Buffalo Stew for Oliver (aka Doggie Stew)

Our little pooch hasn't been feeling well. It all started earlier this week when Oliver developed a "hot spot" on his tail and we took him into the vet. The doctor shaved his tail to expose the sores for proper healing and then gave him a steroid shot. I've talked before about how "delicate" Oliver is, and the effects of the steriod shot have proved it all over again. He's been in a lot of discomfort, has a difficult time getting comfortable for sleep, has been constipated (oh, I know -- TMI) and he twirls around to look and whine at his painful little tail. Oh, the joys of motherhood . . . it's just like having a sick child around the house!

I thought I should try a new recipe for him. After all, he does like variety in his diet repertoire and it's been a while since I've experimented with a new recipe for him.

Today's menu was "Buffalo Stew." I renamed it from the cookbook's recipe title called "Little Man's Stew." And I made a few additional adjustments to the recipe.

For the meat, I used buffalo meat (chopped into small pieces from a 1-1/2 lb. buffalo chuck roast). You could use beef, duck, lamb, chicken or turkey. For the pasta, the recipe called for any kind of shape or type. Since Oliver has wheat allergies, I put in some gluten free, wheat free rotini pasta. Otherwise, I followed the recipe right along.

Just like the "muttloaf" I make for him looks like "human" meatloaf, the stew looks like something we would put together for our own families. At the end, you thicken it a bit more with 1T of yellow cornmeal mixed with 2T of cold water. This produces a chunkier consistency that dogs probably prefer.

Oliver gobbled it up tonight and we think it made him feel a bit better as he had a little extra spring in step during his bedtime walk. Hopefully, his best friend, Jesse, will enjoy it tomorrow too!

Woof! Woof!

DOGGIE STEW

(Makes 8 servings)

1 T. olive oil

1 lb. beef, duck, buffalo, lamb, chicken or turkey

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 c. uncooked pasta, any shape (can use vegetable pasta or a gluten free, wheat free variety)

1/2 c. dry lentils

1 c. chopped green beans

1 c. corn

1 c. peas

1/2 c. uncooked brown rice

8-10 cups vegetable broth

1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley

1 T. yellow cornmeal mixed with 2 T. cold water

1. In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the meat and brown well on all sides.

2. Add the remaining ingredients except for the cornmeal mixture. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for up to 2-1/2 hours. Depending upon the type of meat you've chosen, it may be ready in as little as 1-1/2 hours; just check that the meat is cooked through and the sweet potatoes and pasta are soft.

3. To thicken the stew, stir in the cornmeal mixture and bring it back up to a boil for 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat, let cool and serve.

NOTE: Stew can be refrigerated for 1 week.

Recipe was adapted from the book, "The Natural Pet Food Cookbook: Healthful Recipes for Dogs and Cats," by Wendy Nan Rees with Kevin Schlanger, DVM