Over the years I have made many versions of PupLoaf. The latest version was designed to eliminate the need for a lot of costly supplements and allow you to balance the diet with whole foods.
Ingredients:
- 3 pounds beef (90% lean)
- 8 ounces beef heart
- 5 ounces beef liver
- 20 ounces chicken gizzards
- 3 cans sardines in water, minus the juice
- 6 ounces mussels (3 teaspoons kelp could replace the mussels for trace minerals)
- 2 teaspoons ground fresh ginger
- 5 eggs with shell
- 3 ounces red bell pepper
- 5 ounces mixed dark leafy greens (kale, chard, spinach)
- 4 ounces broccoli
- 6 ounces butternut squash
- 3 tablespoons flax seed oil
- 4 ounces cranberries
- 4 ounces Shiitake mushrooms
Instructions:
- Grind and mix all ingredients together.
- Pour into loaf, casserole, or muffin pans.
- Bake at 325 for 30 to 60 minutes depending on size of pan; should be lightly done, not overcooked (juicy in the center). If your pet has a beef or chicken allergy, turkey can be substituted.
- Use within 3-5 days, freeze extra portions.
- Feed warmed to room temperature.
FAQ
Q: Can I feed Puploaf to my puppy?
A: No. Puploaf is formulated for adult dogs only. You can transition to puploaf at 6 months for small breeds, 12 months for medium to large breeds, and 18-24 months for giant breeds.
Q: Can I switch my dog from kibble to Puploaf?
A: Yes, you can but some dogs may experience GI upset because it’s such a big change from what they’re used to. If your dog has a very sensitive stomach, you may want to start with a bland diet (gently cooked turkey and pumpkin) or the Pancreatitis recipe to get their system used to real food before trying Puploaf. Always do a slow transition for sensitive dogs. Keep something for GI upset (like Dr. Harvey’s Runs Be Done) on hand.
Q: Can I substitute another protein (including heart or liver)?
A: Yes. Keep in mind that any substitutions will technically unbalance the recipe but feeding enough variety should balance out any slight deficiencies or excesses over time. Proteins should be rotated. Don’t feed one protein solely. If you need to feed only 1 protein, then it's better to choose a complete recipe using that protein.
Q: I can’t find 90/10 beef. Can I use a different meat/fat ratio?
A: If gently cooking, it is better to go with leaner protein like 93/7. If feeding raw, you can use 85/15.
Q: What can I substitute for heart and gizzards?
A: Another protein can be substituted for beef heart (ex. Chicken heart) or chicken gizzards (turkey gizzards). Gizzards and hearts are muscle meats. You can substitute white or dark muscle meat of any protein source, although you will lose some of the TCVM benefits.
Q: Can I use a prey model or 80/10/10 grind?
A: Yes. If it includes bone, leave out the eggshell powder. Use in place of meat (including heart and gizzards) and liver. Feed raw if the grind contains bone unless the company specifies it is ground finely enough to be gently cooked.
Q: What can I substitute for cranberries when they are out of season?
A: Any berry that is in season (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries), dried berries with no added sugar, or frozen berries.
Q: What can I substitute for shiitake mushrooms?
A: Any edible mushroom from the grocery store or farmer’s market that you would eat. White button, portobello, crimini, oyster, etc are all fine.
Q: Can I use dried mushrooms?
A: Yes. Reconstitute them with bone broth or water and use the same amount. You can give the leftover liquid to your dog like you would bone broth.
Q: What can I substitute for sardines?
A: Any other oily fish that is high in omegas like anchovy, herring, mackerel, or salmon.
Q: What can I substitute for eggs?
A: Duck or quail eggs can replace chicken eggs. If your dog doesn’t tolerate eggs at all, then you can replace them with salmon for vitamin D content. 0.5 ounces salmon = 1 egg
Q: What can I substitute for eggshell powder?
A: You can use a high quality bone meal powder or seaweed calcium.
Q: How do I make my own eggshell powder?
A: Only use egg shells that have not been chemically sanitized. A commercial eggshell powder can be used. The shells should be dried, then finely ground. Drying the eggshells in a pan in the oven on low heat (170 to 200 degrees) for 15 to 20 minutes helps make them easier to grind. A coffee bean or spice grinder works well. Approximately 1 teaspoon per pound of food will provide sufficient calcium.
Q: Can everything be cooked, including kelp and flaxseed oil?
A: Yes.
Q: What can I substitute for flaxseed oil?
A: Flaxseed oil provides vitamin E and ALA. The closest substitutes would be hempseed oil and wheat germ oil. Use the same amount.
Q: How much Puploaf do I feed my dog?
A: Start with 2-3% body weight and adjust as needed to maintain ideal body weight. Ex: Feeding 2% body weight to a 50lb dog would be 16 oz per day.
Q: Do I have to cook Puploaf or can I feed it raw?
A: It can be fed raw or gently cooked.
Q: Do I need to have a grinder?
A: No. You can chop the ingredients in size appropriate pieces for your dog.
Disclaimer: Puploaf is a complete and balanced diet as written. It is important to ensure that dietary choices are balanced in order to maintain proper nutrition. Making substitutions without careful consideration could lead to an unbalanced diet. Rotation is recommended, especially if substitutions are made to ensure balance over time.
