Liver “Brownies”

• 2 lbs chicken livers
• 2 C corn meal
• 2 C wheat germ
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 tsp. granulated garlic (do not use garlic salt)
• 1/2 C dried parsley

Liquefy the chicken livers in a food processor, pour mixture into a bowl and add other ingredients. Mix until consistency of a brownie batter. Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet spread evenly, about 1/3 inch thick. Bake at 350 F for about 35 minutes. When brownies are cool, cut into squares, or whatever shapes you prefer and serve to your dog. Keep them in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator.

Buying dog treats in the store is a lot more convenient than making them yourself. But have you ever looked at the ingredients in commercial dog foods and treats?  Do you know where those ingredients actually come from?

As an example, let’s look at “meat by-products,” a common ingredient in many commercial dog foods and dog treats.  It is defined as the “non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals”. It can include, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth and hoofs.  Not particularly appetizing, but it gets even better.

Pet food companies are not required to tell where they get their meat by-products.  They can be obtained from any source, so there is a question of quality.  Any animal can be used, including “4D animals,” which means dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter.  Animals euthanized at shelters can be (and are) used in pet foods and treats.  It can also include cancerous tissue, decomposing tissue, and pus.

Now that you know what a meat by-product is, would you really want to feed this to your beloved dog?  I don’t think you would.  This is why it’s a good habit to carefully research commercial products you buy for your dog and to take the time to gather dog treats and food recipes and them yourself.  Your dogs give you unconditional love and are an important part of your family. Show your love and gratitude by providing them with the best possible nutrition to ensure a healthy quality of life.

Related posts:

1. Healthy Dog Treat Recipes
2. Agility Training Dog Treats Recipes
3. Are Turkey Leftovers OK for Your Dog?

You want the quality of the fat they’re eating to be good so look for dog foods that have Omega 3 fatty acids which is a healthier source of fat. Don’t add supplements because too much fat can be harmful. A dog food that has a balanced amount should be fine.

Once you start feeding your dog a new food, give it at least 6 weeks to see how well he or she responds to it. You don’t want to be constantly switching back and forth between different kinds of dog food because it can cause stomach upset and it’s also hard to see the benefits of one type of dog food if you’re switching al the time.

Establish a regular meal time and avoid “free feeding”. That’s where you just put a bowl of food out for your dog to eat whenever he feels like it. It’s a lot easier for your dog to overeat this way because you lose track of how much you’ve fed him and when. Your dog also needs to see you as their food provider so letting him see you put the bowl down helps to accomplish this. And you can also track if your dog is not feeling well because you see if he’s eating or not.

Avoid feeding your dog table scraps because they’re usually high in bad fat, salt and simple carbohydrates. Also, when they train, they would be less interested because your treats wouldn’t be as good as the stuff they get from the table.

Related posts:

1. What Makes a Healthy Agility Dog?
2. Are Turkey Leftovers OK for Your Dog?
3. Healthy Dog Treat Recipes