Over the years I have made many versions of Puploaf. The latest version was formulated in Animal Diet Formulator using the following criteria: FEDIAF 2021 standard, Atwater values, Adult-Less Active activity level, gently cooked cooking method.
Ingredients:
- 3 pounds ground beef 90% lean
- 20 ounces chicken gizzards
- 12 ounces vegetable medley (kale, spinach, broccoli, red bell pepper)
- 9 ounces canned sardines in water, no salt
- 8 ounces beef heart
- 6 ounces butternut squash
- 6 ounces mussels
- 5 ounces beef liver
- 5 eggs without shell
- 4 ounces cranberries
- 4 ounces shiitake mushrooms
- 4 teaspoons eggshell powder (or 7 teaspoons Animal Essentials Sea-Cal)
- 3.5 tablespoons hulled hempseed
- 3 teaspoons ground turmeric powder
- 3 teaspoons ground fresh ginger root
- 2 teaspoons wheat germ oil (or 0.5 ml Sunn-E K9)
- 3 scoops NOW Kelp powder (provides 450 mcg iodine per scoop)
- 5 ml Rx Vitamins Amino B-Plex (or 3.5 ml Veterinarian's Apawthecary B Complex)* can be left out if feeding raw
Nutrition:
15.01% protein, 6.32% fat, 2.00% net carbs, 35.40 kcal/oz.
Makes 8.38 pounds of food.
This recipe was formulated in Animal Diet Formulator using the following criteria: FEDIAF 2021 standard, Atwater values, Adult-Less Active activity level, gently cooked cooking method.
Instructions:
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This recipe can still be fed raw if preferred. The vegetables should be steamed or finely chopped for better digestibility. Chop and mix all ingredients together.
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To bake: Finely chop and mix all ingredients except supplements together. Pour into loaf, casserole, or muffin pans. Cover to retain moisture. Bake at 325° F for 30 to 60 minutes depending on size of pan; should be lightly done, not overcooked (juicy in the center). Add supplements after food is cooled. Mix thoroughly.
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To slow cook: Add ¼ to ½ cup of water or bone broth into the slow cooker. Add all of the ingredients except supplements. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. If your dog prefers a smooth consistency, you can use a hand blender to blend everything together after cooking. Add supplements after food has cooled and mix thoroughly.
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Feeding recommendations: 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. Feed warmed to room temperature.
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Practice safe food handling techniques including washing of hands before and after handling raw meat. After cutting raw meats, wash all surfaces with hot, soapy water.
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We recommend pre-portioning and freezing any extra food you don't plan to feed after 72 hours. Frozen food is best stored up to 3 months after freezing for optimal nutrition.
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All nuts, seeds, grains, tablet based supplements, and produce used in this recipe should be finely chopped for better digestibility, bioavailability, and distribution. A food processor works great for this step!
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Fine powder supplements and oils should be thoroughly mixed into recipe.
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Capsule/perle ingredients may be opened for better distribution.
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Fish oils or other sources of omega 3 fatty acids should be added at the time of feeding.
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. There are other variations of Puploaf on the Free Recipes page.
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, but will need to add 1 capsule of 15mg zinc picolinate.
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: Sardines provide vitamin D in this recipe. You can substitute 4.5 ounces of cooked salmon, 2.5 ounces of canned salmon, or 4 drops of Rx D3 which provides 400iu of vitamin D.
Q: What can I substitute for mussels?
A: If you don’t have access to mussels, you can leave them out and the recipe will still be balanced.
Q: What can I substitute for eggs?
A: Duck or quail eggs can replace chicken eggs.
Q: What can I substitute for eggshell powder?
A: You can use a high quality bone meal powder or seaweed calcium. This recipe requires 8,500mg of 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?
A: It is better to add oils and supplements after cooking once food has cooled.
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.