Doggy Stew is what we call the “wet” food we feed our dog, Heidi, in addition to her regular food.  (Always check with your vet before changing your dog’s diet)

A few years ago, we had what we called a doggy nursing home, because we had 3 old rescued dogs with various maladies and found that giving them warm doggy stew on top of their kibble, was a great way to coax them into eating if they were being finicky.  It also gave them some extra nutrients, so it was win-win!

Canned dog food can get very expensive and the ingredients are sometimes called into question, so we have found that this homemade dog food is what works for us.

Here’s the recipe!

Doggy Stew:  Homemade Dog Food

3 pounds fresh beef, chicken or pork

1-2 cups sliced carrots

1-2 cups chopped green beans

16 cups water

1-2 cups rice

1-2 cups oatmeal

Brown the meat and veggies in a large pot.  Add 16 cups of water.  Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 4 hours or until meat is tender and falls apart.  Add the rice and simmer another 1/2 hour.  Depending on how thick this mixture is, add 1-2 cups of oatmeal to make a thick stew.  It will also thicken a bit more as it cools.

 

Place in the refrigerator overnight.

 

The next day, I take a 1/2 cup measuring cup and scoop 1/2 cup mounds of the food onto cookie sheets and pop them in the freezer.  Once they are frozen, they can be put into bags and you can take a single serving out and warm it in the microwave!  I also add a little water at this point to make more gravy.

I give Heidi 1/2 cup of stew, twice a day over her kibbles.  She gobbles it up!

The average can of dog food with meat and veggies is $1.50 per 12 oz. can.  If you feed your dog 1/2 cup, twice a day, over a year, that’s $ 363.00.   Doggy stew costs on average $ 180.00 per year (less if you find good sales or raise your own veggies)!

MONEY SAVED $183.00!!

🙂