Note: Some dogs or cats may react to certain ingredients differently. Please consult your veterinarian before you begin a new diet regimen for your pet.

How To Make Your Own Pet Food

Due to the recent concerns over pet food, many pet owner's are concerned.

Here are some things to keep in mind.

Animals, because they are color blind, choose their foods by smell. Most dogs like gamey flavors best, as well as liver, fat, garlic, onions, horsemeat, lamb, beef, cheese and fish.

Cats enjoy chicken, liver, fish, turkey, lamb, and yeast, and prefer fresh to aged flavors. Remember that cats are fussy eaters and it is not wise to continually feed them their favorite foods. Soon they will refuse to eat anything else; it is your job to see your cat has a balanced diet.

Warning: Do not feed cats onions!

Animals do not need salt added to their diet as the natural salt in the food is enough for them.

Dogs may eat any vegetable they want, but cats should not have any starchy veggies, like peas and corn. Some dogs and cats even enjoy fruits!

It's a good idea to always add a grain, such as Kibble, wheat germ, cooked oatmeal or whole wheat bread to meat dinners. For dogs use 75% carbohydrate foods (grains and vegetables) to 25% meat; for cats use half carbohydrate foods to half meat.

You will find, once you begin making your own pet foods, that it is really relatively simple and you will save some money as well. remember that all pet foods should be served at room temperature; don't serve food cold from the refrigerator nor hot from the stove.

Incidentally, you should know that cats should be fed three times a day, while an adult dog needs only one meal a day.

Here are some pet recipes you can make at home:

SAUTEED LIVER

Heat 1 teaspoon corn oil in a pan.

Add 1/4 pound beef liver and fry on both sides until cooked but not dry inside.

Add 1/2 cup water to the pan and mix it up with all the brown bits.

For dogs, cut the liver into pieces and serve; for cats, grind the liver in a blender, using the pan juices.

VEAL STEW

Combine 1/2 pound stewing veal, 1 cup canned tomatoes, 1 cup water, 1 chicken bouillon cube, 1/2 onion (chopped), parsley and a dash of garlic powder in a pot and simmer.

When meat is tender, remove all the bones.

For dogs, cut the meat in chunks, and mix stew with kibble or some other grain; for cats, grind the stew in blender, adding a tablespoon of wheat germ or 1/2 slice of whole wheat bread.

CHICKEN SOUP

Combine 1 chicken liver, 1 giblet, 1 chicken heart, 1 chicken neck, 2 cups water and 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley.

Cover and simmer until the giblet is tender.

Chop all the meat for dogs removing bones and mix with kibble; for cats, you may want to grind the meat in the blender.

CHICKEN SOAP

Combine 1 chicken liver, 1 giblet, 1 chicken heart, 1 chicken neck, 2 cups water and 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley.

Cover and simmer until the giblet is tender.

Chop all the meat for dogs removing bones and mix with kibble; for cats, you may want to grind the meat in the blender.

LIVER COOKIES

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine 1/2 cup dry milk and 1/2 cup wheat germ; drizzle 1 teaspoon honey on top.

Add one 3 1/3 oz. jar of strained liver baby food or homemade blended liver and stir until everything is well mixed.

Form the mixture into balls; place them on an oiled cookie sheet and flatten them with a fork.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes.

Consistency should be fudgy.

Store in a jar in the fridge; freeze if keeping more than a few days.

MACKEREL DINNER

Heat 1 tsp. corn oil in a skillet and fry 1 small mackerel until it flakes apart easily.

Remove and cool.

Pour 1/2 cup hot water into the pan and scrape the brown bits into it.

Remove the bones from the fish and mix with the juice.

For dogs, serve in pieces with kibble; for cats, grind with the pan juices.

BEEF COOKIES

Liver Cookies, using cooked beef puree instead.

FISH COOKIES

Follow the recipe for Liver Cookies but use instead 3 1/2 ounces of mashed and boned mackerel, either canned or freshly cooked.

DOG MORSELS

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 tsp. garlic powder

2 cups white flour

1 cup skim milk powder

2 eggs

water

1/2 cup melted beef or pork drippings (or lard)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix ingredients together with enough water to make a stiff dough. Roll out and cut into Christmas shapes. Bake on cookie sheet until hard.

BUDGIE BROWNIES

1 cup cornmeal

1 tsp. finely ground cuttlebone

1 cup hulled millet

2 tbsp. liquid honey

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

2 eggs

2 tbsp. raw wheat germ

4 egg yolks (for larger birds add 1/2 cup peanuts)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Pat into a greased and floured baking dish.

Bake for 30 minutes or until firm (if edges start to get too brown, cover with foil).

Cool and cut into small squares.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CAT FOOD

Instructions STEP 1: Understand that there are certain foods that should be avoided when you make your own cat food. Never feed your cat chocolate, alcohol, onions, pork (including bacon), raw fish, raw eggs, milk or bones. Each of these has its own ill effects on cats.

STEP 2: Realize that you should not feed your cat dog food. Cats require five times more protein than dogs do, so dog food will not meet cats' nutritional needs. Avoid feeding your cat a vegetarian diet for the same reason.

STEP 3: Limit the use of tuna because of the risks associated with the mercury levels in it.

STEP 4: Feed liver in moderation and not at all if you're giving your cat vitamin A supplements. Overdoses of vitamin A can be toxic.

STEP 5: Know that many cat food recipes are available on the Internet and in books.

STEP 6: Look for recipes that are high in protein content.

STEP 7: Include some small amounts of vegetables in your cat's food. An example of a healthful cat food recipe is cooking together a mixture of 1 lb. ground turkey, 2 tbsp. tomato paste, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder and 2 tsp. brewer's yeast.

STEP 8: Opt for another tasty treat that calls for the cooking together of 4 oz. meat, two whole eggs, 1 tbsp. carrot, 1 tbsp. cottage cheese and 1 tbsp. sunflower oil. Recognize that you should cook meat before feeding it to your cat.

STEP 9: Add flavorings such as garlic salt and kelp powder to the food you cook for your cat. Small amounts of dairy products are acceptable, but cats should not drink a lot of milk. Use lactose-free milk instead.

STEP 10: Combine some dry, commercial cat food with meat, eggs, lactose-free milk and flavorings to get your cat used to eating homemade cat food.

Tips & Warnings

As you try different recipes, you'll find that your cat appreciates some more than others.

Consult your vet about giving your cat vitamin and mineral supplements.

Keep cooked cat food in the refrigerator for no more than three days.

Just recently, FDA announced concerns over animal treats, you can also make animal treats from scratch.