Home Made Diets

by Chris Piper BVSc MRCVS
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
tbsp = tablespoon
C = cup
tsp = teaspoon
RICE - Use wholegrain rice (brown). One cup dry rice will make 3 cups cooked rice. To cook, mix 1 cup dry rice with 2-2½ cups water, bring to boil and turn down to barely simmer with the lid on. After 20-30 minutes the water should be absorbed completely by the swollen grain.
VEGETABLES - Where a recipe calls for vegetables use a combination of seasonal vegetables - carrots, broccoli, pumpkin, peas, beans. Don't use leafy vegetables like cabbage. Cook quickly until tender, preferably by steaming, to retain goodness and improve digestibility. Use the liquid they are cooked in.
COOKING - There is no law requiring offal to be cooked. We recommend cooking minced chicken. Cooking vegetables improves digestibility, although small amounts of raw grated or pureed vegetables can be used. Try to feed most other food raw.
SUPPLEMENTS - KY supplement, available from the clinic, contains yeast, kelp, alfalfa, calcium, flax seed fibre and liver powders and is added roughly 1 tsp per 10 kg bodyweight just before feeding. Growth supplement contains calcium, hydroxyapatite, yeast, alfalfa, liver and kelp and is added 1 tsp per 10 kg body weight (or per 200 g meat).
OIL - use cold pressed oil (flax, sunflower, safflower) at a rate of 1 tsp per 5-10 kg bodyweight.
QUANTITIES - Most recipes are balanced to meet the needs of your average animal unless otherwise stated.
The following table gives a rough guide:
Cat's weight (kg)       quantity         Dog's weight (kg)       quantity
2-3                             2/3 cup                     2.5                        1/4 cup
3-4                             3/4                               5                           1/2
4-5                              1                                 10                           1
>5                                1                                 20                         1 1/2
                                                                      25                            2
                                                                      30                            3
                                                                      40                            4
                                                                      50                            5
   
Remember animals eat to satisfy their energy needs, so if you give lots of vegetables without sufficient protein (meat, eggs, cheese) then they may lose muscle weight. The more active your pet is, the more you need to feed.

BASIC RECIPE - Below are three protein/energy combinations to meet the different needs of dogs. Select your animal's needs from the following list: Feed roughly 1 cup/10kg body weight.
Basic - Inactive adults
Meaty - growing puppies, late pregnancy, convalescence, cats
Reducing - Overweight, constipation.

INGREDIENTS                                    BASIC                                    MEATY                                       REDUCING
Rice and Veg (cooked)                     2 C (2/3 C uncooked)            1 C (1/3 C uncooked)                 1 C (1/3 C uncooked)
Meat                                                  1/2 C (125gm)                          3/4 C (200gm)                            1/2 C or 1 egg
Offal (liver)                                       1/4 C (75gm)                            1/4 C                                             1/4 C
Oil                                                      2 tsp                                        2 tsp                                              1 tsp
Supplement (KY or Growth)           2 tsp                                        2 tsp                                             1 tsp + 1 C bran or broccoli

CAT RECIPES
DAIRY DELIGHT
1 tsp oil1 medium egg
1/3 C cooked brown rice
1/2 C cottage cheese
1 tsp grated/chopped veg
1 tsp KY/growth supplement
Add oil to warm pan. Scramble egg and supplements lightly, then mix in the rest of the ingredients. Warm slightly. Serve.

FISHY CAT MEAL
500g lightly poached fish (or 425g tin mackerel)
¼ C cooked mashed veges
1-1 ½ C cooked brown rice (kittens 1 C)
1 tsp cold pressed oil
2 tsp supplement (adults KY, kittens growth supplement)
Mix, warm and serve. Makes 3 meals.

CHICKEN COMBO
1 whole chicken
1 C chopped pumpkin
1 to 1 1/2 C uncooked brown rice
Place rice and pumpkin in pressure cooker or pot and add 3-4 ½ C water. Place chicken on top and cook. Allow to cool and remove meat from chicken and mix into rice/pumpkin. Add KY/growth supplement to each serving.

FELINE FATTY MEAT MENU
¼ C cooked brown rice
1/3 C raw beef/mutton mince
2 tbsp grated/chopped veges
1/3 C cottage cheese
1 tsp oil1 tsp KY/growth supplement
Warm up the rice in a saucepan, adding the meat and vegetables if they are to be cooked. Mix in the cottage cheese and supplements and serve. Yield: about 1 cup.

LEAN MEAT 'N' EGGS FOR CATS
2 medium eggs
¼ C organ or lean meat
½ C cooked brown rice
1 tbsp grated or chopped veges
1 tsp KY/growth supplement
If you cook the eggs, scramble them first with the supplements (and meat, if you cook it). Add the other ingredients and serve.

