Question:
I have seen your article on dog food. I am 78 years old and need to find a cheaper way to fix meals for my 5-year-old golden retriever. I just can't think of giving my Buddy up -- it would break my heart.
M.S., St. Louis, Mo Apr 17, 2011
Answer:
Many readers have written to me saying they are close to giving their dogs up for adoption because they can't afford to buy good-quality dog food; nor can they afford animal vaccinations. When they buy the poorer-quality dry kibble in big bags and their animals become ill, they cannot afford to take their dogs to the veterinarian or to pay for costly remedial diets. Some animal shelters provide free pet food of reasonable quality donated by manufacturers for hard-up pet owners, which you should look into. If it is just dry food, add at least a teaspoon of olive or safflower oil per serving.
Here's a cheap, simple recipe for dogs:
- 2 cups of uncooked, ideally brown rice.
- 1 cup each of hamburger and grated carrot or sweet potato (yam) stirred into the rice when fully cooked and still hot. You can also include green beans and leafy greens such as spinach and collard greens.
- Add four crushed Tums (for calcium) or four 600 mg calcium-supplement tablets.
- Refrigerate and serve 1 cup (more or less) for every 30 pounds of body weight, morning and evening.
- Garnish with any scraps from your table, but no bones!
In the old days, pet owners could get green tripe, kidneys, lungs and other nutritious trimmings from the local butcher. In some small towns, they still exist, and cat and dog owners should help keep them in business.
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