Home-cooked food
always tastes best

Dogs love to have something new for an occasional meal or as a treat. Here are two recipes that your dog will really enjoy, sent in by readers.

• 1.5 litres water
• 2 cups whole grain (can be oatmeal, millet, cracked wheat, rye, etc)
• 1 cup whole soy flakes
• 1 cup bran
• 1 tablespood sea salt
• Threequarters cup of skim milk powder
• Half cup of wheat germ
• Half cup brewers yeast
• 2 tablespoons alfalfa powder
• 1 tablespoon kelp powder
• 1 tablespoon bone meal or 2 teaspoons calcium powder
• Half cup oil (olive or grain oils are best but any cooking/salad oils can be used)
• 1 teaspoon cod liver oil
• 400IU vitamin E

Bring water to boil. Stir the grains and salt into the boiling water and simmer for 15 minutes. Add a little more water if the mixture becomes too dry. Take off the heat and add the remaining ingredients.
Spread thinly on cooking trays and dry in the oven at about 100DegC (150-200degF) until crisp. Break into treat-sized pieces and store.

Chicken biscuits

• Half kilogram (1lb) ground chicken necks
• 1 large tin mackerel, chopped
• 2 cups full-fat soy flour
• 2 cups wheat flour
• 1 cup rye flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup wheatgerm
• 1 cup milk poiwder
• Quarter cup alfalfa powder
• 3 tablespoons bone meal (or 2 of calcium powder)
• 1 tablespoon sea salt (or 2 of kelp powder)
• 4 tablespoons oil or fat
• 1 tablespoon cod liver oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 400 IU vitamin E
• 1.2 ltr (1 qt) water
• Half cup yeast

Alfalfa - stimulates the digestive process and helps the dog to gain weight and vigour. It is good for underweight, nervous or highly-strung dogs; and can help with muscle and joint pain or urinary problems.
Add 1-3 tablespoons ground or dry alfalfa to food. Make a tea by seeping 1-2 tablespoons in a cup of water for 20 minutes, then mix it with dog's food.

Burdock - detoxifies and cleanses the blood, and is good for skin problams. Soak 1 teaspoon root in 1 cup distilled water for 5 hours. Then bring to the boil and allow to cool. Give half teaspoon to 2 tablespoons daily according to size.

Garlic - helps eliminate worms, strengthens digestion and strengthens the intestinal tract. It is also good for overweight dogs or those with arthritis in the hips. Include half to three cloves garlic with each meal.

Oats - a tonic for dogs weakened by disease or medication. It cleanses the body and nourishes new tissue growth. Use oatmeal as the chief grain in your dog's diet.

Lemon - a skin tonic and insect repellent. Thinly slice a whole lemon and pour over a pint (600mls) of nearly boiling water. Let it seep overnight, then next day sponge on to the dog's skin. Allow to dry. Use it daily for severe skin problems.

Bran - Half to two teaspoons bran added to food daily will, like garlic, help to keep worms away. Also good for that purpose is grated raw carrot, turnip or beets.

Aloe Vera - apply fresh to eczema and `hot spots'. If problem skin is widespread wash whole area with very strong tea first.

For overweight dogs - Half cup lean meat, quarter cup plain cottage cheese, 1 cup cooked oatmeal, half cup grated or chopped vegetables, half cup bran, any supplements that your dog may need.
Cook the oatmeal or soak overnight.
Mix all ingredients together and serve.

Do not give your dog - onions, raw egg, liver or kidney in large amounts (treats and small amounts are okay), raw fish, milk to drink (dogs love it of course, but it may stop them drinking the water that they need), cooked chicken bones or cooked chop bones of any type which can splinter in the stomach.