TailsLife Blog

Category: Pet Recipes

  • Wet or Dry Dog Food?

    Wet or Dry Dog Food?

    It is always a dilemma to choose the kind of food you want to feed your pet. Some people are influenced by television advertisements, some feed according to the recommendations of the breeder or the vet and some make their decisions based on what their friends feed their pet and by their own experience with previous pets.

    It is always handy to know the pros and cons about the two kinds of feed: wet and dry, and then make the decision about the type you want your pet hooked onto.

    Wet pet food:

    •  Good source of hydration, especially if your pet is fussy about drinking water.
    •  Most preferable to older animals who have lost their olfactory senses and favour food that have richer scent and flavor, which most wet foods have. Wet foods are also most suited to animals with dental problems or smaller mouths.
    • On the flipside, pets always make a mess when eating wet food. Also once the wet food is opened it has to be consumed immediately and thus has no shelf life. It is also not very economical as it is more expensive than dry food and needs to be bought in smaller amounts.  

    Dry pet food:

    • Dry pet food is the most preferred choice of food in terms of being more economical and having a longer shelf life. The food can be put on the bowl and be left for a whole day without the fear of it being spoiled. The food can be easily stored in an airtight container and be kept away from insects and rodents. They are also less expensive and therefore cost effective.
    • Dry food can also be used as a training treat and also as a dental health supplement as some dry foods are especially formulated to the clean the teeth as your pet chews on it.
    • On the flipside, there is no moisture in dry foods which becomes vital to older animals, sick animals and those living in hotter climates. In such cases, wet food is recommended.

    Basically, whichever type of food you finally choose must meet all the nutritional requirements of your pet and must come within your budget.

    P.S: If you are a pet parent in Bengaluru, you can order some healthy wet food this summer on www.furresh.com

    Happy parenting!  

     

  • Healthy meal plan for your adult dog

    Healthy meal plan for your adult dog

    Variety is the spice of life and this is true even for your furry buddy, as like humans they need variety in food. You can always experiment with different kinds of food and zero in on the ones they prefer and keep them as regular feeds. The result of your creative hard work can be seen in the bright eyes, lustrous coat and high energy level of your dog.

    Ideally, most adult dogs should eat twice a day and this helps in easy digestion and stable metabolism level. Feeding them in between meals and tidbits from your table is a strict no – no as it would lead to unhealthy weight gain. Underfeeding your pet is a clear sign that your dog is not happy with his meal and needs a change in his meal plan.

    Here are a few tips to help you plan a healthy meal:

    • Dry food: This is readily available in market but you have to make sure that the product you pick must meet all the nutritional requirements of your adult pet. You can enhance the taste and flavor to this by adding a piece of meat, eggs or even a spoonful of wet food to add more zing to the food.
    • Wet food: Dogs usually love wet food as it has more flavor and is easy to eat. But it also has a shorter shelf life and is quite expensive. So, maybe you can include a small portion of it with dry food to make the meal more appetising.
    • Home cooked meal: This meal goes easy on your pocket. You just add rice, some meat and vegetables to his bowl, but this becomes quite dicey as you will not know if it is meeting their nutritional requirement. You can always talk with your vet and take their advice to plan your pet’s meals better.  If your dog is a vegetarian he can lead a healthy life. You just have to include an equal amount of grains, pulses, cereals, lentils and vegetables that are high on fiber and protein. Low fat cheese, cottage cheese and eggs can also be included.

    You can try giving each of the above meals and see which one your dog prefers. When in doubt, you can contact your vet and take his advice on your pet’s meal plan.

  • Valentine’s Day Cookies for Your Pet

    Valentine’s Day Cookies for Your Pet

    Just the smell of cookies baking is enough to make your furry friend impatient to get his teeth on the tasty morsel! Since cookies are a favourite among most pets you can try this easy recipe. Make the cookies appear more festive by using special valentine’s day cookie cutters or simply christmas cookie cutters.

    Here is what you need:

    2 cups of whole wheat flour

    1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder

    ⅓ cup peanut butter

    1cup hot water

    Preheat your oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit. Grease your baking tray with butter or olive oil. Combine the flour and baking powder in a mixing bowl. To this you add the peanut butter and while mixing it slowly add the hot water. The consistency must be just right. The dough must not get too dry or too wet. If it gets dry you can add little more water and if the dough gets too wet you can add more flour. You can also add a drizzle of honey to make the cookie more tasty.

    Once the dough is ready. Roll it and flatten it. Then use the cookie cutter to make different shapes. Bake the mixture for 15 to 20 minutes. It is then ready to serve.  

  • Quick valentine treats for your muffin

    Quick valentine treats for your muffin

    Peanut butter cookies

    If your pet loves peanut butter then he will enjoy this peanut butter recipe. This recipe has the goodness of protein as well as well as fibre that is essential for your pet.

    Ingredients:

    • 2 cups of wheat flour
    • 1 cup of rolled oats
    • 1/3 cup of peanut butter
    • 1 tablespoon of honey
    • ½ tablespoon of olive oil
    • 1 ½ cups of water

    Pre heat the oven. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and roll into a smooth dough. Create shapes with the help of a cookie cutter. Grease the baking tray and place the shaped dough and bake it for 30 to 40 minutes or until they are golden brown. 