KIDNEY DIETS

FELINE KIDNEY DIET NO. 1
1 large egg
¼ C lean or organ meat
½ C cooked brown rice
1 tbsp grated veges
1 tsp oil
 tsp KY supplement
Simply combine the ingredients and serve.

CANINE KIDNEY DIET NO. 1
2 medium eggs
½ C lean or organ meat
2 C cooked barley or brown rice
1 tsp KY supplement
2 tbsp parsnip or other veg1 tbsp honey vegetable, grated
Mix the first four ingredients as the main ration. Roll the parsnip and honey into balls and feed as a treat. Yield: about 2 ½ cups

FELINE KIDNEY DIET No. 2
¼ C beef mince
¼ C cooked barley or brown rice
¼ C kidney/azuki beans
2 tbsp cottage cheese
½ tsp KY supplement
1 tbsp chopped parsley or other veg
Combine the ingredients and serve. Yield: about 1 cup.

CANINE KIDNEY DIET NO. 2
1/3C beef or mutton mince
1/3C cooked kidney/azuki beans
1 ¾ C cooked barley or brown rice
1 tbsp non-fat powdered milk
¼ C chopped vegetables (or 1/3C skim milk)
1 tsp KY supplement
Combine the ingredients and serve. Yield: about 3 cups.

WEIGHT PROBLEM DIETS
WEIGHT LOSS DIET FOR CATS
½ C lean meat
1/3 C cooked oatmeal
2 tbsp grated/chopped veges
2 tbsp bran
½ tsp KY supplement
Mix ingredients together and serve slightly warm. Yield: about I cup.

WEIGHT LOSS DIET FOR DOGS
½ C lean meat
¼ C cottage cheese
1 C cooked oatmeal
½ C grated/chopped veges
½ C bran 1 tsp KY supplement
Mix ingredients together and serve slightly warm. Yield: about 2 ¾ cups



DOG RECIPES
VAL'S LOAF
1 C beef mince
1 C cooked veges
2 C cooked rice
1 C rolled oats
1 C rye flakes
3 raw eggs1 tsp KY/growth supplement
Mix all ingredients and store in frig.
WOFFAL
1 C beef mince
½ C liver or kidneys
4 C cooked rice
1 tsp KY/growth supplement
Cook meat and rice. Cool, and add supplement.
LENTIL LOAF
3 C water/stock
1 C lentils2 C rolled oats
¼ C soy flour
¼ C oil
1-2 beaten eggs
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
1 tsp KY/growth supplement
¼ C tomato sauce
Slowly add lentils to boiling water/stock and simmer 20 mins. Add oats and soy floor and let soak 10 mins. Mix in rest of ingredients and turn into loaf pan. Bake at 350 F for 30 mins.

CANINE DELIGHT
1 C chicken mince, cooked
¼ C cooked mashed veges (pumpkin, kumara, peas, carrots, beans)
2 C cooked brown rice/potatoes/wholemeal bread
1 tsp cold pressed oil
¼ C cooked ox liver
2 tsp KY/growth supplement
Mix ingredients together. (Sufficient for large dog - 30Kg.)

FAST FISH
425g can mackerel or sardines
1/2 C raw sprouts2 carrots, raw, grated
3 C cooked rice or wholemeal bread
1 tsp KY/growth supplement
Mix together and serve.

DAILY DUO FOR DOGS
1 ½ C cooked oatmeal
1 C whole milk1 tsp honey
Morning: serve as a hot cereal.
1 C chopped cooked potatoes
2 ½ C lean beef
1 tsp oil1 tbsp grated/chopped veges
1 tsp KY/growth supplement
Evening: Combine and serve warm. Yield: about 4 cups.

CANINE MEAT 'N' GRAIN BULK MENU
12 C cooked brown rice
2 C mutton flap
2 C lean meat
1 ½ C grated/chopped veges
6 tsp KY/growth supplement
Mix and serve warm. Suitable for freezing. Yield: about 18 cups.

POTATOES AU CANINE
3 C boiled, sliced potatoes
½ C cottage cheese
1 tbsp food yeast
¼ C whole milk
¼ C grated cheese
2 tsp KY/growth supplement
2 tsp grated/chopped veges
Layer together the potatoes cottage cheese, yeast and supplements in a casserole dish. Pour milk over them and top with grated cheese. Broil or bake until cheese is melted and slightly brown (about 15 mins at 350°F). Let cool. Mix veges in or serve on side.

PUPPY CEREAL AND EGGS
1 C cooked oatmeal
1 tbsp soy protein isolate
1 C whole milk
2 tsp honey
Morning: serve as a hot cereal.
4 medium eggs
¼ C grated/chopped veges
1 tsp growth supplement
Evening: Scramble together and serve.

BRISKET FEAST
5OOg raw fresh brisket.
Serves a large dog. This is the quickest and easiest balanced meal to serve. Bone provides chewing exercise - it is best to remove the rib bone as it is very hard.

