Innova is a great choice.
It used to be a great choice. I am boycotting all brands that were involved in the recall. They ALL waited too long and NONE of them have accepted the full responsibility that their quality control left a good deal to be desired. Shame on all of them. We are never going to know the exact figures of how many pets were killed by the pet food manufacturers' incompetence. I know that the dog show world was decimated by so many deaths. Some breeding programs have been halted because prized bitches and otherwise very healthy studs were killed by what we all thought of as good sources of nutritious dog food.
I will grant y'all that I am totally neurotic about the health of my dogs. So what if I brush their teeth every day? I also give them USDA dehydrated/freeze dried chicken breast, pigs' ears and bull pizzles to chew on which also helps them keep their teeth tartar-free. It's certainly less expensive than getting their teeth done under anesthesia by a vet once a year! I also never feed them the same food 2 days in a row. From when they are puppies, I get them used to different things so that they don't have to deal with upset tummies, vomiting and loose stools.
When I cook for them, this is what I make.
HOMEMADE DOG FOODGrocery List:4 Chicken Thighs (with skin on)
2–4 Boned Chicken Breasts (with skin on)
25–30 Baby Carrots
1/2 cup Enriched Pastina or Brown Rice
Filtered Water
Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tsp (per serving) Calcium Powder (optional)
1 tsp (per serving) Omega-3 Fatty Acid Powder (optional)
Low-Fat Vanilla-Flavored Yogurt
Part Skim Ricotta Cheese
Sardines in Olive Oil
To Prepare:In a large saucepan add the chicken thighs, chicken breasts, sliced baby carrots, pastina or rice, water to cover and 1 capful apple cider vinegar. Cook covered on low flame until chicken falls off bone easily. Allow to cool slightly, drain any excess liquid and remove thigh bones. Shred all chicken pieces into chunks and stir mixture to evenly distribute. You may double and triple this recipe—it freezes very well either in bulk or in individual portions.
To Serve:Take out what you will need to mix the food—some of each of the ingredients—add 1 tsp calcium powder, 1 tsp omega-3 fatty acid powder and enough of either yogurt or ricotta to blend all together, and mix. Heat in microwave for 1 minute (or until you have removed the chill, but do not make it hot) mix with a handful of dry dog food. If the dog finishes it right away make a little more. If it sits for more than 2 hours, throw it away.
You can also mix the dry food with yogurt or ricotta for a meal; you can also give a chopped hard-boiled egg with either the yogurt or ricotta mixed into the dry food; you can mix 1 sardine with the hard boiled egg and some dry dog food for a meal; actually, you can mix any combination of any of the above for a healthy, nutritious meal. I also liberally serve non-spicy table scraps with any of the above, especially the salads and the vegetables. When I take home a doggy bag, it really is for the doggies!
