Dog Gravy - Can Dogs Have Gravy? What Should I Choose?

When you're 'chef-ing' it up in the kitchen with your latest Gordon Ramsey recipe, it's only natural that your furry friend will be on standby to deal with any spare or unwanted food.

Dogs are incredibly helpful like that. It's just good manners.

But if there's one thing that really gets a hungry pup excited, it's the smell of some mouth-watering meaty gravy.

But can dogs have gravy? It can be hard to know what is and isn't safe for your dog to eat. Dry dog food can seem boring so many of us try to supplement this with some special treats. However, i'm sure we've all added a little hot water to their dry food to try and 'spice things up.' Turning a dry kibble into a delicious food bowl takes some knowledge, so let Waggel lay it down for you.

As gravy is made with meat, it's only logical to assume it must be safe for dogs. However, this isn't always the case - in fact, some gravies can actually be harmful to your dog, gravy granules especially, causing health issues, especially stomach upsets.

In this post, we'll examine the idea of giving your dog homemade gravy, if it's the greatest idea ever, or if it'll be a total health disaster for your famished furball.

We'll also reveal some delicious recipes and products that are healthy and safe for your dog and lip-smackingly tasty.

 Chef Ramsey will be well jealous!

The answer is a little bit complicated.

When we're talking about gravy safety, it all depends on what's in it, how it's prepared, is it homemade or shop bought? Are you using liquid or granules?

Another important factor is the quantity of gravy and frequency.

If you want to put gravy on the menu for your dog, the most important thing you should do is inspect the contents.

Three of the most common ingredients found in gravy that are also harmful to dogs are:

• onions

• garlic

• salt

If your gravy includes any of the contents above, it's best to avoid it.

If you're making your own gravy from scratch and you're careful with your ingredients, there is no reason your dog can't enjoy their food smothered in yummy gravy.

Don't overdo it, just feed it to your dog once in a while. Otherwise, they'll pack on the pounds, leaving them open to all sorts of weight-related health problems.

There are loads of different ways to prepare homemade dog gravy, and the great thing is you only need a few simple ingredients.

If you're looking to add a healthy but flavourful addition to your dog's food, why not try one of these easy to follow recipes?

Follow this super simple recipe for a bone broth that your dog will love. All you need is:

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of bones - You can use any bones. Chicken, lamb, turkey, duck or pork. Joint bones are the best as they have large quantities of collagen, chondroitin and glucosamine.

• Beef marrow bones, necks, chicken or pigs' feet are great options. It may sound gross, but they do contain a huge amount of healthy goodness for your pup!

• Leftover cooked bones are great, but raw bones contain more of a nutritional punch. (Ask your local butcher for the best bones for a broth if in doubt.)

• 3 x Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar - Be sure to use apple cider vinegar containing 'the mother'. This breaks down the connective tissue more efficiently and makes the nutrients more bioavailable. 

• Water - Enough to cover the bones.

• Pup friendly veg (optional) - You can add 1-2 carrots, a stick or two of celery, a handful of parsley or some mushrooms - These are all totally optional ingredients, but they can add some extra flavour and nutrients to your broth.

Only add ingredients that your dog enjoys and that you know won't cause any tummy upsets.

Equipment:

A crockpot or stockpot to cook it in - You can use a stockpot on the stove, but a crockpot is an easy and safe way of cooking your broth, but you will have to leave it for 24 hours.

Instructions:

• Add all of the ingredients to your slow cooker or pot and fully cover with water.

• Cover the pot or slow cooker and cook on low heat for 24 hours.

• Check on the broth throughout cooking and add extra water as needed to cover the ingredients.

• Once the broth is cooked, strain it through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any bits of bone or vegetable.

• Let the broth cool completely before storing it in the fridge or freezer.

• Once cool, refrigerate the broth for three hours, allowing the fat to separate.

• Scrape the fat off the top of the broth and throw it away - this is the only part you don't want your pup to eat!

The broth will keep in the fridge for up to a week or three months in the freezer in an airtight container.

For a healthy low-fat gravy, try this easy turkey gravy recipe that your pup is sure to love.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of turkey mince

• 750ml of water

• 1 Tbsp oil - coconut oil

• 4 oz of diced liver

• 65ml frozen peas  

Equipment:

• Frying pan

• A blender a

• Ice cube tray  

Instructions:

• Heat the coconut oil in a frying pan over medium heat.

