A huge part of making the process of feeding a homemade diet as seamless as possible is having the right tools. This post goes over some of the products that I use and love.
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Food Scales
I have tried many of these over the years and have figured out what features and functions are important to me. These may be different for you. I prefer touch activated buttons rather than actual buttons. It’s much easier to wipe off the touch activated buttons when you have to tare the scale after mixing something or touching a bunch of raw meat. Having a higher weight limit is also helpful since I prep food for a 115lb dog. For many people, an 11lb weight limit will likely be fine but I prefer one with higher limits. The one linked above has a limit of 22lbs.
Supplement Scale
I have used this supplement scale since Dec. 2019. Admittedly, it has been superglued after I dropped it but it still works perfectly fine. Powdered supplements should be weighed carefully so a sensitive scale is important. The only thing I do not like is that powder clogs up the buttons if you’re not careful but you really can’t beat the durability or price. Individuals with small dogs could also use a smaller scale for low weight ingredients like organs.
Pill Crusher
Often times it is easier to prep a large batch of all of the needed supplements and either mix them into the batch of food or add the appropriate amounts at meal time. To make a large batch of supplements, tablets should be crushed to a powder. Some clients use a plastic baggie and a hammer but I find either of the above tools to be easier and more efficient.
KitchenAid Meat Grinder Attachment
This grinder will not be able to handle bones but it does a good job at grinding boneless meat. This is not a tool that everyone will need or want and it will only be useful if you have a KitchenAid but it can save a good amount of time vs. cutting meat into small cubes. This is especially helpful for small dogs that can’t or won’t chew large chunks of meat.
InstantPot
This is another tool that isn’t required but can be useful. I highly recommend using an InstantPot to cook carbs, hard boiled eggs and bone broth quicker than other methods. Of course it can also be used to cook meals for your family too.
Crockpot
I often recommend crockpot cooking for clients that are feeding cooked diets but are short on time. This style of cooking allows you to throw all of the ingredients in and let it cook while you sleep or are at work. Some of my clients cook nightly and use small 2 qt crockpots. Others cook larger batches and will use a 7qt crockpot. I cook Milo’s meals nightly but because of how big he is, the 2qt one is too small. Crockpots can also be used to cook the carb portion of your dogs meals.
Storage Containers
While I would love to use glass containers rather than plastic, they are expensive for the size and amount I would need. I don’t feel comfortable telling clients that they should use glass when I don’t myself. Therefore, these are 3 sizes of plastic prep containers that I have used for years now. Care should be taken when the containers are frozen because they can break easily but I have had some of the same containers for several years now without issue.
Mixing Bin
I use these bins to thaw meat before prep and to mix all of the ingredients together. I find it is much easier to mix when the food is spread out rather than a container that is really deep.