With all the recalls and news reports about tainted dog food, ever wonder how you can feed your dog and feel safe? Also, with tighter budgets nowadays, the premium brands of dog foods seem to be very expensive and maybe over budget. I have come up with my own little recipe to help supplement my dogs dry dog food, helping his food last longer. Adding a homemade dog food to my dogs diet is easy, economical and also healthy. For relatively cheap and not very time consuming, I can make a homemade wet food to add to his dry food that will last several weeks.

One of the things I like to do for my dog is make a healthy "wet" food to put on his dry food. I watch for specials, especially on chicken. Chicken thighs are a cheaper part of the bird and I find them on sale quite often. I simmer chicken thighs along with some carrots, sweet potatoes or even pumpkin in the fall. Once the chicken is cooked and the vegetables are soft, I take them out of the water to cool. I save the broth to use as chicken broth for both my own cooking and as a little extra to put on my dog's food. Once the chicken and vegetables have cooled a bit, I debone the chicken, and place all the meat and skin, along with vegetables, into a food processor and pulse so they come together well. I put this "mush" into containers and into the fridge or freezer. I put a couple of tablespoons of this on his dry food and he loves it!! And if your into buying organic foods..it is becoming easier all the time to find organic meats and vegetable, creating an organic dog food economically. Also, in late summer and fall, vegetable stands and farmer's markets are a great place to get locally grown foods.

Some hints: I do often put the "mush" into the microwave or on the stove just enough to warm it, especially in the winter months. Because my dog is a husky mix and has lots of hair...I put a fish oil tablet in his food as well. I cut open the capsule and empty into his food.

This takes me maybe 20 minutes total, every 2-3 weeks depending on the amount I make, that's maybe a minute a day to make a healthy homemade dog food. My dog will be 8 this year..never has been sick or the vet except for annual check-ups. Most people are amazed when I tell them his age!!