• Add the turkey mince and diced liver and cook for about 30 mins until browned.

• Once cooked, let it cool, and then add the mixture to the blender and blitz it until it's nice and smooth.

• Let the gravy cool down if you will be serving it straight away.

• Fill the ice cube tray with the rest of your yummy gravy and freeze it! Simply heat the gravy to room temperature before adding it to your dog's food.

The great thing is you can store the gravy cubes in the freezer until you need them.

Try making this mouth-watering gravy that your dog will simply go crazy for.

Ingredients:

• 1lb of low-fat chicken, turkey, or beef mince

• 2 Tbsp cornstarch

• 500ml homemade stock  

Equipment:

• Pan

• Frying pan  

Instructions:

• Warm your homemade stock in the pan

• Fry the mince in a frying pan, and cook until the meat is golden brown and has broken down.

• Sprinkle the cornstarch onto the meat and stir to coat it.

• Pour the stock over the meat, stir and slowly bring to a boil. Continue to simmer until the liquid begins to thicken into a nice gravy.

• Cool down to serve to your furry friend.

Sometimes you need something quick and easy when making gravy for your furry friend. This is when you might consider using gravy granules to make dog food gravy.

If you're going to give your dog gravy granules, it's best to make it yourself and use a very diluted mixture made with only a pinch of granules. This will ensure that the gravy is safe for your pup to eat.

Many gravy granules contain salt and fat, which can be harmful to dogs if eaten in large quantities. High levels of salt can lead to sodium poisoning, while excessive fat intake can lead to obesity or acute pancreatitis in dogs.

If you're worried about whether or not a particular gravy is safe for your dog to eat, it's best to check the ingredients list before giving them any.

You could also try gravy granules specifically made for dogs. Check out these 3 fantastic examples of dog gravy in the UK.

This delicious gravy powder is made with chicken liver and is guaranteed to get your pup's nose twitching.

With its high protein content and added B vitamins, it's not only a tasty addition to your pup's meal but a healthy one too.

This product is developed by animal nutritionists who only have your dog's health and well-being at heart, so you can be sure that they're getting the best gravy possible.

It's grain-free and hypoallergenic, perfect for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It's also free from any harmful chemicals or additives.

Whether you just sprinkle on the powder or add water to make a delicious gravy, EmPower Paw Chicken Gravy Powder is a great way to add extra flavour and nutrition to your dog's diet.

This tasty food topper from Barker & Barker is made with 100% natural, human-grade ingredients that are free from any additives of any kind and are also completely GM-free.

High in protein to keep your pup's energy levels up and help keep their immune system fighting fit. This gravy will help to make their food more appealing and is a great way to add some variety to their diet.

Barker & Barker Tasty Topper Chicken gravy is also wheat-free. It's ideal for dogs with allergies or intolerances and will help keep their digestive system healthy and functioning properly.

What could be better than a healthy, delicious gravy that's also good for your pup?

Simply sprinkle on top of your dog's food or add water to make a delicious-smelling gravy that will set your pup's taste buds tingling and have them leaving a squeaky clean bowl every time.

Pick up some of this delicious tasty food topper for your pup here.

Dog food can be pretty boring and who wants bland food? So, what better way to take your furry friends' dinner to the next level than to add some lip-smackingly tasty gravy?

However, with so many brands that contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs, it can be a minefield as to what you can safely give your furry friend.
The best thing to do is make your own gravy using our super-simple dog gravy recipes.

There are also some great products available that are made specifically for dogs and are free from any harmful chemicals or additives.

So go ahead and give your dog the gift of delicious food with a dog gravy. They'll certainly thank you for it with love and an empty food bowl.

By reading our super-informative dog gravy post, you are now ready to go out into the world and show your 'cheffy prowess.' (Is that a word??)

However, keeping your pet fit and healthy and trying not to stress over any unwanted vet bills isn't easy. Waggel can help you gain true peace of mind though our excellent pet insurance in the UK. We offer great coverage, as well as 24/7 online video vet access to answer all those questions which prey on your mind.

Oh, and that isn't where the good news ends as we also offer some great perks and rewards as a Waggel member. This includes discounts on wines, pet products, and even money off pet subscription services such as Butternut Box pet food.

So, why not get a pet insurance quote today?

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