August 1, 2017

BASIC VEGAN RECIPE for FEEDING DOGS





BASIC VEGAN RECIPE for DOGS 
(feed twice a day, offer clean water,
and not the same meal everyday.)


About 1/3 of the meal (high protein) legumes

*whole lentils, split lentils (small red ones cook quickly)
*split peas 
*beans that are cooked well and mashed
*tofu (sometimes)
*tempeh (superior nutrition for dogs, highest source of food-sourced L-carnitine  in the vegan diet. Very high in protein. Not processed; a whole food product.   Make it palatable though, as in small chunks; seasoned and marinated.  
*seitan - wheat-meat - while I would not include it in my or their diet regularly,  it is good for dogs as they can easily digest the protein from it, studies say. It's  recommended for (vegan) dogs who poop a lot or have anal gland issues. Not a  staple food. 
*sprouted lentils, garbanzo beans, etc. (but not 1/3 of the meal, just a bit)

About 1/4 - 1/3 of meal; wholefood (organic) grain

*buckwheat (complete protein, optimal choice) low allergy
*quinoa (complete protein, optimal gluten-free choice) - low allergy
*oats - They have some good qualities, but not every meal
*brown rice - not high in protein, but good for B Vitamins
*barley - not every meal, change it up, needs longer cooking time
*whole grain pasta (spelt, buckwheat, etc.) - dogs love and I often add to the  mix  to help them love their meal. I am not fond of wheat or whole wheat,  though  some do give dogs this. If your dog has skin allergies or issues, don't  give them wheat. I try to avoid wheat completely when feeding dogs. 
*cornmeal, polenta, millet, amaranth- okay sometimes

About 1/3+ of the meal is vegetables:

*Butternut squash (superior choice because of omega 3 fats and high in beta carotene for your dog to convert to Vitamin A)
*Pumpkin/Squash - excellent choice. Every meal should have an orange colored  vegetable included. 
*Carrots, diced small and cooked into the meal and/or some grated raw
*Sweet potato - good choice as often as you like
*Potato (regular) - not highly nutritious (organic is best) (any green is toxic)
*Beetroot/beets - grate some raw into the meal, and or cook small amount
*Greens (kale) chopped small - raw or cooked (NO Swiss chard or greens that are high in oxalic acid as this can contribute to urinary crystals.) Limit spinach. 
*Broccoli - yes, small florets, too much is reportedly toxic to dogs. 
*Zucchini/Courgette - cooked with meal and cut into pieces. 
*Brussel Sprouts - cooked well, chopped into pieces, sometimes, not often.
*Raw sprouts mixed into the meal, broccoli sprouts, alfalfa, etc. 
*Fresh garden corn or peas, should be blended/mashed for digestibility
*String beans, cooked well and cut into small pieces.

Other Recommended Additions to the meal

*Ground flaxseed/almond/sunflower seeds - Just add a spoonful. If a dog already poops a lot, do not  give them flax seed or flax oil. 
*Hemp seeds (complete protein), Hemp Oil is thought to be the very best oil you can give your dog because of the omega ratio. You need to provide some oil to the meal for them to enjoy it, and for nutrition. Many dogs will not eat their food without an oil source. Not too much though! Flax oil is good for a shiny coat. Other options are organic cold-pressed olive oil, sunflower oil, (organic) canola oil, Coconut oil (not for dogs who are overweight), etc. 
*Some salty flavoring - mineral salt, tamari - too much salt is toxic to dogs.  Many dogs will not eat their meal without some sort of salty flavoring. 
*Cranberries/Cranberry Concentrate or Cranimals - can help to regulate the  urinary Ph of a dog on a plant diet. Cranberries are high in antioxidants, too. 
*Probiotic source like a small bit of sauerkraut (non-pasteurized) or Green Mush
*Nori and seaweeds - NOT too much, can overdo the iodine which can  cause health issues. If providing sea vegetables, then lessen the salt, or no salt. Kelp is super high in iodine so be careful if using it as overdoing iodine is a no-no.  
*Nutritional Yeast, Savory Yeast, or yeast specifically for dogs such as from   Evolution Diet in the U.S./Canada.  
*Marketed Vegan Dog Kibble - LINK to verified vegan brands worldwide - add  to prepared meals (to soften the kibble and to ensure required nutrients) or offer kibble alone. 

Supplement Additions (Do supplement, but don't over supplement.)

