Let's Make. . . Dog Food

EDIT! So, Lou was having problems with um, well, poops. They were a little loose so my vet and I re-adjusted the recipe to suit LouLou's "special" needs. Reduced the veg and changed the carbs. . so now the only thing that goes into the pressure cooker is chicken, chicken gizzards & hearts, chicken livers, collard greens, white potatoes and sweet potatoes. The method still applies. I recently purchased a 40 quart pressure cooker and only have to make her food once a month which is so much easier. . but it is no joke cleaning that thing! :) She is doing very well.

Just for reference here is the basic break-down of the true BARF diet:
BY WEIGHT:
65% raw meaty bones
15% organ meats
15% vegatables
Plus a good multi-vitamin such as Canine Plus


3 lbs, 2 oz.


The most important thing I make in my kitchen is food for my dog, LouLou. I got her as a very, very young puppy and she always had digestive issues. I take her to a holistic vet who suggested the Paleolithic diet for her. She has been eating homemade food since she was two months old. My goal is to know exactly what is in her food and to have her live the longest, healthiest life possible. She did well on the food up until about 6 months ago when she stopped keeping up her weight and became thin. This happens sometimes with well muscled dogs - especially pit bulls. My vet told me to add carbohydrates to her diet in the form of oatmeal. She has bulked up nicely and has had no ill effects from adding the oatmeal. Just as you would check with you own doctor if you were radically changing your diet, please check with your vet about changing your dog's diet. Every dog is different and might need the recipe tweaked for his or her own best health. LouLou eats about a pound of food twice a day and one multi-vitamin daily.

This is what you will need to make a large batch of dog food. This batch fits into a Presto 23-quart pressure cooker.

6 4-5 pound whole chickens
2 pounds chicken gizzards/hearts
2 pounds chicken livers
2 1 pound pkg. Cut N' Clean collard greens (or mixed greens)
2 29-oz. cans Libby's Pumpkin (plain - not pie mix!)
1 18-oz canister Quaker Oats - Old-Fashioned Oats (not quick oats)
Water

Cook the collard greens with three cups of water in a separate pot. You can pack them in tightly and they will cook down.

Cook the greens until they are tender.

Meanwhile, using kitchen shears, butterfly the chicken along the backbone. I do this in the kitchen sink to make clean-up easier.

Pack the chicken in tightly.

Add the gizzards, hearts and liver, packing it in so there are no gaps.


Sprinkle in the oatmeal and the add the pumpkin, spreading it with a spatula so you have a smooth layer.

Place the greens and all the liquid from the pot on top of everything. The pot will be very full. This goes against the instructions with your pressure cooker. I have been making this food for two years and have never, ever had a problem. Of course, never leave the pot unattended - you need to stay home while the food is cooking to make sure the pressure stays stable. Add 4 cups of water and close the pressure cooker making sure all it is securely sealed. Heat should be on medium high. Once the pressure cooker gauge reaches 12 psi, adjust heat to maintain the pressure and cook for 2 1/2 hours. Turn off the heat and let the pressure settle until the gauge sets at zero and the safety valve releases.

I use an industrial sized potato masher to break down the food. You will see that the pressure has made the chicken bones soft - they will break up as you mix up the food - some large pieces may remain but they are safe for your dog to eat as they are soft and chewable.

I use 4-inch 1/3 pans to store the food in the freezer. This recipe yields enough food for approximately two weeks.


The happy and healthy girl - 52 lbs.!