Air Dried Dog Food: Is It Really Better for Your Pup?
Okay, so I've been seeing a lot of buzz about air-dried dog food lately, and I got curious. My pup, Max, has a sensitive stomach, and I'm always looking for ways to make his meals healthier and easier on his digestion. So, I decided to give this air-drying thing a shot myself. Figured, why not? I love a good DIY project!
Getting Started
First, I hit up the grocery store. I picked up some lean ground beef, some sweet potatoes, and a bag of spinach. My thinking was: protein, carbs, and some greens for good measure. Keep it simple, right?
The Prep Work
Back home, I fired up the oven to the lowest setting possible – around 170°F. While that was warming up, I cooked the sweet potatoes until they were soft, then mashed them up. I lightly cooked the ground beef, just enough to get rid of the pink, and chopped the spinach into small pieces.
Next, I mixed everything together in a big bowl. I didn't add any seasoning, since I wasn't sure what Max could handle. Better safe than sorry, you know?
Drying Time
I spread the mixture out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I made it pretty thin, maybe a quarter-inch thick, so it would dry evenly. Then, I popped it in the oven and…waited. And waited. And waited some more.
- It took, like, forever! Seriously, we're talking 8-10 hours.
- I flipped the mixture a couple of times during the process to make sure both sides got dried out.
- My kitchen started smelling, strongly, like beef.
The Result
Finally, the mixture was dry and crispy, kind of like beef jerky. I broke it up into smaller pieces and let it cool completely. It looked…well, it looked like dried dog food! I gave Max a small piece, and he gobbled it down. Success!
He's been eating it for a few days now, and so far, so good. No tummy troubles, and he seems to really like it. Plus, I know exactly what's in it, which is a huge relief.
It was definity a long process, but I am satified with the result.
