Survival Dog Food Recipes
You think you are prepared to live off-grid if a major disaster happens. You have a bunch of those 5-gallon buckets full of dry goods. You have cans of kerosene and gas in storage. You’ve collected some antibiotics and other medications in case your family gets sick. But have you considered your pets?
Dogs that are used to eating kibble or wet cans of dog food will not easily shift back to the ways of their ancestors and start hunting game. If may take generations of hunger for them to revert to their wild ways. So it’s up to us, as their companions, to help them transition away from kibble and wet food to a more sustainable food source.
The following recipes use insects and wild plants, which dogs can thrive on when prepared safely, to provide protein, fat, carbs, and vitamins that dogs need. The ingredients are easy to find and can be foraged throughout most of the year. And not only will they provide your dog with a well-balanced diet, but your dog may find them quite tasty!
Foraged Cricket Stew
Ingredients:
2 handfuls of crickets or grasshoppers (about 1 cup)
1 cattail root or a handful of cooked acorns (starch)
1 handful of dandelion greens (or lamb’s quarters/plantain leaves)
A pinch of crushed eggshell (optional, for calcium)
Water
Instructions:
Roast or boil the crickets. Boil and mash cattail root or acorns. Chop and boil the greens. Combine all of them in water and simmer into a stew. Cool before serving.
Acorn and Grub Patties
Ingredients:
1 cup of beetle grubs, mealworms, or earthworms
½ cup of leached, mashed acorns (or other nut/seed)
½ cup of wild greens (dandelion, plantain, lamb’s quarters)
1 tablespoon animal fat or oil (if available)
Instructions:
Roast the grubs and mash them into paste. Mix with acorns and greens. Add fat to bind the mixture, and mix well. Form patties with the mix, and cook on a hot rock or pan over the fire until firm. Cool before serving.
Quick Worm and Berry Mash
Ingredients:
Boiled earthworms (mashed)
Crushed wild berries
Chopped wild greens
Instructions:
Mash the boiled worms. Mix them with berries and greens. Serve cooled as a quick meal.
Be sure to rotate protein sources (different insects, worms, or small game) and starches (cattail, acorns, roots) to ensure your dog is getting the proper nutrients. And always cook insects and plants to reduce pathogens and toxins.
Stay tuned for more off-grid survival recipes, not only for dogs, but for humans, as well!