stick way out a few times after I saw she was doing well, and bringing it back is when it happened. So next time no stick. Or maybe only a few tosses. She does love swimming after a stick. But not unlike us humans, ya gotta be careful. In her mind she may still think she's a young mutt, ... but unfortunately she's not. Even when I put her out now, she wants to bolt/skip down the short flight of steps, but I won't let her, I hold her collar, have her relax at the bottom, and then let her go terrorize whatever windmills she see's in the yard. __________________________________________________ Edit: I guess in dog years, 49 have passed since my original post. A lot more gray lol, but her attitude and her playfulness, hasn't changed a bit.
Look like Boxador. Love big dogs. I had a Newfoundland, he lived for 13 years, oh, how he loved to swim! And Pom is my wife's dog.
Then how about kidney beans as a possible ingredient as well in homemade dog food? Higher in protein content and fiber, pooch-friendly, and you'll get ample advance notice when Fido needs to step outside to conduct some business. Preparation? None. Canned, with no sodium added. Heck, a can a day is part of my dietary regimen. Woof.
Dumb question... but which beans cause gas. Not kidney beans? It's a great idea though. Thnx. Let me look into this.
I don't know. Just that it is my favorite bean, and is considered a "superfood" by people who go about labeling these things (as I imagine most beans are). Also, my understanding is that legumes combined with grains form a complete protein. So beans and quinoa (or oatmeal) could be just the ticket when you want to serve your dog a meatless meal.