Pupella, Cheeseburgers and a Feast Fit for a Dog King
Top recipes from the past week, plus some research on diet balance.
I’m trying to make daily foods more fancy. We had Barkshouka last week and this week it’s Seafood Pupella! They looked and smelled delicious. It’s technically “dog food”, so I feel like I shouldn’t eat it myself, but I totally want to.
This week’s free article is about dog food balance. I’ve been lectured by vets about how homemade diets lead to nutrient deficiencies in dogs, but what does the research say? TLDR, dogs fed homemade diets don’t show signs of deficiency. Our gut already knows this, but it’s nice to have the research to back it up.
So why are vets so misinformed on dog diets?
For one, diets are complex by nature. Just look at the endless stream of information on carnivore, vegan, keto, paleo—all the various diets for people. Everyone eats differently and there’s little agreement on what’s best.
Second, vets are trained to care for multiple species, from cows and horses to dogs and lizards. Given that diet for just one species is already so complex, is it possible for them to know the diet intricacies of so many different species - from herbivores, carnivores to omnivores? No, it’s not.
Your vet has to see so many different kinds of animals, perform surgery on different bodies and treat all kinds of diseases. It’s a lot to ask of them to be experts in nutrition, too. From my experience, they want you in and out of their office as quickly as possible. The last thing they want to do is counsel you on a homemade food plan.
Since dog food is widely accepted and has the stamp of approval by the authorities that govern the pet food industry (AAFCO), it takes the responsibility off of them. The safest and easiest choice is to recommend commercially prepared food.
But enough of that, let’s move on to the recipes!
Cedric was so excited for this burger he snatched it right out of my hand before he was supposed to. Though this meal isn’t “balanced”, a good home made burger is totally dog friendly. You could just toss your dog a patty and lettuce next time you’re grilling up burgers, but taking some time to make these low carb buns and doggie ketchup will really complete the experience for them.
Our Thanksgiving feast can easily be repurposed for Christmas, which is right around the corner! You don’t have to roast a bird just for your dog, but before you give them a bite of the family turkey, soak it in some warm water to remove the excess salt and seasoning. Dogs’ salt requirements are less than humans mostly because they don’t sweat like we do (although, interestingly AAFCO doesn’t have an upper sodium limit).
Spain is one of my all-time favorite food destinations. From tapas at the legendary Quimet & Quimet, where standing is the only option, to the stalls at Mercado de La Boqueria, Barcelona is amazing. I can’t take the pups there with me, but I can bring the amazing food to them, plus it’s super nutritious and this recipe is balanced.
Since the food we feed is nutrient dense, it’s important to watch out for overfeeding. This post has guidelines that I follow for how much food to give them and how to maintain a healthy weight over time. Have a great week!
All the best,
Joelle and Cedric