We are dog people.  In addition to having horses, chickens, bees, and small furry rodents in cages, we are first and foremost dog people.  We’ve had quite a few canines over the years, each bringing loads of love, laughter and companionship; and leaving giant paw prints on our hearts upon their passing.  With each pooch, we’ve learned more about ourselves and our world; about kindness and compassion; about how to be better communicators and caretakers.  For years, I thought the best way to feed our hounds was via “high quality” commercial dog food.  But Kenna, our 3rd Gordon Setter, taught me better.  I suppose credit should also be given to the many serious dog food recalls issued over the years, for they certainly shook my trust.  But Kenna’s story showed me the value of serving real food to our four-legged family members. 

Kenna was a sweet, beautiful, and very food-motivated Gordon Setter. She always licked her bowl clean, and our other dog’s bowls, too.  In her later years, as one would expect, she really started to slow down, sleeping large portions of each day away.  Her interest in things waned, including her meals, and we feared she would not be with us much longer.  A series of veterinary appointments ultimately revealed she had an internal cancerous mass, and her remaining time with us would be a matter of a few short weeks.  So I indulged her.  I made her homemade dog food.  Real stews, with meats and vegetables. But rather than continue to waste away, she got more energetic.  Her coat went from a dull, dry sheen to a glossy luster.  Our daily walks became near runs!  And she outlived her prognosis by a year.  There was no other medication involved, no other treatments that would explain her renewed vigor.  The only change was her diet.  No one can say with certainty that it extended her life, but it most surely enhanced her remaining days.  And it made me a homemade dog food convert.

Today, our English Shepherd, Rory, receives this diet.  He has the most lustrous coat!  Yes, it may cost more than commercial dog food in both dollars and convenience.  But Kenna’s story showed me it’s a worthwhile investment in a canine’s health and well-being.  Hopefully, it will mean fewer costly trips to the vet down the road, as well.

Here’s our “blessed by a vet” Miracle Dog Food recipe:

• 2 lbs. ground beef

• .8 to 1.2 lbs of organic chicken livers (the packaging is inconsistent, hence the variation, which is ok by my Vet). You can also use beef or lamb liver. Just make sure it's organic.

• 6 cups of chopped broccoli

• 3+ cups of chopped sweet potato (if it’s a big sweet potato, sometimes I’ll throw the whole thing in so long as it’s not more than 4 cups)

• 1.5 cups of brown rice

• 6 cups of chicken broth (or 4 cups chicken broth + 2 cups H2O)

• ¾ cup of apple cider vinegar

• ¾ cup honey

• Occasionally: 4 cups chopped spinach (recommended by Vet for nutritional balance)

Put all ingredients (except spinach) in crock pot, and cook on hi for 5 hours, or until sweet potato chunks are soft. Then stir in spinach, if using, and let cool.  The stew may appear watery, but the liquid absorbs as it cools. The stew can also be made in a large pot more quickly, if you want to do a lot of stirring. I’ve also been told it can be made in an hour in an Instant Pot.

Important: You must also provide supplemental calcium.  I feed our 1 year old, 45 lb English Shepherd, Rory, 800 mg/day of powdered Calcium Citrate that I get from Amazon, but you can also provide in pill form. (Per the Vet, Kenna got 600 mg/day). 

As for portion size, Rory gets @ 14 oz twice daily (older, though larger, Kenna got 12 oz/day).  A batch lasts about 5 days for Rory. Be sure to freeze any portions that will not be eaten within 6 days.

One more note: Do check with your veterinarian to make sure this recipe and the Calcium supplementation are adequate for your own dog’s needs.