VEGETARIAN TWO-MEAL PLAN
1 ½ C cooked oatmeal
1 C whole milk
1 tsp honey
Morning: serve as a hot cereal.
2 medium eggs
1/2 C tofu1 tsp KY/growth supplement
2 tbsp grated/chopped veges
1 1/2 C cooked brown rice
Evening: scramble together the eggs and tofu. Add the rest of the ingredients and serve. Yield: about 2¾ cups.

MILK REPLACEMENT FORMULA (for young puppies)
1 C homogenised milk (or goats milk)
1 egg yolk1 tsp milk powder
1 tsp food yeast
Blend together and store in fridge. Warm to blood temperature (37°C) before feeding. Give 1 ml per 30g bodyweight every 2-3 hours.

CONVALESCENCE, MALNOURISHMENT, YOUNG PUPPIES, NURSING BITCHES, OLD AGE
HEARTY CANINE COMBO
4 medium eggs
½ C beef/mutton (or 8 oz tofu and 2/3C cottage cheese)
1 C cooked brown rice
¼ C grated/chopped veges
1 tsp KY/growth supplement
Scramble eggs lightly with supplements and meat. Mix together and serve warm. Add rice and veges and serve.

DOG'S DELlGHT
¾ C mutton flap (Or 5 medium eggs, and 1 tsp oil)
¾ C cooked brown rice
¼ C cottage cheese
¼ C grated/chopped veges
2 tsp marmite1 tsp KY/growth supplement
Scramble eggs lightly with supplements and meat. Mix together and serve warm. Add the rice and vegetables and serve.

BISCUITS
WHEAT OR RYE CRISPS
1 C whole wheat or rye flour
¼ C rice flour3 tbsp oil or lard
1/3C water
½ tsp growth supplement
Mix flours. Mix oil/lard with water. Add liquid to lard and mix well. Roll out on oven tray and cook until golden brown at 350°F. Break into bite-size chunks.

KITTY & DOGGIE CRUNCHIES - VEGETARIAN
2 C whole grains (oatmeal, millet, cracked wheat, corn, barley etc.)
2 ½ litres water
1 C rice flour
1 C bran
1 tsp sea salt
½ C wheatgerm
¾ C skim milk powder
½ C KY supplement
½ C food yeast
400 i.u. vitamin E
½ C oil1 tsp cod liver oil
Slowly stir grains, rice flour and salt into the water which is boiling. Cover and simmer 15 mins or until done. Add more water if too dry. Cool slightly. Add remaining ingredients, stirring rapidly and thoroughly. Spread thinly on an oven tray. Dry in the oven at 150-200°F until crisp. Break in pieces. Supplement with a little extra protein food, such as meat, tofu, eggs or cottage cheese if fed regularly to a cat.

DOG BISCUITS
2 C wholemeal flour
½ C rice floor
½ C wheatgerm or millet
¼ C sunflower seeds
¼ C milk powder
2 tsp oil
2 tbsp honey
1 tsp salt (optional)
2 eggs, beaten
¼ C KY supplement
Mix ingredients with sufficient water to make a dough. Roll out on floured surface to ½" thickness and cut into squares. Bake at 200°C for 20-25 mins. Best stored in frig.

KITTY & DOGGIE CRUNCHIES WITH MEAT
500g ground chicken necks and gizzards (or other meat
)½ C food yeast
1 can mackerel
2 C rice flour
2 C wheat floor
1 C rye floor
1 C cornmeal
1 C wheatgerm
1 C non-fat milk powder
¼ C KY supplement
1 tbsp cod liver oil
4 tbsp oil or fat
400 i.u. vitamin E
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 ½ L water
½ chopped onion (optional)
Mix all ingredients to make firm dough. Spread flat on oven trays and roll to ¼ - ½" thickness. Bake at 350°F for 30-45 mins. Cool, break into bite-size chunks, and store in airtight containers. Keeps 2-3 days without refrigeration, longer with it. Supplement with a bit of fresh food if fed on a regular basis.

MEALTIME TIPS
1. Serve the food lukewarm or at room temperature, neither too hot nor too cold.
2. Keep the bowl clean. Don 't let uneaten food particles accumulate. Avoid using a harsh or strong smelling cleanser.
3. Give each animal its own bowl and keep the feeding routine regular and reliable. In most instances feed 1 or 2 meals a day, taking up and refrigerating any uneaten food after about half an hour. Cats may sometimes refuse food because it is natural for them to eat less often.
4. Provide a place to feed that is reasonably quiet and pleasant and protected from intrusions by toddlers, other animals or strangers.

INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTES
1 C cooked rice = 1 C cooked barley, bulgur, millet or potatoes or oatmeal or 3 slices of wholemeal bread
1 C fatty meat (250 g) = 4 large eggs or 1C cottage cheese or 1 C lean meat plus 1 tsp oil