Today, many pet owners are turning to holistic dog food as a natural, safe, and affordable alternative to commercially prepared pet food. Cooking for your canine companion can be a wonderful way to bond with your pet, but it’s important to make sure your dog gets a balanced diet. Feeding your pet a holistic dog food diet is a great way to help him live a long and happy life.

For optimal health, a dog’s diet should include not only protein, but also some whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. It is important to discuss any changes to your dog’s diet with your veterinarian first to help prevent certain conditions related to malnutrition. With that said, here are three favorite homemade holistic dog food recipes:

Lucky’s Lamb and Rice Dinner

makes 4 servings

– 1 1/2 cups of brown brown rice
– 2 tsp. canola oil
– 2 cups of beef broth
– 1 clove of minced garlic
– 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme
– 1 pound lean ground lamb
– 1 cup of grated cheese

Saute ground lamb in a skillet over medium heat until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Drain and reserve.

Combine the brown rice and canola oil in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the beef broth, garlic and thyme and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook about 15 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed. Add the lamb and cheese. Cool completely before serving.

Fluffy’s favorite meat pies

Make 1 dozen cakes

– 1/2 cup of brown brown rice
– 1 cup of water or broth
– 1 medium potato, grated
– 1 large carrot, grated
– 1 stalk of chopped celery
– 2 pounds lean ground beef, turkey, or lamb
– 3 eggs
– 1 tablespoon. + 1 teaspoon olive oil
– 1/2 cup oat flakes

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 C). Grease 12 large muffin tins. In a medium saucepan, combine the rice and water or broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 20 to 30 minutes, or until rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from heat, let cool for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine potatoes, celery, carrots, ground beef, and eggs in large bowl. Add the olive oil, rice, and oatmeal, and mix well. Divide the mixture evenly among the muffin tins and tap firmly. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through and the top feels firm. Cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes and place the cakes on a tray. Allow cakes to finish cooling completely before serving. Cakes can be refrigerated or frozen and used as needed.

Spot’s Spectacular Bacon Biscuits

Makes 2 dozen treats.

– 2 1/2 cups of wheat flour
– 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
– 1/2 cup powdered milk
– 1 tablespoon. flax seeds
– 1 teaspoon beef bouillon powder
– 1/3 cup bacon fat
– 1 large egg
– 1/2 cup ice water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients. Mix in the bacon juices and the egg. Add the ice water by tablespoons until the dough comes together. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out with biscuit or cookie cutters and place cookies 1-inch apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until firm. Cool completely before serving.

Since it’s made with all-natural ingredients, you need to be careful that homemade dog food doesn’t go bad. Foods containing meat should be used within three days or discarded, or you can freeze individual servings for up to a month. If you prepare and store it correctly, you can cook it once and make enough holistic dog food to last for weeks, and your pet will thank you for it.