Want to take your dog and cat food making skills to the next level? Beef gelatin is definitely the way to go. It is super simple, has fantastic digestive health benefits and looks absolutely awesome.
Why Beef Gelatin?
Beef gelatin is said to have some amazing health benefits for our pets especially where digestion and the reduction of inflammation is concerned.
“Gelatin increases a dog’s ability to utilise the proteins found in grains. It protects the lining of the stomach, soothes upset stomachs, and helps other digestive ailments like irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhoea”.
The main ingredient in gelatin is collagen. Collagen aids in digestion by breaking down proteins and soothing the lining of the gut. It also promotes healthy joint function and promotes hair growth, strong nails and healthy coats.
Where To Find It?
To find beef gelatin check out your local health food store. I use a product called Gelatin Health that has been sourced from 100% Australian grass fed/ grain finished beef. You should also try to find a product that has NO additives as these are contradictory to good digestive health.
You Will Need:
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Cut up fresh vegetables or sardines.
GET CREATIVE! The best moulds have a range of different colours. Where possible, source organic or wash your produce thoroughly before hand to avoid pesticide contamination.
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Cupcake trays or moulds
I used silicon cup cake trays initially, but I found they were very difficult to get the gelatin out of once it was set. My recommendation would be to source stand alone dessert moulds.
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Boiling water
How To Make It:
- Boil 1 cup of water.
- Add 3 table spoons to boiled water and stir until the gelatin dissolves. (It does say you only need to use 2 table spoons, however I found 3 works best and give the gelatin a good consistency.
- Place your vegetables in the moulds and fill.
- Fill to the top with gelatin.
- Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours or until set.
- Serve to your dog.
Recommended Feeding:
Like anything you add to your pet’s food, you should include slowly to insure no digestive upset and not go overboard. Depending on the size of your moulds, I added a small mould (small cupcake size) over 2-3 days for my 20+ kg dogs. The cat received one small ice cube size mould in her dinner once or twice a week. These moulds are considered as part of your pet’s daily food requirement and not consider as treats.
If your dog is on a protein-restricted diet (eg. chronic kidney or liver disease, for example), consult your veterinarian first.
For more awesome DIY recipes, check out my blog.
