I am considering making my own supplements to feed my dogs. I started pulling out all this meat from my freezer. Lamb lungs, lamb heart, and lamb shoulder. Then I boiled it with some Yukon Gold pototoes. I am going to add 100% rolled oats, a small amount of blueberries from our blueberry excursion in 7/09, and some Nupro. I will also add some flaxseed meal or flaxseed oil...
Any thoughts of what else I can put into this to make a tasty treat for the pups? I'm thinking of scooping it out on parchment paper with an ice cream scooper and freezing it in baby portions...
I make treats, but haven't made food - other than supplementing fresh foods in addition to kibble. I give mine raw veggies - they love carrots, green beans, peas, broccoli, etc. Mine also like apples & cooked sweet potatoes, & they like the flavor of olive oil and cod liver oil. I drizzle it over their food on occasion.
I've been feeding my guy raw meat and bones with puppy kibble on the side. he won't eat veggies or fruits. He spits them all out. He's a meat eatin dog. Maybe sweet potatoes with butter and Agave sweetner? Your mix sound great though. What will you do after the lamb is used up?
I have boiled chicken, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, and carrots together and mixed it all up when it was done and given it to them. I have also mixed rice, eggs, and some veggies in there, I also know they like oatmeal. I never add spices, no salt, or pepper, or even herbs like Oregano, I always leave that kind of stuff out.
My dogs LOVE bananas, and cantaloupe and oranges, baby carrots and also apples.
Just try and remember the things your dog should NOT have, like, onions ever, garlic, grapes, raisins, those types of foods should never be given to any dog, not just large breeds. It can kill them.
I think home prepared diets are usually much better than kibble. Dogs lived well on them for years before we invented dry dog food.
Boiling meat actually strips more nutrients out of the food than other methods of cooking. The nutrients are leached out into the water, and the high heat destroys the rest. Leaving the meat raw will give your dog the most health benefits, but if you feel you must cook it, Saute it over medium heat in a small amount of olive or sunflower oil. The lower temperatures and lack of water will allow the meat to retain more of it's original nutrient value. The oil will be good for their skin and coat.
With veggies, steaming them will maximize their nutrient value. Always cook veggies that are meant to be part of a meal as dogs do not digest uncooked vegetables or grains well, if at all.
I personally feed my dogs store bought raw dog food and add in some appropriate leftovers from my own cooking to keep things interesting for them. They love it and there is usually no need to add in chemically synthesized supplements.