Homemade Vegan (Whole Foods Plant-Based) Dog Food
I've had a lot of people ask me how we make our dogs' food. Since 2012, our SHINY VEGAN PUGS have been 100% whole foods plant-based. Our vet says they are the healthiest pugs he has ever treated. Our pugs weigh around 16-16.5 pounds, and they are just the perfect weight for their size.***Updated on 12-5-2021***NOTE: You do not have to feed your dog a commercial dog food if you feed our homemade food. Just make sure your dogs are a healthy weight and you are feeding them enough calories. Supplement their meals with some raw fruits, veggies, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, homemade dog biscuits, etc.) And ALWAYS consult with your vet to make sure they understand what kind of diet you plan to feed your dog(s).Here's what we feed our 16 1/2-lb dogs daily:6:00 AM: Heaping 1/3-1/2 cup of our homemade food (see recipe below) plus 1/6 cup of V-Dog kibble12:00 PM: One serving of fruit (they share 1/2 apple, a few berries, or other fruit) and some low-cal veggies (like a few pieces of red bell pepper, cucumber, carrots, sugar snap peas, steamed cauliflower, beets, etc.). I usually give them 1 T of homemade unsweetened plain soy yogurt or tofu, as well. See additional snacks note, below.6:00 PM: Heaping 1/3-1/2 cup of our homemade food (see recipe below) plus 1/6 cup of V-Dog kibbleRight after dinner: One homemade Peanut Butter Pumpkin Oat Biscuit ADDITIONAL SNACKS: Periodically, we also treat them with kale stems, colored bell peppers, carrots, lettuce, spinach, and other raw veggies, as well as occasionally, some air-popped organic popcorn and a small amount (1 teaspoon) of nut butter (peanut or almond) or organic tofu.***UPDATED ON 12-5-2021***Homemade Vegan Dog Food - Made in an electric pressure cookerTHIS RECIPE MAKES about 18-22 cups (depending on whether or not you add the pumpkin and sweet potatoes to the mix.
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry organic brown rice
- ½ cup dry lentils
- 1 cup garbanzo beans measured after being soaked or 1 1/2 cups cooked
- 1 cup great northern or navy beans measured after being soaked or 1 1/2 cups cooked (replace with 1 cup of oats if your dog is over the age of 7 years old)
- 1 1- lb bag organic frozen spinach NOT thawed
- 1 1- lb bag organic frozen peas thawed
- 1 1- lb bag organic frozen green beans thawed
- 1 1- lb bag of frozen broccoli or cauliflower optional but healthy and will extend the food
- 1 lb organic carrots shredded in food processor or chopped small (you can also buy them pre-shredded)
- 1/2 cup chia seeds
- 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
- 7 cups water
- 1 15-oz can of organic pumpkin optional
- 1 1/2 cups cooked sweet potatoes optional (you can add more if you need to increase calories)
Instructions
- Shred carrots in food processor or chop into tiny dice by hand. Transfer to pressure cooker. This will be at the bottom of the pressure cooker to prevent burning.
- Then, change to an S-blade and process cooked or soaked beans to a medium coarseness.
- Add the ingredients to pressure cooker in order: beans, rice, lentils, oats (for dogs over 7 years old, if using) peas, green beans, broccoli, and spinach plus water.
- Cook for 12 minutes with natural release. It can take almost 45 minutes for the pressure to come down and release. Remove the pressure cooker lid and stir in chia seeds and ground flaxseed. If adding, stir in 1 can of organic pumpkin and 2 or 3 cooked sweet potatoes. Cool and put into individual containers with tight lids and freeze for future use.
Notes
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