Taurine and L-carnitine - (vegan sourced) - is advised as a precautionary measure to prevent enlarged heart (dilated cardiomyopathy) which can occur in dogs fed vegan who are not properly supplemented. These supplements are included in most of the marketed dog kibbles, worldwide. Too much can upset the stomach of some dogs. Just a sprinkle depending on size and weight of dog. Taurine is given more often, and a few times a week on the L-Carnitine. 
Green Mush - has enzymes, probiotics, green powders, - highly recommended
VegeDog powdered supplement (does not contain L-carnitine, but all else). V-Complete from Germany/Europe.
B12 supplement - sometimes perhaps
Vitamin D (vegan) supplement. They don't easily make Vitamin D from skin exposure to sunlight, as humans do. But they may make some if the get sunshine on their belly. They need vegan kibble which has Vitamin D supplement.
Fruit treats, berries: some dogs will and some dogs won't. Some high antioxidant fruits like blueberries, offered in the meal or as a treat, can be a nice addition. Some marketed dog treats include fruit.
Molasses - supplies some iron.

Do NOT include these toxic-to-dog foods 

*onion/garlic, chives, leaks
*macadamia nuts - can cause hind leg paralysis. Walnuts are reported to be toxic  to dogs.
*Avocado - The persin in avocado is toxic to dogs, and they also can cause  enlarged heart with  pulmonary edema - One scientific study HERE. Kisses, my  dog friend. loved avocado and ate them regularly, and did get diagnosed with  enlarged heart (at age 14). Not worth  the risk. 
*nutmeg
*raisins, grapes, sultanas, currants
*chocolate, coffee and caffeine

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Would comment as follows; Theres no reason not to give long grain , brown organic whole rice at every meal. It has B2 and B6, folic acid and many more vitamins. I always fed it every day.Potatoes, imo toxic to Dogs and can be very poisonous if green. Also barely any food value so pointlessa and potentially dangerous. Also solanicae family, like tomatoes and aubergine which are implicated in neurological problems and arthritis. Seiten..would also not feed as wheat is also implicated in irritable bowel among other things. Wouldnt stir fry any Dog food. Frying can cause pancreatitis if too much oil. Wouldnt personally feed any oil per se, only in ground seeds which have the necessary omegas in them without the danger of pancraetitis .Also would avoid coconut oil, its trendy and marketed to death but very high in fat, Dogs dont need it. They also need a balance of proteins, not necessarily high protein, it needs to be adequate but not overdone which can acidify blood .Wouldnt feed any salt per se. If you use yeast extract it has it in it, plus the necesary B12 Dogs will need in diet every single Day. My proportions for feeding were half mug protein, half mug lentils, full mug Brown rice. Two mugs veg, one teaspoon yeast extract, for two Dogs. Its always worth putting a pinch of turmeric in food esp if Dogs have any arthritis. Didnt feed yeast flakes which I found can cause diarreah hence preferring extract.Mint is a useful herb for Dods which acts as a mild antiseptic also.

M. (known as) "Butterflies" Katz said...

The above comment from Anne - who is the person of one of the longest living dogs ever; Bramble - who ate a 100% vegan diet. My dogs would not eat the meal she is suggesting, but I have to inform you all that her words are from the words of someone whose dogs lived a very long time on a vegan diet!!!!!!

M. (known as) "Butterflies" Katz said...

One more thing, as what Anne said about pancreatic issues with giving the dogs oil. All my dog friends received oil in their food, for 3 decades, and not a one had pancreatic issues.

B said...

Is this 1/3 of their meal deal with calories or weight? Is that a dumb question? I'm just thinking a cup of lentils is not the same as a cup of kale but maybe. should they eat all this raw or is it ok to boil down and blend?

M. (known as) "Butterflies" Katz said...

In response to B's comment, it's not that exact. I added the word "about" 1/3 of the meal. About 1/3 of meal is cooked lentils and 1/3 is cooked vegetable.

Sunshine said...

My rescue dog Flo has been fully vegan for over a year now and loves her food!!! Mostly vegan kibble, with additions. Frozen bananas are her absolute fave, followed closely by frozen peas. I do include cooked oats in almost all her meals, as she was having some anal gland issues and needed more fibre - since I started including these in most meals, she hasn't had any more issues. <3

M. (known as) "Butterflies" Katz said...

Sunshine, I am correcting that statement above. I had a dog with anal gland issues and seitan bulked out her poop enough to help the glands secrete.

Linda said...

Brilliant article! (for each food section, you could add "choose one of the following") I'm glad for your reference about the oil and salt, as this has been my experience too, although she prefers a bland oil like rice bran oil, or a tasty one like flavoredsprays.com, or organic coconut oil spray (half the fat of coconut oil). Also, she has eaten oats daily for three years, and still with a healthy energy level. Keep up the great work! <3

The Ramslands said...

How much do you feed to a dog based on dogs weight?

M. (known as) "Butterflies" Katz said...

It's not that exact; or it never has been for me in the past 35 years. I don't measure weights for all dogs. I just seem to know the right portion by looking at it for the size of the dog.