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I love how innovative people in the pet industry are; someone is constantly coming up with something new. I'm always tempted to try new things, but I'm particular about ingredients and spending money on something I can make at home. So when a company asked me to write a review of their gravy for dogs, I had to say “no.” And then I walked into my kitchen and made my own gravy.
How I Came Up with This BRILLIANT Idea
(that isn't unique, at all)
So, I love watching cooking shows and videos, and I feel like I can cook really well – by osmosis – but I can't. I've never made gravy before – I think it involved the turkey giblets and flour, but I never stuck around long enough when my mom was cooking to soak in that recipe.
And then…
- I remembered that I was out of golden paste.
- I remembered that I had just thawed 32 ounces of bone broth.
- I recalled that ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory, so…
I can make a golden paste, but keep it on the liquid side, and – voila! – it's gravy.
DIY Gravy for Dogs {Recipe}
I usually make golden paste in large batches that I freeze. Since I wasn't sure how this would go, I started small…
- 32 ounces (2 wide-mouth jars) of homemade bone broth (instead of water)
- 1/2 cup of CocoTherapy coconut oil
- 1 cup of organic ground turmeric (powder)
- 1/4 cup of turkey tail (or another mushroom powder) by Real Mushrooms
- 3 tbsp organic ground ginger
- 1 tbsp organic ground cinnamon (Ceylon if you can get it)
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
I used organic coconut flour and turmeric when playing around with the consistency.
I transferred the gravy to individual glass containers and added air-dried organ blend (from Real Dog Box) to each jar. I added a collagen meal topper (also Real Dog Box) to half of the jars and canned salmon to the other half.
And, voila! Super-powered gravy for dogs!
Benefits of Golden Paste for Dogs
Golden paste is a mixture made from turmeric, water, coconut oil, and a small amount of black pepper. It is often used as a natural remedy in holistic medicine. The main ingredient, turmeric, contains an active compound called curcumin, which has been studied for its potential health benefits. However, curcumin is not easily absorbed by the body, and the addition of coconut oil and black pepper, which contain piperine, is believed to enhance its absorption.
Benefits of golden paste for dogs include:
- a natural anti-inflammatory
- alleviates joint pain
- a powerful antioxidant
- great for cognitive health
- great for cardiac health
- may prevent / slow cancer by inducing apoptosis
Benefits of Ginger for Dogs
Since this is a gravy and not my typical golden paste, I added ginger to make it fancy (or more beneficial). I thought about buying and grating fresh ginger but wasn't sure if my dogs would go for that (or how much is safe to use).
I did all this on the fly and added ginger because it's…
- a natural anti-inflammatory
- alleviates joint pain
- a powerful antioxidant
- a natural treatment for nausea or car sickness
Benefits of Turkey Tail Mushrooms for Dogs
Turkey tail mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine and other herbal practices. They are rich in various bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and phenols, which are believed to contribute to their potential health benefits. These mushrooms are often used in the form of extracts, powders, or teas.
Research suggests that turkey tail mushrooms may possess immune-modulating properties, acting as immunomodulators that help support and regulate the immune system.
Turkey tail mushrooms…
- are high in antioxidants
- boost the immune system
- boost gut health
- are a natural anti-inflammatory
- slow the growth and spread of cancer cells; reduces tumor size
- boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy
Adding Gravy to My Dogs' Meals
Barring any health issues, I imagine that my gravy (completely not unique) can be added to any dog's meals – what they're eating doesn't matter.
I plan to add a couple of tablespoons of gravy to my dogs' meals a few days a week. My senior dogs will enjoy it more often. And I might spice it up with some Chinese herbs.
My first batch was bigger than I expected, so I put one jar in the fridge and the rest in the freezer until I'm ready to use it.
Before You Ask…
Of course, you can change this recipe. You don't have to add the cinnamon, ginger, or turkey tail. You don't have to use that much bone broth (or any bone broth).
Basically, have fun with the idea, and let me know what you come up with!!!
* If your dog has been diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, you cannot feed your dog turmeric while your dog is having an active bleed. Turmeric acts as a blood thinner.
