When you think of holistic treatments, it may bring to mind herbal supplements and acupuncture. This is a common misconception, but holistic medicine is actually the combination of several traditional and alternative therapies to treat ailments in a single approach with a focus on what's most important. As its name would suggest, this holistic homemade dog food recipe is formulated to benefit your dog's overall health and well-being.
Veterinarians who practice holistic dog health look at the canine's overall health – not just a few symptoms – and use both traditional and alternative treatments. In short, holistic dog health looks for the best and healthiest way to treat a dog without choosing to be on the traditional or alternative side of the fence.
Holistic dog foods not only provide pups with optimal nutrition but also support their overall health. Ingredients are chosen with their unique nutritional benefits in mind. Whether a food is selected to provide high levels of fatty acids or to include more digestible proteins, every ingredient is chosen for a reason.
While the American Association of Feed Control Officials does define natural, they do not have a definition for holistic in terms of pet food. This word is often used freely with no agency or organization to regulate its use.
What does that mean for you? It means you cannot always trust pet food labels, which is why many pet owners have turned to feeding a homemade diet to their dogs. If you're looking for a holistic homemade dog food recipe, this may be a good option for your pooch.
Holistic Homemade Dog Food Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. boneless chicken thighs
- 1 can kidney beans (drained)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1.5 cups water
- 1 12-ounce bag of frozen vegetables
Directions
This is a slow-cooker dog food recipe. The best part of using a slow cooker to prepare your dog's food is that once you add the ingredients, you don't have to tend to it. Unlike cooking on the stovetop, there is no need to constantly stir the food or check on it constantly to ensure it's not burning.
Add the chicken, garlic, and water to the slow cooker. You may be worried about adding garlic to your dog's food. While it is true that most scientific research today shows that large amounts of garlic can be poisonous to dogs, there are also some arguments (particularly from holistic veterinarians) that garlic may provide important health benefits for dogs.
Ultimately, it's best to have a consultation with your veterinarian before feeding any amount of garlic. Of course, you also need to do what is best for you. If you're uncomfortable feeding garlic to your dog, don't do it.
Garlic is one of the most well-studied vegetables out there, and a ton of human clinical trials demonstrate its health benefits. Some of this evidence has been the basis that vets have focussed on for advising garlic for dogs, but we are yet to see any hard proof on the matter.
Here is what we currently know about the health benefits of garlic for people:
- Garlic has medicinal properties (1)
- Garlic lowers blood pressure (2, 3)
- Garlic helps to fight off colds and sicknesses (4, 5)
- Garlic lowers the risk of heart disease (6, 7, 8)
- Garlic may help to detoxify the body (9)
- Garlic helps fight off brain diseases (10, 11)
- Garlic strengthens bones and helps with osteoarthritis (12, 13, 14)
Unfortunately, there has not been much research on the benefits of garlic for dogs. You'll have to do your own research and consult with trusted experts in the veterinary field. Make your own decision, but if you don't feel comfortable adding garlic to this holistic homemade dog food recipe, don't do it!
RELATED: 9 Superfoods for Dogs That Improve Their Health (According to Science)
Now, let's get back to the recipe. Add the chicken, garlic, and water to the slow cooker. Cook it on low for 6 hours. After 6 hours, the chicken should be tender enough to shred with a fork.
Shred the chicken and add the kidney beans and frozen vegetables. Allow the holistic homemade dog food to sit for about 5-10 minutes. The heat from the chicken will warm the beans and thaw the veggies.
Once the food has cooled, you can serve it to your pooch. The recommended serving size is about 1/2 cup of food for every 20-25 pounds of body weight per serving. This recommendation is for 2 servings per day.
You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. You can also make the recipe in bulk and store leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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