Dog Food Recipe of the Month - Fruit Mix: Part 1

Getting a regular helping of fruits each and every day is just as important for your dog as it is for you! Remember, the key to longevity and a superior quality of life is a healthy and well balanced diet, and your dog is no exception to the rule! It is for this reason that we select the ‘Fruit Mix’ as this month’s Dog Food Recipe of the Month.

The types of fruits used can change depending on what you have left in your fridge. I often recommend using up any older fruits first - the ones that are a day or so past the time when you would eat them, but at that point are still good for your dog. Dark green or red, yellow or orange fruits are highly recommended. The darker or brighter the fruit the more nutrients it contains. Remember, the skin of the fruit usually contains the most concentrated source of nutrients, so avoid removing them when feeding your dog. One important exception to this is oranges, which can be harmful to your dog because of the toxicity in the fruit, so, “NO ORANGES!”

We believe that all fruits are best served pureed. Your dog’s stomach does not have the ability to breakdown the plant cell walls and absorb the nutrients properly when in its natural form. Once the food is broken down though, through the act of pureeing it, the dog’s stomach can then easily digest all of the healthy goodness from the fruit mix. Also, pureeing means that less mixture is required because the dog gets more nutrients in a smaller package. What we’re really trying to do here is simulate the natural vegetation that would be in a prey animal’s stomach in the wild.

The fruit mix can be made up in bulk and stored in weekly or daily portions for up to a month in the freezer. All you have to do is thaw it out and feed it to your dog with his regular meal. The portion size in this recipe will vary according to the size of the dog. You can also mix up the menu a bit by giving your dog either some fruit or veggie mix at different meals for variety and then, for an extra special treat, give them both for the same meal. And then just watch, your dog will gobble it up!

Go Here for Part 2