    Chicken fingers

    Chicken is a very good source of protein. You can include this in your dog’s regular diet along with vegetables, rice and fruit. Thereby ensuring he has a well balanced diet. This fillet recipe is very delicious and will leave your pet asking for more!

    Ingredients:

    • Chicken breast strips
    • 1 teaspoon of turmeric
    • ½ lime

    Boil the chicken breast strips in water and turmeric till the water is absorbed. In a pan drizzle some olive oil and add the chicken strips and fry till they are golden brown. In a serving plate add the chicken and squeeze the lime and serve when cooled.

    Happy Cooking!

    Recipe by Harshitha

     

  • Quick Recipes : Veggie Khichidi & Bacon Cookies for pets

    Quick Recipes : Veggie Khichidi & Bacon Cookies for pets

    Recipe 1: Vegetable Khichidi

    Khichdi is one the most easily digestible food. It is power packed with nutrients of a balanced diet such as carbohydrates, protein, dietary fibre, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Since its texture is soft it goes easy on the stomach and soothes the intestines. You can make Khichdi more nutritive by adding the vegetables that your pet prefers, to make the dish more enjoyable.

    Ingredients:

    • 1 ½ cups of rice
    • 1 cup moong dal
    • 1 ¼ cups of soya chunks
    • Carrot, cauliflower, potato (any other vegetable that your pet enjoys)
    • 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
    • 1 teaspoon of salt

    Soak the rice and moong dal in water for about 20 minutes and then combine the above ingredients in a pressure cooker and cook it for about 15 to 20 minutes.

    Recipe 2: Bacon cookies

    Bacon is one of the tastiest meat with a lot of healthy benefits. When eaten in moderate amount, bacon is a very good source of protein. It lowers blood pressure and blood sugar levels and contains choline that helps to increase our level of intelligence as well as memory. 

    Bacon cookies with all the goodness of meat is bound to leave your pet begging for more. Here is a simple method of making it.

    Ingredients:

    • 4 cups of wheat flour
    • 1 cup of rolled oats
    • 1 cup of milk
    • ½ cup of chicken stock
    • 1 ½ cups of bacon chopped into small pieces
    • 1 cup of peanut butter
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 teaspoon of baking powder

    Preheat the oven and grease the cookie tray. Beat the eggs, in a big bowl, till they are light and fluffy. Add the flour, rolled oats, milk, chicken stock, baking powder, pieces of bacon and peanut butter and roll it into smooth dough. Cut out shapes with the help of a cookie cutter or just roll it into balls and bake it in the oven for 20 minutes or till it is golden brown on both sides. Serve it to your pet when it has cooled down.

    Happy Cooking!

    Recipe by Harshitha

     

  • Quick Recipes for your pet (Smoothie & Meat Broth)

    Quick Recipes for your pet (Smoothie & Meat Broth)

    Recipe 1: Banana, Strawberry and yoghurt smoothie

    Does your pet look at you with soulful eyes whenever you have your morning cup of coffee? Have you wondered if there is a drink that you two can share as comrades before the morning walk? Well, a fruit smoothie is a surefire way to kick start your day as its power packed with essential nutrients and antioxidants that would keep illness and doctors away!

    Banana is a good source of fibre that is essential for regular bowel movement. It also promotes normal heart health due to the presence of potassium. Strawberry is a good source of antioxidant and vitamin C. Yoghurt is a good source of calcium and contains probiotics that aid digestion. A combination of the above ingredients make a delectable smoothie guaranteed to leave you and your pet asking for more!    

    Here is an easy method of preparing it:

    • 1 cup of banana and strawberries
    • ¼ cup milk
    • 1 cup flavoured yoghurt   

    Combine the cup of fruits and yoghurt in a blender into a thick mixture. If it is too thick you can add milk to thin it down. Serve the smoothie to your pet in a fancy bowl.   

    Recipe 2: Meat Broth 

    The pleasant fragrance of homemade broth is bound to bring instant hunger pangs for our pets. The wafting aroma of slowly cooked meat on a bed of vegetables will ensure that your pet does not leave the kitchen unless you feed him a big bowl of this scrumptious and nutritious broth.

    Apart from being a good source of protein, it also protects and promotes stronger joints and also helps to detoxify your pet’s liver. If your pet loves bones then you can pressure cook the broth so that the bones turn soft and your pet can chew on the juicy marrow. If your pet does not eat bones then you can just use chunks of boneless meat either chicken, turkey or beef.    

    Here’s a simple method of making meat broth:

    On a large pot place the chunks of meat and fill it to the brim with water. To this you can add vegetables like carrot, celery, spinach or potato. Add the juice of one lime as the acidity ensures that the minerals come out of the meat. When it comes to boil remove the grayish froth as it contains impurities. Turn the heat down and simmer, let the meat slowly cook along with the vegetables. You can cook the broth slowly for 3 to 4 hours or till the meat falls off the bones.

    Once it has cooled down you can separate the meat and vegetables through a sieve. If your dog is a fussy vegetable eater then you can mash the vegetables and mix it with meat. If your dog is not used to chewing bones then you can de bone the meat and serve the broth with vegetables. This meat broth tastes best with rice (white or brown) or bread.   

    Happy Cooking!

    Recipe by Harshitha