National Cook for Your Pets Day

The least we can do to return the unconditional love, companionship, and attention that our pets give us is to cook for them one day a year. November 1st Is National cook for your pets day.

In 1860 an Ohio salesman James Spratt invented the world’s first dog biscuit after seeing British sailors throwing “dog cakes” at their dogs. In 1922 the first tinned dog food was produced by Ken-L Ration, mainly consisting of horsemeat, which was an acceptable ingredient at the time. In the 1980s The US National Academy of Sciences started publishing nutritional requirements for animals to complete and balance your pets’ nutritional needs.

Check with your vet is the best way to learn what foods to avoid giving yourself, but the big no-nos are anything milk-based, chocolate, avocados, nuts, onions, leeks, chives, mushrooms, and walnuts. Dogs love a mix of cooked protein, vegetables, and rice. A cat, meanwhile, is exclusively carnivorous, so you’ll be looking at giving cats a nice piece of protein.

Always consult with your vet before changing your animals’ diets.

Turkey and Veggie Dog Food

¼ pound lean ground turkey

¼ teaspoon chicken liver, finely diced

¼ medium carrot, coarsely chopped

¼ cup green beans, diced

¼ cup cauliflower florets

¼ tablespoons olive oil

Instructions:

Add 1-1/2 cups water to a double boiler, place vegetables in a steam basket over the pot, and cover. Heat until boiling, reduce heat to a low boil, and steam until veggies are tender about 10 minutes
In the meantime, add the turkey and chicken liver to a large skillet and cook on medium-high heat until done. Drain off any fat and discard. Chop veggies or pulse them in a food processor. Add veggies to cooked turkey and liver.
Add the olive oil and toss with the turkey and veggie mixture. Allow cooling before giving it to your dog.