Know Better for Dogs Beef Recipe

Make a 3lb. batch of dog food

Ingredients

• 2lbs. (900g) meat of your choice
• 1 1/2 cups of water*
• 1/2 cup Know Better for Dogs
• 1/2 lb (225g) vegetables, chopped and steamed
  (vegetables are optional)

Add more water if desired - especially when preparing the food using ground meat.

Larger batches can be made and frozen for convenience. Thaw as needed by warming the food to room temperature in a warm water bath before serving. The dog food will keep fresh for 24 hours once thawed and refrigerated.

Remove uneaten food within 30 minutes to be refrigerated. Avoid microwaving on a regular basis.

serving sizes based on your dog’s weight

• 10-12 lb dog: 1/4 lb or 1/2 cup
• 20-25 lb dog:1/2 lb or 1 cup
• 40-50 lb dog: 1 lb or 2 cups
• 100 lb dog: 2lbs. or 4 cups

Since muscle meats are important ingredients in the raw diet, special care should be taken when selecting meat for your dog. Meats must be fresh and should be no greater than 15-20% fat content.

Although most dogs appear to have a preference for beef, the following meats are equally well suited in the preparation of your dog's food:

• Beef: Lean pre-ground stewing meat, heart boneless steak or roast
• Lamb: Pre-ground boneless stewing meat shank, leg or butt
• Poultry: Pre-ground boneless, skinless breast fillet or thigh
• Venison: Pre-ground stewing meat neck, shank, or shoulder

Or use more exotic meats such as buffalo, caribou, elk, moose, duck or rabbit.
Tip: Try your local butcher or meat processor when purchasing your dog's meats. Supermarkets often cannot supply in bulk quantities and its pre-packaged meats may make it more difficult to obtain the correct amount for the recipe. A butcher will be glad to weigh out your meat and grind the meat for you on the spot.

Do not use:
Meat ground with bone-in is not recommended.

The use of fish is not advised, as feeding raw fish can lead to a thiamine deficiency. Source: Houpt, Hintz & Shepherd in 1978. Ref. The Domestic Dog, Cambridge University Press, 199.

Although Know Better for Dogs contains all of the essential vitamins and minerals, the addition of optional vegetables, lightly steamed, in a dog's diet is an excellent source of carbohydrates - particularly for larger or highly active dogs.

According to veterinary sources, dogs do not require carbohydrates, unless a female is lactating.

Vegetables to add: Squash, pumpkin, cucumber, zucchini, carrots, parsnips, beets, yams, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts.
Vegetables to avoid: Beans (raw), peas, spinach, beet greens, kale (everyday), chard, onions, garlic, leek, green tomato, potato, bell peppers.
The use of garlic and other members of the Lily family such as onions, garlic, shallots, and chives in dog food is not advised. Ingestion of these plants in a raw, cooked, or dried form can lead to damage of the red blood cells, which are rejected by the body from the bloodstream, and a continued use of garlic or onions can eventually result in hemolytic anemia.

If the anemia is not controlled by discontinuing the use of the plants, it can potentially lead to death. Dogs should never be given raw, un-aged garlic because it is very irritating to the mouth, esophagus, and stomach and can cause or exacerbate ulcers.

The nightshade family of plants such as tomatoes, potatoes, and bell peppers contain a bitter poisonous alkaloid called "Solanine". Solanine is toxic to humans as well, but it requires a much more concentrated amount, like that found in green potatoes and potato sprouts, to induce sickness. Raw green beans should not be fed as they contain a toxic alkaloid similar to arsenic. Cooking green beans will destroy these toxins.