More and more people are becoming aware of the good that a vegan diet can do for our dogs! After all, the world’s oldest dog, Bramble, was a vegan. However, to stay in tip top shape, our pups need more than just vegan kibble. Here are a few ideas for homemade vegan dog food.
Cooked Meals
A great way to supplement your dog’s vegan diet with fresh, healthy food, is to make them home-cooked meals using scraps and leftover veggies from around your kitchen. It might seem like a lot of work, but homemade vegan dog food can actually be quite easy to make, and you can make a big batch ahead of time to last the whole week. Here are just a few ideas to get your started:
1. Brown Rice and Beans
One of the simplest meals to cook at home for your vegan dog is rice and beans. Bramble, the world’s oldest dog, lived primarily on brown rice and lentils! In addition to lentils, black beans and chickpeas are great for dogs, and are packed with plenty of protein, iron, and complex carbohydrates to keep them going. Just make sure to use foods with low sodium or no salt added. You can also add in a dash of turmeric for flavor and anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Peanut Stew
What dog doesn’t love peanut butter? Mix peanut butter into a stew filled with odd and ends from your kitchen for a delicious, hearty meal for your pup. Some of my dog’s favorite add-ins include brown rice, beans and lentils, kale, spinach, broccoli florets or stems, carrots, sweet potato, brown rice pasta, and quinoa. Cook it with water or a simple low sodium vegetable broth and your vegan dog is sure to love their home-cooked meal! You can make a large stew and store it in the fridge over the week, and serve them a half cup to a cup a day as a meal.
3. Scrambled Tofu
Some dogs really love tofu, and it’s a great way to get extra protein into their diet! You can even find tofu that is fortified with vitamins and minerals to give them an extra nutrient boost. Mash pressed firm tofu with a fork and season with a dash or two of turmeric and a splash of vegetable broth. Stir-fry it in a pan with whatever dog-friendly veggies you have on hand, and serve it to them once it’s cool.
Homemade Treats
Every dog loves to be rewarded for good behavior with a yummy treat. Here are a few ideas on homemade vegan dog treats:
1. Sweet Potato Jerky
Sweet potato jerky is a simple treat that is easy to make at home! Just cut your sweet potato into long, thin strips and lay on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake at 250 degrees and flip occasionally until the potato slices are dry and chewy. The strips will keep fresh in the refrigerator for about two weeks.
2. Homemade Dog Biscuits
You can also easily make your own vegan dog biscuits at home! Just use gluten free flower and flax seed meal to hold the biscuits together. Use a dog-bone shaped cookie cutter to shape the biscuits if you’d like. Most biscuits will keep fresh stored in an air-tight treat jar for over a month. You can vary between flavors too, like pumpkin, apple sauce, and peanut butter.
3. Berries
Berries can be used as a small treat that are great for reinforcement in dog training. Reward your dog with one berry at a time, but make sure the berries are OK-ed by your vet for your pooch. Blueberries are usually a safe dog treat.
Vegan Dog Snacks
In addition to meals, every dog enjoys a snack every once in awhile. Some of these ideas make it easy to feed them on the go as well, or make traveling with your dog easier. Some ideas include:
- Fresh banana slices
- Fresh apple
- Plain steamed broccoli
- Steamed tofu cubes
- Baby vegetable food jars
- Peanut butter
- Homemade plain hummus
- Rice crackers
- Homemade plain kale chips
- Raw baby carrots
- Cooked edamame
- Applesauce cups
