Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (15 page)

Daily ration:
About the same (or slightly more) as amounts for (
Doggie Oats
).

Beef substitutes: Try ground or chopped chicken, turkey, medium chuck, or hamburger instead of the beef in this recipe. Beef or chicken liver may be used once in a while, but not on a regular basis.

ONE-ON-ONE

Here’s a truly inspired recipe, easy to remember and easy to multiply because it uses exactly one unit of each ingredient! It is also economical and ecologically sound, deriving part of its protein from beans. This recipe, using hamburger, contains 32 percent protein, 17 percent fat, and 47 percent carbohydrates. The amounts will vary somewhat depending on what meats are used. For example, the protein will be about 15 percent less with turkey or chicken, but, significantly, those meats will be about 70 percent lower in fat. To make up the difference, add extra fat in the form of lard, butter, or vegetable oil. (See the table “Protein, Fat, and Carbohydrate Content of Various Meats” (
view
) for more information on meat contents.)

The calcium to phosphorus ratio is acceptable, though a tad on the low side, so use other recipes occasionally to balance this out.

The key to convenience in this recipe is to cook large quantities of beans in advance. Follow the cooking directions on the package. Freeze extra quantities in 1-cup containers (or appropriate multiples if you increase the recipe) and thaw as needed. The main version uses rice because it’s a grain many people use in their own menus, but the other grain choices listed are higher protein and, for the most part, faster cooking.

• 1 cup brown rice (or 2¼ cups cooked)
  
• 1 cup (½ pound) lean hamburger (or turkey, chicken, lean heart, or lean chuck)
  
• 1 cup cooked kidney beans (about half of a 15-ounce can)
  
• 1 tablespoon Healthy Powder
  
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  
• 1 teaspoon Group I bone meal (or 2 teaspoons Group II bone meals)*
  
• 1 10,000 IU vitamin A and D capsule
  
• 1 400–800 IU vitamin E capsule
  
• 1 teaspoon tamari soy sauce or dash of iodized salt (optional)
  
• 1 small clove garlic, crushed or minced (optional)
  

* See information on calcium supplements in the
Table of Calcium Supplementation Products
. The amount of calcium added from the bone meal sources is 1,500 mg (1.5 grams).

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the rice and simmer for 35 to 45 minutes. Mix in the other ingredients and serve.

Yield:
About 4½ cups, at 250 kilocalories per cup.

Daily ration (in cups):
Toy—a little less than 2 cups; small—about 4 cups; medium—6 to 7 cups; large—about 8 cups; giant—9 to 10 cups.

If you want to boost the protein content a little, add one large egg or 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast.

Grain substitutes: Instead of rice, you may use (with the highest protein versions listed first) 2 cups rolled oats (+ 4 cups water = 4 cups cooked); 1 cup bulgur (+ 2 cups water = 2½ cups cooked); 1 cup millet (+ 3 cups water = 3 cups cooked); 1½ cups cornmeal (+ 4 cups water = 4 cups cooked); or 1 cup barley (+ 2 to 3 cups water = 2½ to 3 cups cooked).

Bean substitutes: You may use one cup, of cooked soybeans, pintos, black beans, or white (navy) beans instead of kidney beans. Soybeans have the most protein.

FAST AND FRESH: DOGS

Here are three really simple recipes for those inevitable occasions when you have an eager eater nudging you, and you suddenly discover that you’re all out of dog food, both home-prepared and commercial. These recipes are not meant to serve as regular fare, but they do provide a fairly complete meal made of basic items you’re likely to have on hand. You can feed them to your pooch up to two or three times a week.

Note:
You may also feed any of the
basic cat recipes
to dogs. They contain more protein than dogs require, but that’s no problem unless your dog is on a low-protein diet because of kidney troubles.

QUICK CANINE OATS AND EGGS

• 1 cup raw rolled oats (or 2 cups cooked oatmeal)
  
• 4 large eggs
  
• 2 tablespoons Healthy Powder
  
• 1 teaspoon Animal Essentials calcium (or a slightly rounded ½ teaspoon of powdered eggshell or 1,000 mg of calcium from another Group III calcium supplement)*
  

* See information on calcium supplements in the
Table of Calcium Supplementation Products
.

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the oats, cover, and turn off the heat, letting the oats cook in the hot water for about 10 minutes, or until soft. (Use extra oatmeal from your own breakfast or else make some up.) Then stir in the eggs, Healthy Powder, and calcium. Let the eggs set slightly from the heat, then cool for a few minutes before serving.

Yield:
About 3 cups, at 230 kilocalories per cup.

Daily ration:
Same as for
Doggie Oats
. (Makes one meal, or a half-day’s ration, for a medium size dog. Double the recipe to make breakfast for a giant size dog.)

Grain substitutes: Instead of oats, you may use ½ cup bulgur (+ 1 cup water = 1¼ cups cooked) or ½ cup whole-wheat couscous (+ ¾ cup water = 1¼ cups cooked).

QUICK CANINE OATMEAL

Here’s another simple recipe that uses only two eggs and may resemble your own breakfast.

