I have written several articles and a chapter in my book about cooked meals for dogs. I realize I need to explain exactly how to cook these meats, and what are the best choices of animal protein for dogs. Let’s look at cooking meat and the best type of proteins to use for dogs.
An important factor to consider in meat has to do with Taurine. There has been much talk about this amino acid lately. It is only found in animal food sources. It is paramount for heart health. When meat is cooked, the taurine is leeched out with the juices. It is important to put this liquid back into the meat mixture you will feed your dog. Because of taurine loss, I do not recommend over cooking the meat at high heats.
I tend to cook meat for home cooked meals in a frying pan. I cook it so it is medium (not rare or over cooked). If you boil, use a crock pot, bake or use a frying pan, please cook the meal lightly and keep the juices.
Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs, Revised: The Definitive Guide to Homemade Meals!
Lew Olson's newly revised book is filled with an abundance of new topics and information. Whether you are new to home feeding or a seasoned raw feeder, have a senior dog or a new puppy, a pregnant mom or a toy breed, this book presents all the information you need to make the best nutritional decisions for your dog.Good protein choices include beef, chicken, lamb, pork, turkey, fish, venison, elk, and rabbit, just to mention a few.
And yes, pork is a good source of protein for dogs. In the United States, pork is fine. But if you live in Europe or Asia, please check if the pork in your country is trichinosis free. In the US, the meat is frozen at very cold temps for two weeks, and that kills the parasite.
“Over the past 40 years, few cases of trichinellosis have been reported in the United States, and the risk of trichinellosis from commercially raised and properly prepared pork is very low. However, eating undercooked wild game, particularly bear meat, puts one at risk for acquiring this disease.”
And truly, any meat you find in the meat department has been frozen at least once before and is fine. I have also thawed meat again, to be able to repack it in smaller containers or zip lock bags and then to refreeze it. That is fine too.
“The U. S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) advises: Once food is thawed in the refrigerator, it is safe to refreeze it without cooking, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods.”
University of Nebraska Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources
And last, the perfect supplement for a home cooked diet for dogs is the Bertes Immune Blend!
Also remember cooked diets require 900 mg of calcium carbonate per pound of food served! Add the Bertes Immune Blend to thawed food only, not all of its ingredients freeze. Add Bertes Immune Blend to thawed food along with fish oil capsules.
Remember to keep your dog cool and indoors in the summer and always have fresh water available! I will see you next month!
