What do you feed your dog?

March 19th, 2012

Ovens & Cooking

Did you know that Australians spend, on average, $1,460 per year on their pets? And that despite a lull in retail spending, we’re still managing to spend $2.8 billion a year on pet food?

As the western world becomes better educated about nutrition, our attention seems to have also turned to what we’re feeding our pets.

This issue was brought to my attention by my sister, who has been dog sitting in the wealthy Sydney suburb of Cremorne for the last week.

“Wanna know what this dog eats?” she asked me.
“Yes?”
“Half a kilo of mince, six Weet Bix and a splash of olive oil.”

What the…?! Given that I, a human being, once ate only mashed potato for dinner because it was all that was in the fridge and I couldn’t afford to buy food, this seems more than a little outrageous.

Or perhaps I’m just bitter about the time I house-sat for my mum and opened up the fridge to reveal a month‘s worth of ‘Coco Casserole’ – dog food that she had cooked from scratch and divided into pooch-sized portions – but nothing for me.

Stupid Coco.

Anyway, what would have seemed utterly absurd 20 years ago is now quite common. Doting pet owners, concerned that Fluffy is not getting the best nutrition from tinned dog food, are turning to homemade alternatives.

Things to consider:

•    Consult your vet before you start as some dogs are allergic to certain ingredients
•    Generally speaking, a dog’s diet should consist of 40% meat, 30% veggies and 30% starch
•    You should include fresh uncooked bones in your dog’s diet – they help to clean their teeth
•    Do not feed your dog chocolate, onion, garlic, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts or green tomatoes, as these foods contain substances that are toxic to dogs

Given that the media is constantly urging us to steer clear of processed foods, it stands to reason that homemade food is healthier for your dog. However Appliances Online recommends making sure your own nutritional needs (and those of your house-sitting offspring) are being met before you start worrying about whether Fido is getting enough folate.

And what better way to lick your own diet into shape than by investing in a new juicer, steamer, slow cooker or food processor? 😉

Coco Casserole

Ingredients:
500g cheap mince
1 grated carrot
1 grated potato
½ cup peas
1/2 cup rice
1 cup beef stock

 

Method:
Cook in microwave on high for about 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until meat is cooked through.

What do you feed your dog?