In the name of love
Part 1: Species-appropriate cooking for vegetarian households
As dog parents, we always want to do what’s best for our dogs. However, feeding a species-appropriate diet in a vegetarian household can be a challenge. A lot of dog parents express concerns about this. Most of the time, members of a vegetarian household are vegetarian themselves, which, in the Indian context, means they do not consume any animal products except dairy. Dairy, unfortunately, does not suit many dogs and does not provide adequate nutrition by itself. In this situation, one can either begin handling meat or outsource the procurement of meat and meals for their dog.
CW: This post contains images of raw meat.
Handling meat for beginners:
As someone who has consumed meat for most of their life but comes from a vegetarian household, my first brush with handling raw meat was when I started cooking for Bailey. Since then, I have come a long way in procuring, handling, storing and cooking meat and fish (which was a surprise because I cannot stand the smell of fish to the point where it makes food unappetising for me), and it has all been for the cause of feeding my dogs species-appropriate meals. If you have never handled meat but want to try it for your dog, here are a few tips:
Allow yourself time:
Meat is different in texture and smell than any vegetarian product that you may have used in the past, and it takes a lot of getting used to. So take small steps towards handling it and please be patient with yourself — you’re getting used to something new. It helps if you think of it not as you handling meat but as you preparing nourishing meals for your dogs. Focus on the benefit the meals will bring to your dogs, and consider it an investment in their health.
To deal with the smell, spritz some perfume on a mask and leave it hanging under a fan/ near a window overnight. Wear the mask while working with meat, and switch on your exhaust fan/ chimney, or open the kitchen door or window, to allow air to circulate.
Keep things sanitary:
Raw meat and eggs carry the risk of salmonella poisoning. Just handling meat doesn’t do anything to you, as long as you’re cautious about hygiene (which, to be honest, you should be with all food). While handling raw meat, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly and disinfect surfaces after you’re done. If you get meat juices on something, either wash or disinfect it.
You can wear an apron while working with meat and can wash it afterwards. If you want to wear gloves while handling meat, make sure they are not the kind with powder on them. Dispose of any meat packets and trimmings in a closed container, and do not leave them outside because the smell will attract critters.
Learn about meat:
If you have never cooked meat before, chances are you do not know the properties of various meats. Read about them online — find out how to trim the fat and handle different kinds of meat, and how different meats cook. Different meats have varying nutritional content so, certain meats may cater better to your dog. Reading about meat quality will help you discern whether the meat you source is of good quality or not. Based on that, you can choose your sources better.
Stay away from buying meat marked as ‘pet meat’ or ‘pet meal’ at the butcher. It usually has meat pieces left over from other cuts and might have a high bone content, which can get cooked and cause issues. Minced meat may also have high bone content, so be careful while purchasing that too. Pay attention to the cut of meat you’re getting — dogs can process some fats and need them in their diet too, but too much fat in the diet can cause issues. It is, therefore, better if you source lean meat for your dogs.
Equipment:
Invest in a sharp knife that can cut through meat easily. Trying to cut meat with a dull knife when you’ve just started handling meat is a rather unpleasant experience. Along with the knife, you can get a knife sharpener and a protective cutting glove (if, like me, you’re also a klutz in the kitchen).
In vegetarian households, you may have to keep separate utensils, chopping boards, knives and containers to use with meat. You may also need to set these up away from the kitchen if your family is too strict. One can hope that someday it wouldn’t be that complicated. However, until the day comes, put your dogs first and do the needful, whether that entails separate utensils, a separate fridge/freezer, or a separate cooking set-up.
Plan ahead:
If handling meat makes you uncomfortable, but you’re willing to go through it for your dog, plan out the meals for 5 or 10 days and prepare that in batches. It will take time on one day, but it will save you time on the other days, and you won’t have to handle meat daily. I always suggest going with a 5-day or 10-day schedule because it helps round off the quantities, making it easier to source and store ingredients.
While sourcing meat, explore the option of having the quantities cut and portioned out as per your requirement at the butcher, so that you can simply cook batches as you need them. You can read more about meal planning in this blog of mine.
Outsourcing:
Despite the best efforts, cooking meat is sometimes too much work. It can take a lot of getting used to, the prepping and cleaning takes a while, and managing separate cooking setups at home can be frustrating. If you can’t prepare meat meals for your dogs at home, see if somebody in your social circle can help out.
Several brands offer good-quality, species-appropriate meals for your dog. Some of these are even available Pan-India. There’s a list of such brands in the next part of this blog.
I firmly believe that taking care of your dog does not need to be stressful, at least not for the day-to-day stuff. It’s a large part of why I started this blog. I hope the list helps ease some of your stress concerning your dog’s food and nutrition.
