June 10, 2010 Happy Dog!

Have you ever run out of dog food at the last minute and didn't have time to go to the store, or worse, it's not open?  I'm probably the biggest procrastinator in history, and it happens to me all the time.  Luckily, I've found out a way to remedy the problem that makes my dogs ecstatic!

In this issue, it's what's in the cupboard, rather than in the fridge, that we use.  One of my dogs has a whole litany of allergies, one of the mildest of which is corn, so commercial dog food probably isn't the best choice for him anyway.  Oatmeal, however, makes a great filler that has fiber and protein, very low incidence of being an allergen, and amazingly, dogs love it.


Homemade dog food/treats (3 different varieties):

Holy Mackerel:
3 cups plain oatmeal
1 can Jack Mackerel (cheapest canned fish on the market and very high in omega-3 fats)
hot water

Mix oatmeal and mackerel in a large bowl, getting the mackerel into the smallest shreds possible, then add enough hot water to make it all nice and mushy.  Let stand for about 15 minutes, or until your dog makes it impossible to wait any longer.  Scoop into dog bowl like the mush you've seen in the movies.  Caution:  Your dog will NEVER be satisfied until it's all gone, so scoop judiciously.

Peanut Buddy:
3 cups plain oatmeal
2/3 cup plain peanut butter
hot water

Same instructions as above, except that adding the hot water to the oatmeal first will make it easier to mix in the peanut butter.  Using a little less hot water, you can make little "treats" by spreading the thick mixture into a pan and cutting into squares. Another hint: These treats, as well as the mackerel mixture, make giving your dog medicine extremely easy.

Chicken oat pie:
3 cups plain oatmeal
canned chicken broth
shredded carrots
hot water

Mix the shredded carrots with the oatmeal first.  Heat up the chicken broth, and again, pretty much the same idea, mix it all together very well and add hot water for the consistency you want.  Carrots are a welcome addition to a dog's diet.  One of my dogs just devours fresh or cooked vegetables.  The other one turns her nose up at anything not at least partially meat related.

Check back around holiday time for some more pet tips.