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DIY Zucchini Chicken Burgers for Dogs
Ingredients…
- 1.5 pounds ground chicken wings
- 6 ounces beef liver
- 6 ounces chicken hearts
- 2 pounds chicken breasts
- 3 ounces blueberries (antioxidants)
- 1 ounce flaxseed (alpha linoleic acid)
- 1 ounce raw pumpkin seeds (Vitamin E and manganese)
- 3 ounces canned oysters, not smoked (zinc)
- 2 teaspoons dried basil (iron and trace minerals)
- 4 ounces zucchini (fiber and trace minerals)
- 2 cans sardines in water, no salt added (Vitamin D and Omega 3 fatty acids)
- 1/2 teaspoon organic kelp (iodine)
Mix ingredients together, shape into burger patties, flatten between wax paper and freeze. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe container for future meals.
Alternatives to Chicken for Dogs
If you're reading this recipe and thinking “but my dog has a chicken sensitivity,” then here are a few alternatives to chicken. Keep in mind that the nutrient load will change because each protein brings something different to the dish.
- duck
- quail
- pheasant
- turkey
Rodrigo also has a sensitivity to turkey and pheasant. I don't know if it's because they're related to chicken or if it's just a coincidence. He does fine with chicken eggs, duck eggs, and quail eggs – which aren't exactly the same as the meat for many dogs.
Given all of the alternatives, duck is the best fit for my dogs because I have a source for duck wings, duck breast, and duck hearts. Duck can be expensive and I've found that it's most affordable when ordered in bulk.
Where Do I Buy Canned Oysters?
I buy canned oysters from Walmart. I know, I know, there are people who swear not to shop at Walmart and if you have an affordable store alternative that is also in my town (or near my town) that carries canned oysters that aren't smoked, I'm all ears.
The brands that I buy are as follows and also available on Amazon…
Where Do I Buy Organic Kelp?
The organic kelp I prefer for my dogs is by Life Line. This is a local, to me, company that has impeccable standards and I order their kelp through our local raw food co-op. It's also available on Amazon.com.
When trying to figure out how much to feed dogs, I always start with a raw feeding calculator and then adjust based on each of my dogs’ individual needs. The most accurate calculator is this one:https://perfectlyrawsome.com/pmr-barf-dog-cat-raw-feeding-calculators/
how much do you feed a dog who is 15lbs and one that is 9.5 lbs.They are shih tzus and not what you would call working dogs They walk a mile in the mornibg and a mile after dinner and play with each other..SO that is their level of activity
Yes. The nutrients will be different so if you want to track nutrients, keep that in mind. But alternating proteins is important in a raw diet.
My dog has an allergy to chicken meat, and the other options are not readily available to me. Can I substitute for Beef or lamb?? thanks Jeanette
Any heat applied to food changes the nutrient values, but this isn’t the same for every food. I haven’t done the research, but I have learned that the nutrients in eggs, for instance, don’t change that much after you boil them. In my opinion, fresh food, whether fed raw or cooked, is better than commercially processed food (kibble). IMO, there isn’t a set rule of how often you should feed bone broth. I add it to my dogs’ food when I’m doing meal prep about once a month (or when I have it on hand). I pour it into a big batch of food that I feed over a week.
Does gently cooked food provide the same benefit as leaving it raw? Also, how often should you offer bone broth to your dog?
Thank you!
Thanks for the great recipe!