Dehydrating Food For Your Fur Babies
Dehydrating Food For Your Fur Babies
Over the holidays this year I received one the best gifts of all time from my boyfriend; a food Dehydrator.
I know, it seems a little lame to consider a Dehydrator to be one of the “best gifts of all time”, but, trust me, it is.
If you’re anything like me, sometimes you get a little over enthusiastic in the produce section when buying groceries and a week later you realize you haven’t gotten around to eating all that fresh produce you purchased with such good intentions. Having a dehydrator saves you from throwing away/composting all those, once so fresh, but now so wrinkly, dog-friendly fruits and veggies that are about to turn bad.
So far, for my dogs, I’ve dehydrated a whole turkey, various apple varieties, spinach, cantaloupe, pumpkin, kiwi, beets, ginger, tomatoes, beef liver, green beans, sweet potato, and so many kinds of berries. (Fun Fact – berries hold the most nutritional value for our pooches when it comes to fruits and veggies.)
Tonight I am dehydrating 2 brown bananas and 3 kiwis that are ripe past my liking, but right up my dog’s alley. The dehydrator allows me to save my fruits and veggies just before they go bad, as no one, but the compost pile, would want these pieces of fruit after tomorrow or the next day. So, rather than throwing them out into our compost bin I can make yummy, all natural, and best of all, nutritious treats for my dogs. Dehydrating allows me to preserve the fruit, and maintain its nutrients for up to 5 years if hermetically sealed in the absence of oxygen & stored at 70 degrees F.
I’m don’t know about your dogs, but mine just love kiwi and banana chunks. Packed with vitamins and minerals these treats are far healthier for my dogs than any store bought products. Another bonus to making homemade treats is that your scent goes into the food in the process. You are connecting with your pet in a whole new way when you prepare their food for them. They will love the treats you make so much more than anything you’ve ever bought simply because it came from you.
Instructions:
- Peel & cut banana into 3/4″ slices and lay on dehydrator tray
- Cut kiwi into 1/4′” slices and lay on dehydrator tray ( do not peel)
- Dehydrate at 130 degrees F for 4-8 hours checking every now and then. Fruit is done when it is pliable and no moisture remains visible.
If you do not have a food dehydrator, try using your oven on the lowest setting and place the slices of fruit on a baking sheet lined with wax paper for easy removal.
Recommended Daily Servings: 2-3 pieces kiwi /2-4 pieces banana
It is important to remember, though fruits and veggies are highly nutritious, our pets get all the vitamins and minerals they need from a well balanced diet of meat sources and the protein that it provides. Over-feeding of fresh (or dehydrated) fruits & vegetables is not recommended for your pet. These treats should be given as just that – treats!
Good Luck and Happy Dehydrating! – Your dog will thank you 😉