• 2 cups raw rolled oats (or about 4½ cups cooked oatmeal)
  
• 2 cups 2 percent milk
  
• 2 large eggs
  
• 1 tablespoon Healthy Powder
  
• 1 teaspoon Animal Essentials calcium (or a slightly rounded ½ teaspoon of powdered eggshell or 1,000 mg of calcium from another Group III calcium supplement)*
  

* See information on calcium supplements in the
Table of Calcium Supplementation Products
.

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add the oats, cover, and turn off the heat, letting the oats cook in the hot water for about 10 minutes, or until soft.

Put the oatmeal into your pet’s food bowl. Mix in the Healthy Powder and calcium and top with the milk. In a separate small bowl, stir the egg slightly to blend the yolk and white, and give both to the dog. Or, you may certainly mix it with the oatmeal.

Yield:
A little less than 7 cups, with about 160 kilocalories per cup.

Daily ration (in cups):
Toy—2 to 3; small—about 6; medium—9 to 10; large—11 to 12; giant—14+.

QUICK CANINE HASH

• 1 cup bulgur or whole-wheat couscous (or 2½ cups cooked)
  
• 1 cup (½ pound) chuck, hamburger, turkey, or chicken
  
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  
• 2 tablespoons Healthy Powder or substitute nutritional yeast
  
• 5,000 IU vitamin A
  
• 1½ teaspoons Animal Essentials calcium (or a scant teaspoon of powdered eggshell or 1,500 mg of calcium from another Group III calcium supplement)*
  

* See information on calcium supplements in the
Table of Calcium Supplementation Products
.

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil, add the bulgur, cover, and simmer 10 to 20 minutes. For couscous, use 3 cups water and cook 3 to 5 minutes. Add the meat or poultry, Healthy Powder, and calcium and serve.

Rotate this recipe with those that contain bone meal, to make sure all micro-nutrients are included

Yield:
About 3¾ cups, with about 310 kilocalo ries per cup.

Daily ration (in cups):
Toy—1½; small—3 to 3½; medium—5; large—6 to 6½; giant—7 to 8.

Grain substitutes: Instead of bulgur or couscous, use 1½ cups rolled oats (= 3¼ cups cooked). With poultry or other lean meats only: 1 cup millet (+ 3 cups water = 3 cups cooked); or 1 cup brown rice (+ 2 cups water = 2½ cups cooked). 

FOOD INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS

You can make substitutions in these recipes. It will change the amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and total calories some, but not significantly. It is a good idea to rotate foods periodically to make sure that there is sufficient variety.

For cooking instructions (grain to water) look at
Recommended Grains
.

Grain Substitutes:
1 cup rolled oats = ½ cup bulgur, millet, corn meal, or barley; scant ½ cup of rice; 2½ cups potatoes.

Meat Substitutes:
These meats are equivalent in amount: turkey, chicken, hamburger, chuck, beef heart.

One pound of meat = 1 pint cottage cheese + 4 eggs, or 16 ounces tofu + 4 eggs.

BASIC RECIPES FOR CATS

Now let’s look at some recipes for cats, starting with basic maintenance recipes that you can use as the foundation of your cat’s new diet. See
Nutritional Composition of Recipes for Cats
for information about the nutritional composition of these recipes.

Daily rations are given after each recipe for small (4 to 6 pounds), medium (7 to 9 pounds) and large (10 to 15 pounds) adult cats. Increase amounts for more active cats. Many factors can affect the quantity needed, so the best guide is your cat’s appetite and whether the food maintains the cat at a normal weight.

The next two recipes are the most economical and ecologically sound ways to feed your cat a fresh diet and still provide very generous protein and fat, well exceeding what is available in commercial foods. As prepared, the recipes provide 40 percent protein, 28 percent fat, and 29 percent carbohydrate.

BEEFY OATS

• 3 cups raw rolled oats (or 4½ cups cooked oatmeal)
  
• 2 large eggs
  
• 2 pounds (4 cups) ground lean beef heart (or lean chuck, lean hamburger, liver, kidney, or other lean red meats)
  
• 4 tablespoons Healthy Powder
  
• 1 tablespoon Animal Essentials calcium (or a slightly rounded 1½ teaspoon of powdered eggshell or 3,000 mg of calcium from another Group III calcium supplement)*
  
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or butter (or 1 tablespoon each)
  
• 10,000 IU vitamin A
  
• 100–200 IU vitamin E
  
• 1 tablespoon fresh vegetable with each meal—finely grated if cooked (optional)
  
• 500 milligrams taurine supplement (optional)
  

* See information on calcium supplements in “Table of Calcium Supplementation Products”.

Bring 6 cups (1.5 quarts) of water to a boil. Add the oats, cover, and turn off the heat, letting the oats cook in the hot water for about 10 minutes, or until soft. Then stir in the eggs, letting them set slightly for a few minutes. Mix in the remaining ingredients.

Yield:
About 9–10 cups, with around 337 kilocalories per cup. Immediately freeze whatever cannot be eaten in the next 2 to 3 days.

Daily ration (in cups):
Small—about ½ cup; medium—a scant cup; large—about 1 ⅓ cups.

Grain substitutes: 1½ cups millet (+ 3 cups water = 4½ cups cooked millet) or 1½ cups bulgur (+ 3 cups water = 4½ cups cooked bulgur).

NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF RECIPES FOR CATS