Natural Diet/Homemade Treats - Opinions? Suggestions?

I, for one, am tired of hearing new dog foods added to the contaminated list, so I've decided that I will try to feed my two yorkies natural food. I already bought 1lb of chicken, chicken liver, I have rice, and now I have to get recipes for baked treats.

Does anyone do this for their pets? I'm not sure the first thing to do to get started, nor do I know how much to feed them per day. I don't want to miss out on giving them important vitamins and minerals either.

Do you have any suggestions about this? Know of any reputable sites to refer me to? Books?

Thank you SO much in advance!!!

Re: Natural Diet/Homemade Treats - Opinions? Suggestions?

E-mail my brother. He's bought quite a few cookbooks on this. I'll FM you his address.

Re: Natural Diet/Homemade Treats - Opinions? Suggestions?

In the book The DOg Whisperer they offer a few recipes and resources for more.

I make brown rice with barley, boiled chicken, carrots and zucchini. But you can find complete recipes in this book.

Re: Natural Diet/Homemade Treats - Opinions? Suggestions?

Here's what the ASPCA has to say:

Q. Does the ASPCA recommend homemade diets for pets?

A. Homemade diets can provide pets with an adequate diet, but they do require a substantial amount of work to ensure that the final product includes a complete nutritional balance.

If you wish to offer your pet a homemade diet, you should consult with your veterinarian or an expert with an advanced degree in animal nutrition who is certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (http://www.acvn.org/) for an acceptable recipe. The American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition also has a helpful Nutrition Resources section.
Another good resource is http://www.petdiets.com/.

If a homemade diet recipe is used, it is very important to follow recipe directions exactly, not allowing for substitutions or omitting any ingredients. This includes processing and cooking instructions, since some processing steps can destroy or damage the nutrients in the ingredients. It is also important to have your pet examined by a veterinarian at least twice a year, so that her health can be evaluated.

You may also want to provide your pets with certain fruits and vegetables, after consulting with your veterinarian, for their potential health benefits. Also keep in mind that some fruits and vegetables can be harmful to pets. Be sure to avoid feeding onions, garlic, chives, avocado, grapes, raisins and macadamia nuts, all of which can cause illness when eaten by pets.

Supplementing your pet’s diet with healthy treats is fine—but treats, even healthy ones, should not make up more than five percent to 10 percent of your pet’s daily caloric intake. Too many treats will throw off the balance of nutrients your pet is receiving from her standard diet.

Some appropriate healthy snacks for dogs include: carrot sticks, apple slices (without seeds), green beans, and cantaloupe. Pets who do not tolerate dietary changes well or have specific health conditions should not be given these types of extras unless they are approved by the pet’s veterinarian.

Re: Natural Diet/Homemade Treats - Opinions? Suggestions?

Re: Natural Diet/Homemade Treats - Opinions? Suggestions?

I don't heat anything - I actually keep it all refrigerated.

I make a big batch and put it in a tupperware and it laste me a few days...

And, I just give him the same as he would be getting in dry food. It semms to be right because he is at a good weight right now...

Re: Natural Diet/Homemade Treats - Opinions? Suggestions?