November 1st is National Cook For Your Pets Day, a date created to encourage pet parents to treat their cats and dogs to a homemade meal.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s a perfect time to learn how to create a healthy holiday dinner for your special fur baby. It’s simple, inexpensive and a wholesome way to include them in the celebration.
We asked Jodi Ziskin, a Certified Pet Nutrition Consultant and Treatibles Pet Health Advisor, to share Turkey recipes pets love – one for dogs and one for cats (she cautions against using the turkey you are preparing for the human members of your family for these recipes, as onions, which can be toxic, and added salt and some spices are not appropriate for dogs and cats).
TURKEY FEAST FOR DOGS
Ingredients
2 tsp. Organic Coconut Oil
1 cup Water, preferably filtered/bottled
Small pinch of Sea Salt
1 lb. (16 oz) Ground Turkey or Turkey Cutlets
1 Egg Scrambled
4 oz. (1/2 cup) Pumpkin Puree or Sweet Potato/Yam – Fresh baked pumpkin or pumpkin puree in BPA-free cans (not pumpkin pie filling) or baked or steamed sweet potatoes
8 oz. (1 cup) Diced Green Beans
4 oz. (1/2 cup) Cooked Oats (whole, not quick cook or instant) or Millet
(this is optional – if not using a grain, increase the pumpkin to ¾ cup and veggies to 1 ½ – 2 cups)
2 oz. (1/4 cup) Cranberries (unsweetened), Blueberries or Diced Apple (no need to cook fruit) – fresh or frozen
1 tsp. Pets Friend Eggshell Calcium
Rx Essentials for Dogs – Follow label instructions according to your dog’s weight. Add to each meal
Nordic Naturals Omega-3 oil – Follow label instructions according to your dog’s weight. Add to one meal each day
Directions
If you are cooking oats or millet, this is a good time to do that
Heat coconut oil in a medium or large pan over medium heat
Add half the water
Add meat and stir
Add veggies
Add the rest of the water
Ground meat will usually cook in 10 minutes. If you are using cutlets, it may take 15 minutes
Once the turkey is cooked, transfer contents of the entire pan (turkey, water, veggies) to a blender
Scramble the egg and add to the blender
Add cooked grain (if using), pumpkin or sweet potatoes and the Eggshell Calcium powder
Blend on low to your dog’s desired texture (either a little chunky or longer for a pate consistency)
Transfer to a container/bowl and add the fruit
Food will stay fresh in the fridge for 4 days
Pro Tip: Manage your dog’s anxiety at holiday time by crumbling a Treatibles Hard Chew and add to each meal. The Organic Full Spectrum Hemp CBD Oil will instill calm and help your dog relax.
Portion Size (these are average amounts – your dog may need more or less):
10 lb dog – ¼ cup per meal
20 lb dog – ½ cup per meal
40 lb dog – 1 cup per meal
80 lb dog – 2 cups per meal
TURKEY FEAST FOR CATS
Ingredients
1 – 2 tsp. Organic Coconut Oil
1 cup Water, preferably filtered/bottled
Small pinch of Sea Salt
1 lb. (16 oz) Ground Turkey or Turkey Cutlets
1 Egg Scrambled
2- 4 oz. (1/4 – 1/2 cup) Pumpkin Puree or Sweet Potato/Yam – Fresh baked pumpkin or pumpkin puree in BPA-free cans (not pumpkin pie filling) or baked or steamed sweet potatoes
2 oz. (1/4 cup) Diced Zucchini, Cauliflower or Spinach
100 mg Taurine –Whole Foods brand is great, as is Now, Thorne and some others
1 tsp. Pets Friend Eggshell Calcium
Rx Essentials for Cats – Follow label instructions according to your cat’s weight. Add to each meal
Nordic Naturals Omega-3 oil – Follow label instructions according to your cat’s weight. Add to one meal each day.
Directions
Heat coconut oil in a medium or large pan over medium heat
Add half the water
Add meat and stir
Add veggies
Add the rest of the water
Ground meat will usually cook in 10 minutes. If you are using cutlets, it may take 15 minutes
Once the turkey is cooked, transfer contents of the entire pan (turkey, water, veggies) to a blender
Scramble the egg and add to the blender
Add pumpkin or sweet potatoes, taurine and the Eggshell Calcium powder
Blend on low to your cat’s desired texture (either a little chunky or longer for a pate consistency)
Transfer to a container/bowl and add the fruit
Food will stay fresh in the fridge for 4 days
Pro Tip: Manage your cat’s anxiety at holiday time by adding 1 – 2 mg from Treatibles 250 mg or 750 mg dropper bottles. The Organic Full Spectrum Hemp CBD Oil will instill calm and help your kitty chill out.
Portion Size (these are average amounts – your cat may need more or less):
10 lb cat – 1/4 cup per meal
15 lb cat – 1/3 cup per meal
20 lb cat – 1/2 cup per meal
“These recipes are nutritionally complete,” said Jodi. “If homemade will be an ongoing part of a pet’s diet, then rotate other meats (chicken, beef, rabbit, venison) and vegetables according to what each pet likes. For pet parents wishing to only cook for special occasions, like Thanksgiving, eliminating the supplements is fine, however, I advise only offering the food for two or three days, maximum.”
It is important to note that for some pets, a change in diet can cause tummy upset. It is best to introduce new food slowly over the course of several days. On the first day, serve ¾ of the current food and ¼ of the new food with each meal. This can be mixed or side-by-side. Each day increase the new food and decrease the current food. After four or five days, the switch should be complete.
Bon Appetit!!
