How to Make Homemade Dog Food in a Pressure Cooker

Feeding your dog can be one of the most challenging parts of pet ownership. There are countless varieties of commercial dog foods available, each one claiming to be the right one for your pet. So how do you make that difficult decision? Many pet owners avoid store-bought dog food altogether and make their own. The pressure-cooker method of preparing dog food might seem like a daunting task, but it's simple.

Things You'll Need

• Large pressure cooker 2 whole chickens 5 large potatoes 2 sweet potatoes Garlic Assorted vegetables Instant oatmeal Potato masher

Instructions

1. Clean your pressure cooker thoroughly. Make sure you remove all traces of soap from it before cooking for your pet, as dish soap can make him ill.

2. Rinse your chickens well and place them in the bottom of your pressure cooker. The theory behind using a pressure cooker for your dog food is that it breaks down the bones of the bird, making them safe for your dog to ingest.

3. Scrub your potatoes and sweet potatoes to remove any remaining dirt, and set them on top of your chickens. You can poke a few holes in them with a fork to speed up cooking. Add 2 tbsp. chopped garlic after you've set your potatoes in.

4. Cover your potatoes with a layer of assorted vegetables. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and cabbage work well, since most dogs enjoy them and they are full of valuable nutrients. Be sure to avoid vegetables like onions, which are harmful to dogs.

5. Fill your pressure cooker 2/3 of the way full with water and tighten the lid. Turn the fire to medium and let your mixture cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Let the pot cook and the pressure return to zero before trying to take your lid off.

6. Remove the top of your cooker and stir the mixture with a large spoon. Smash the chicken and vegetables with your masher until you break up the largest chunks, then wash your hands and smash the remaining bits with your fingers. Make sure you get the bones thoroughly mashed to avoid chewing troubles.

7. Turn the flame back on under your pot to medium, and wait for the mixture to boil. Stir in a large container of instant oats and allow the mixture to cook for another 15 minutes to combine.

8. Let the dog food cool, and pack it into individually sized containers. Small, resealable plastic tubs work well and can be frozen for feeding throughout the week.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to use quality ingredients when preparing your dog food. It's important that your dog gets a proper balance of nutrients to avoid health problems.

• Never feed your dog spoiled food. Dogs have very sensitive digestive systems and can get sick easily.

Resources

• Dog Food Recipes
• Foods Harmful to Dogs